Heath D. Harte Comments on Increasing Prevalence of Mental Health Defense
(PRWEB) April 29, 2014 -- Heath D. Harte, an attorney-at-law with over twenty-five years of experience, released a statement today commenting on the increasing prevalence of mentally ill suspects and convicts being dealt with by America’s police and prison system.
According to a recent article from the New York Times (Police Confront Rising Number of Mentally Ill Suspects, 4/1/2014), police across the country have reported an increase in the number of mentally ill suspects that they have had to deal with. According to the report, the increase may be attributable to cut-backs in mental health care programs by state and local governments.
“This report is troubling, because it details an increase in crimes committed by people who may have slipped through the cracks of the mental health system due to cutbacks,” said Heath D. Harte. “This increase in the number of mentally ill persons committing crimes could result in an increase in the use of incompetency or ‘mentally unfit’ defense strategies to combat serious criminal charges.”
“According to a report from the Washington Post (Gunman in Fort Hood shooting had behavioral issues, authorities say, 4/3/2014) the gunman in the recent Fort Hood shootings had been undergoing treatment for behavioral issues at the time of the incident.
“The burden of proof for an insanity defense is very difficult to meet,” said Harte. “The definition of insanity has many variances, particularly from state-to-state and in the federal courts. Ultimately, it is up to the client and their attorney whether or not they choose to pursue insanity as a means to combat criminal charges.”
About the Law Offices of Heath D. Harte
With over 25 years of experience, the Law Offices of Heath D. Harte is a full service law firm concentrating in Criminal Law, Personal Injury Law, Estate Planning, and Real Estate. While traditional in service and style, with smart use of experience and leveraging state of the art technology to streamline services, the firm cuts out excessive overhead usually associated with law firms. Lower overhead means that the firm can offer the same service one expects from a prestigious law firm, like the Law Offices of Heath D. Harte, at lower, more affordable costs to clients. The firm’s ultimate goal is to provide aggressive, reliable and effective legal representation at an affordable price. The firm also offers creative fee structures to accommodate clients’ needs, especially in today’s economic climate.
Contact
To learn more about The Law Offices of Heath D. Harte locations and services, please contact:
The Law Offices of Heath D. Harte
1700 Bedford Street, Suite 102
Stamford, CT 06905
Office: (203) 724-9555
questions(at)hartelawoffice(dot)com
http://www.HarteLawOffice.com
Tammy Castelino, Heath D. Harte Law Firm, +1 (203) 724-9555, [email protected]
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