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Mental Health

Mental Health - Civil Court Proceedings and Criminal Court Proceedings 
I. Mental Health Civil Court Commitment Proceedings

Individuals who are unwilling or unable to seek treatment for a mental illness may find themselves in court proceedings which may result in a Court Order for Evaluation (COE) and/or a Court Order for Treatment (COT). Civil commitment court proceedings in Maricopa County, sometimes called Title 36 proceedings, normally occur at Desert Vista Behavioral Health Center (in Mesa), or at the Arizona State Hospital (in Phoenix). If you or a loved one are facing Title 36 proceedings, this Firm has extensive experience defending individuals confronting civil commitment proceedings, including Court Ordered Evaluation (COE) hearings, Court Ordered Treatment (COT) hearings, as well as Status Review hearings.

In Court Ordered Treatment (COT) hearings, the Court may order an individual to be committed to a treatment facility, not to exceed one year of treatment. Orders can sometimes be renewed after the one year period. However, before a person can be legally committed, the Court must first find that the person falls within the scope of at least one of the following categories: 1) is a Danger to Self (DTS), 2) is a Danger to Others (DTO), 3) is Persistently or Acutely Disabled (PAD), or, 4) is Gravely Disabled (GD).

If the Court finds by clear and convincing evidence that an individual falls within the scope of one of the four criteria, the Court will issue a Court Order for Treatment (COT). The length and terms of the treatment order can vary and are primarily dependent on the circumstances of each individual case. If upon release from the treatment facility, an individual requires further treatment, he or she can then be re-petitioned and be subjected to in-patient treatment with additional court proceedings.

Contact a Phoenix mental health attorney to learn more about the impact of mental health in both civil and criminal cases.

Criminal Cases and Mental Health Cases in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe & the Entire Valley. 
II. Criminal Court Proceedings

In addition to civil commitment proceedings in civil court, a person suffering from a mental illness may also be accused of having committed crimes for which they are facing the prospect of criminal prosecution. When an individual with a mental illness is facing criminal prosecution, it is imperative that they have the assistance of a qualified attorney to assist them as they navigate the criminal court system. Mental illness can, under some circumstances, be a defense to criminal charges.  In the criminal court system the mental health of an individual is viewed from two distinct perspectives: first, the mental stability and condition of the accused at the time of the alleged offense; and second, the mental stability and condition of the accused at the time of their current prosecution in court. The former can sometimes be a substantive defense to the allegations confronting the mentally ill defendant (i.e., Guilty but Insane [GBI] or even a mens rea defense) while the latter can be a procedural defense which may, under some circumstances, prevent criminal proceedings from progressing.

Mr. Buckallew is uniquely experienced in representing individuals who are faced with mental health issues in both civil and criminal court proceedings. With nearly two decades of experience defending clients who suffer from mental illness against both criminal allegations and against civil commitment proceedings, Attorney Trent Buckallew understands the importance of assessing the mental state of his clients during both the time of the alleged offense and during the court proceedings themselves. While at the Maricopa County Public Defenders Office, Mr. Buckallew practiced as a Senior Attorney for three years representing individuals in Civil Commitment hearings and has handled countless mental health related cases in private practice and has a proven track record of achieving favorable results in both civil and criminal proceedings. Additionally, Mr. Buckallew is a member of the legal division of the American Psychological Association.

Contact a Phoenix mental health attorney to learn more about the impact of mental health in both civil and criminal cases. 

Client Reviews
★★★★★
We hired Trent Buckallew to represent our son following a second MIP ticket he received while in college. Mr. Buckallew kept us informed throughout all proceedings and helped us receive the satisfactory outcome of dropped charges in exchange for taking an alcohol awareness class. He was personable, knowledgeable and treated our small case with care and compassion. We would highly recommend him to anyone in need of representation. SR
★★★★★
Thank you so much for the time and effort you put into the case against (client's name). We sincerely appreciate the great job you did. We are praying this is the end of it. Thanks again so very much. This was such a difficult time for our family. LN
★★★★★
I'm finally 100% clear of the problem that started our relationship. I cannot thank you enough for handling my case and expungement. I have a great sense of new beginnings and don't have to let my past affect my future. My freedom is priceless. TM
★★★★★
I appreciate everything you were able to accomplish for my father and will certainly be referring Mr. Buckallew to anyone I know who may be in need of an excellent criminal defense attorney. CM
★★★★★
Trent handled cases for me on two different occasions involving tickets for seat belt violations in commercial vehicles. Very happy with results. All charges dismissed. One case in Flagstaff and one case in Gilbert Court. KF