Specialized defense counsel

Once appointed, the defense counsel is made aware of a defendant’s identified mental health needs. In some jurisdictions, defendants with such needs are also connected to social workers or case managers embedded in the defense office.

Local Examples

Salt Lake County, UT Salt Lake County Legal Defender's Office

• Through a contract with Salt Lake County Criminal Justice Services, the Legal Defender's Office houses the case resolution coordinator.
• The case resolution coordinator is an attorney that supports people with serious mental illnesses and other specialty populations who are involved in the criminal justice system.
• The attorney helps to resolve court cases in multiple jurisdictions while ensuring coordination of treatment and supervision.

For more information on this example, see this resource:

• SLCO Behavioral Health Services: Alternatives to Incarceration Initiatives