Probation periods are strange terrain, a kind of halfway house between freedom and cell, between you’re fine and on thin ice. If you pardon the metaphor, they are like a purgatory painted in bureaucratic tones. And in this liminal zone – where every misstep can feel magnified, and the stakes are all too high and […]
How Mental Health Assessments Influence Court Outcomes
For too long, the role of mental health in the courtroom was somewhat subdued, even when it looked like it wasn’t. While mental health assessments existed as far back as ancient Greece and Rome, their understanding of mental health nuances was, to say the least, rudimentary. In recent decades, mental health evaluations and assessments have […]
Ways Legal Defense Can Support Mental Wellness in Criminal Cases
The role of legal defense goes far beyond simply representing clients in the courtroom; a key aspect of effective legal defense that’s often overlooked is promoting mental stability and wellness in clients. Legal defenders can improve their clients’ chances and well-being by ensuring fair treatment, reducing stress and anxiety (both inside and outside of the […]
All Minnesota Police To Receive Crisis Intervention Training
Officer involved shootings from Minnesota have made national headlines in recent years, and lawmakers want to ensure all police officers are best equipped to handle critical situations in the heat of the moment. They believe this can be best achieved by passing a law that went into effect July 1 that states that all licensed […]
Minnesota Police May Undergo Mental Health Deescalation Training
A new proposal would set aside $7 million to ensure all police officers in Minnesota would undergo formal deescalation and safety training focused on handling situations involving a person with mental illness. The bill, which has bipartisan support, would include mandatory training in crisis intervention, conflict management and cultural issues surrounding mental illness for all of the […]
