Dharmesh Patel argues that his major depressive disorder should merit his case being heard in Mental Health Diversion Court rather than criminal court.
Our son has schizoaffective disorder with depressive episodes. He was arrested in L.A. for breaking windows, jailed, found competent and released pending a court date. Things did not go well.
Public defenders, prosecuting attorneys and judges in L.A. work together to order treatment instead of incarceration for defendants whose crimes arise from mental illness.