If you are facing criminal charges and also dealing with a mental health condition, the legal system can feel overwhelming. A Vista mental health lawyer from Simmrin Law Group will protect your rights and ensure the court understands how your condition affects your case.
Our mental health lawyer knows how California treats mental illness under the law and how to build a strong defense around it. If you’ve been placed under a 5150 or 5250 psychiatric hold, we will step in quickly to protect your legal and medical rights.
Our team has served thousands of clients for over 20 years. We have handled more than 100 jury trials, including serious felony cases. We can handle any case in any court in California or federal court in the United States. We will take care of everything so that you can focus on your well-being. Call us today to review your legal options during a free consultation.
What Happens When Mental Health and Criminal Law Meet
Mental health and the law often collide in complex ways. You might be arrested on charges for something that happened during a mental health crisis. Sometimes, mental illness can change how you react under stress, and others may not understand your behavior.
Examples of cases involving mental health include:
- Disturbing the peace or resisting arrest during a mental episode.
- Drug possession while managing mental health issues.
- Violence or threats triggered by a condition like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
- Probation violations caused by confusion, paranoia, or missed check-ins.
In many of these cases, what you need most is treatment, not punishment. That’s where a mental health lawyer can help.
Understanding 5150 and 5250 Holds in California
California law allows certain professionals—like police officers or doctors—to place someone under an involuntary psychiatric hold if they believe the person:
- Is a danger to themselves.
- Is a danger to others.
- Cannot care for themselves because of mental illness.
5150 Hold: The 72-Hour Hold
A 5150 hold allows someone to be placed in a hospital for up to 72 hours for evaluation and safety. During this time, doctors assess the person’s condition and determine what happens next.
5250 Hold: The 14-Day Hold
If more care is needed, doctors can request a 5250 hold, which allows up to 14 more days of treatment. The patient has a right to a hearing within the first few days of the 5250 to challenge the hold.
Being placed under a 5150 or 5250 hold can affect other parts of your life, including criminal charges. It could even affect your right to own firearms or return to work.
How Our Vista Mental Health Attorney Will Lead Your Case
A mental health lawyer can make a big difference in the handling of your case. At Simmrin Law Group, we understand criminal law and mental health law. Our team uses this knowledge to build a defense that reflects your unique situation.
We will explain every step of the process in plain language and:
- Protect your rights from day one.
- Handle all the legal work while you focus on healing.
- Collect your medical records and treatment history.
- Work with your doctors, therapists, and other experts to support your defense.
- Show how your condition affected your actions.
- Fight to keep your case out of jail and focused on treatment.
- Challenge unlawful 5150 or 5250 holds when needed.
We treat every client with respect and care. You are not just a case to us. You’re a person who deserves a chance to move forward.
When Is It Time to Hire a Mental Health Attorney for Your Case?
You should call our mental health defense attorney in Vista if any of the following apply to your situation:
- You or a loved one has been placed under a 5150 or 5250 hold.
- Authorities have placed you under arrest while in a mental health crisis.
- Your condition is part of what led to the criminal charge.
- If others deny you mental health care while in jail or while on probation.
The earlier you contact a lawyer, the more options we will have to protect you. Call us to start your case during a free, private consultation.
What Is Mental Health Diversion?
California law allows some people with mental illness to avoid jail through a program called mental health diversion. If you are approved for it, you will follow a treatment plan instead of going through the usual court process.
If you finish the program, the charges against you could be dismissed.
To qualify, you must:
- Get a mental health diagnosis from a doctor or therapist.
- Show that your illness played a role in the alleged offense.
- Agree to treatment and meet other court requirements.
The team at Simmrin Law Group will collect the paperwork and fight for diversion in court.
Frequently Asked Questions
Mental health and criminal charges can raise a lot of questions. Below are answers to some of the most common concerns people have when dealing with these kinds of cases.
Can You Challenge a 5150 Hold?
Yes. If you or a loved one is placed on a 5150 or 5250 hold, you have rights. You can request a hearing to review the hold and speak with an attorney. A lawyer can help you gather evidence, talk to medical providers, and fight to have the hold removed if it is not legally justified.
Can Parents Challenge a 5150 or 5250 Hold for a Minor?
Yes, parents or legal guardians can challenge a hold placed on their child. If your child is placed under a 5150 or 5250 hold, you have the right to ask questions, request a hearing, and speak with a lawyer.
We will explain your child’s rights, get medical records, and argue for release or better treatment if the hold is not appropriate. We will review whether the hospital or facility followed the law.
What If the Charges Involve Violence During a Mental Health Episode?
Mental health conditions can sometimes lead to behavior that’s misunderstood. If you were charged with a violent crime during a mental episode, we can show how your condition played a role.
In some cases, we may push for mental health diversion, where you receive treatment instead of jail time.
Will a Mental Health Diagnosis Help or Hurt My Criminal Case?
It depends. A mental health diagnosis can help by explaining your behavior and showing the court that treatment is a better option than punishment. However, it must be handled carefully.
Our experienced mental health rights lawyer in Vista will present your condition in a way that protects your rights and future.
Call and Get Help From Our Vista Mental Health Lawyer Today
If you are facing criminal charges and mental health concerns, you can explore your legal options with Simmrin Law Group. Our firm has decades of experience and has helped thousands of Californians, and we’re ready to help you, too.
We will look at your case, talk through your options, and fight to protect your future. We can explain the difference between 5150 and 5250 and answer your questions and concerns. Call today to speak with a Vista mental health lawyer and take the first step toward a better outcome.