In a criminal case in which I am the defendant in a felony theft charge case, will my mental illness be relevant?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
In a criminal case in which I am the defendant in a felony theft charge case, will my mental illness be relevant?
Asked on November 30, 2012 under Criminal Law, Texas
Answers:
B.H.F., Member, Texas State Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 11 years ago | Contributor
Mental illness is relevant as a defensive theory and a mitigation of punishment. If a person was insane at the time of the offense, they could be found not guilty by reason of insanity. If they were legally sane, but have mental health issues, many judges in Texas will order mental health treatment as a condition of probation. Some counties even have specialized diversion programs just for people with mental health issues.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.