The United States is in the midst of a mental health crisis. Millions of people suffer from undiagnosed mental health disorders, yet few receive the treatment that they need. Too many of these people end up incarcerated for crimes that they committed as a result of a treatable condition. At Ridley Defense, we are committed to helping individuals with underlying mental health disorders understand their rights after they are charged with a criminal offense.
Attorney Doug Ridley has been heavily involved in Ventura County’s Mental Health Diversion Program. He was selected to represent the private defense bar as part of the committee tapped to sculpt the county’s innovative program. This program is designed to divert defendants suffering from mental health disorders from the criminal courts and if all conditions are met, ultimately dismiss the criminal charges.
If you or a loved one has been charged with a criminal offense that was committed due to a mental health disorder, contact our office for a complimentary consultation.
In order to combat the mental health crisis, California lawmakers authorized courts to grant pretrial diversion for defendants suffering from a mental health disorder. Penal Code Section 1001.36 authorizes a court to grant mental health diversion for specific misdemeanor and felony offenses committed by an individual.
If all conditions of diversion are met, including successful participation and completion in a mental health treatment program, the court is able to dismiss the criminal charges against the offender. If you believe that you are eligible for mental health diversion, it is imperative that you discuss your case with an experienced defense attorney.
Pursuant to Section 1001.36, in order to be eligible for mental health diversion, the court must be satisfied that a defendant suffers from a “mental disorder identified in the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.”
The individual charged with the offense must have a recent diagnosis by a qualified mental health expert. His or her mental disorder must be identified in the latest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Some of the most common mental health disorders recognized by the court and allotted eligibility into the program include, but are not limited to:
Defendants who have antisocial personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, and pedophilia are ineligible for pretrial diversion pursuant to this code section.
The court must also determine that the mental disorder “was a significant factor in the commission of the charged offense” and that the defendant would “respond to mental health treatment.”
Senate Bill 215 deemed certain offenses ineligible for pretrial mental health diversion, including:
If granted, successful completion of pretrial mental health diversion can result in dismissal of the criminal charges and sealing of the arrest record. However, an individual must meet all of the criteria to be granted diversion under this code section.
Requirements of mental health diversion include:
An individual may be disqualified from mental health diversion if they are charged with an additional misdemeanor offense that shows a propensity toward violence or a felony.
At Ridley Defense, we are honored to represent those who have served or are currently serving in the military. Mental health disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) plague many of our service members.
If you are a veteran facing criminal charges, you may be eligible for pretrial diversion. Contact our office as soon as possible for a complimentary and confidential consultation. We are proud to offer our military veterans discounts in gratitude for their service.
In an effort to implement the new law in 2018, Ventura County gathered a group of stakeholders representing different sectors of the criminal justice system. Representatives were chosen from the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, Ventura County Public Defender’s Office, Probation Department, Behavioral Health, and Superior Court.
In addition to these leaders, Ventura County Criminal Defense Attorney Douglas Ridley was selected to represent the private defense bar. The stakeholders met biweekly and were instrumental in creating a comprehensive plan. Ventura County’s mental health diversion program is currently up and running.
Our legal team is dedicated to helping individuals suffering from a mental health disorder understand their rights. We not only can provide you the superior legal representation you deserve, but we can also get you the resources and services you need.
Even if an individual is not eligible for a mental health diversion, this aspect of your case can play heavily on the overall outcome. We have worked with prosecutors and judges to mirror elements of the Mental Health Diversion in regular criminal cases to reduce the outcome . Ridley Defense’s expertise on this topic can be a key component of a successful resolution.
Successful completion of mental health diversion can result in the dismissal of your criminal charges. Call (805) 208-1866 to find out more or fill out our online contact form to speak directly with an attorney.
"Ridley Defense has been nothing short of exceptional. The relentless desire to achieve the best for me is superior. My highest recommendations to anyone who is looking for a team of professionals that will succeed and surpass your expectations. Ridley defense has produced positive outcomes for me when I believed there would be no such results in my case. There is no need to look around when the answer is right in front of you, Ridley defense is who you want on your side and on your team!"
"From my first contact at Doug’s office I knew I found the right attorney. What starts right ends right and they paved the way and fought for me tirelessly. Doug is patient and understanding! I don’t know what other way to describe it than to say it feels like they are fighting for you but even more so that they are fighting with you. You are on the same side. I love that nobody ever once told me what I wanted to hear – they told me what I needed to hear. You know whatever they are telling you is exactly what’s happening. I passed my situation to Doug, and as crazy as it sounds hardly thought of it again. They are all wonderful and work so hard! If you are considering using them, stop considering! They are an answered prayer."
"No traffic ticket in almost 40 years, yet in a single evening I made up for that and was facing jail time. After reading the 50 ads that came in my mailbox the next day, I contacted an attorney. They treated me more like a burden than a client, so I switched and found Ridley Defense. Ridley Defense is a group of legal professionals that I recommend you have on your side. They provided me with the legal expertise to help unravel a court system that is foreign to most people and definitely slanted against you. They explained how established court guidelines function and where and when your attorney can push back to produce the best outcome. Most importantly, they calmed me and helped emphasize that this is only temporary."
Whether you need advisement, negotiation, damage control, or aggressive courtroom representation, our caring, compassionate, and tactically brilliant attorneys will fight for you.