Your Voice in the Criminal Justice System
It is always difficult for criminal defendants to get their story across to the court in criminal cases, but this is especially true when the defendant has some kind of mental health issue. Most people in this situation have a difficult time expressing themselves or explaining their mental illness in a way that will be compelling to the judge and jury.
We provide a voice for our clients in the criminal justice system. One of the most important benefits we provide for our clients at Kissiah & Schaefer, PLLC, is understanding. The criminal justice system does not care about you. We do. We will take the time to understand your story and the unique circumstances that caused you to get into trouble in the first place.
Once we take the time to get to know you and your background, our Fairfax criminal defense lawyers will help you present your story to the judge and jury in a way that presents you in the best light possible. When they understand you better, they may be less likely to give you a harsh sentence.
Mental Health and Mitigating Circumstances | Virginia Attorneys
Not every criminal case that has a mental illness issue involves a plea of "not guilty by reason of insanity." In fact, this is quite rare. More often than not, a defendant's mental state does not reach the strict standard required for an insanity plea, but it can be used to help the court understand why a defendant committed a certain crime. Some examples include:
- Heat of passion: If you were provoked by something that would cause the ordinary person to act on impulse, it is called "heat of passion." The most common example of this type of provocation is spousal infidelity. Heat of passion is used in homicide cases to reduce charges.
- Addiction: When someone is addicted to drugs, that person is not in full control. This fact can sometimes convince a jury to minimize the sentence of a defendant.
- Other life circumstances: No one commits a crime in a bubble. If you have been convicted of a crime, there is something about your background and your life that we can use to inspire a jury to give you a more lenient sentence. This is the importance of your story that we emphasize at Kissiah & Schaefer, PLLC.
Fairfax County Mental Defense Attorneys | 571-308-2041 | Free Initial Consultations
Either call our Fairfax, Virginia law firm office or e-mail us to schedule a free initial consultation with one of our attorneys.
