What to Do When a Family Member Has Been Arrested?

My Family Member Has Been Arrested – What Do I Do?

A pace-past-step guide to assist families cope with the criminal justice organization in Los Angeles County when a family fellow member who suffers from a mental disease is arrested.

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STEP ONE: SUPPORT YOUR RELATIVE WHO SUFFERS FROM A MENTAL ILLNESS

• If your family fellow member/friend calls you and says that he/she has been arrested, assist him/her stay calm and offer your assist and back up.
• If your family fellow member/friend is being held in a city jail, remind him/her of the right to accept an attorney nowadays if being questioned by police officers or detectives.
• If he/she is already at the Inmate Reception Center (IRC) side by side to the Men's Central Jail (MCJ) or Century Regional Detention Facility (CRDF), he/she will be screened for mental illness, as well as other health concerns, upon arrival. It is very important that they be direct and honest to benefit as much as possible from this screening process. Assure your family member that it is OK to discuss his/her concrete and mental condition, diagnosis, medications, etc., with the staff conducting the screening, which includes Sheriff'southward nursing staff and Jail Mental Health Service (JMHS) staff. It is important your family fellow member feels condom to speak openly with the mental health screeners.

Stride Ii:  CONTACT THE LOCAL JAIL

• Call the local urban center jail (non the County Jail) that is holding your family member and ask for the Watch Commander. Inform him that your family member suffers from a mental disease and draw the diagnosis and any other concerns you might have. Inquire as to your relative'due south status and estimated length of stay at this facility. Enquire if he/she is expected to be released direct from the city jail. If he/she is going to be released straight from the urban center jail (this sometimes occurs for minor offenses), enquire for the time and identify so you can exist in that location to pick them upwardly. If your relative is severely ill, ask if the city police could take him/her to a psychiatric hospital for a "5150" involuntary 3-day hold for treatment and evaluation.
• If your relative is not going to be released directly from the city jail, inquire that he/she be transferred as quickly as possible to the Los Angeles County Jail IRC.
• Be certain to get the following information:
  • the expected date and time of departure to the IRC;
  • the court arraignmentt date and accost.

TIP: Medication volition probably not be accessible until your relative arrives at the IRC, simply you might inquire if the holding facility can obtain needed medication

Pace THREE: Canton JAIL INFORMATION

• Upon arrival at the MCJ, Twin Towers, or CRDF call the IRC at 213-473-6080 or 213-473-6100. Inquire as to your family member'south location (tower, floor and pod number) and, almost importantly, his/her booking number.  Female person inmates are detained at the CRDF in Lynwood.
• This information is as well readily bachelor on the internet at www.lasd.org .  Click on "LASD Services", then "Inmate Information".  Enter his/her complete legal proper noun to bring upward the booking number. Note this information for future reference.
• Use the links on the Inmate Information Eye  web page to access visiting hours, mailing accost, and oft asked questions.

TIP:  Inmates are sometimes booked in with/without middle name. If you are unable to locate him/her, effort any names your relative has used.

TIP:  When visiting Twin Towers or CRDF, always bring a few quarters for a locker to store your personal belongings while y'all visit your family member. Photograph ID is likewise required.All public visits are by appointment only and company registration is required.Please review the General Public Visiting Guidelines

Step Four:  Send A FAX WITH MENTAL Affliction and Health INFORMATION

• Click on theInmate Medication Information Form,English VersionorSpanish Version. Impress, complete, and fax equally instructed.

If this course is not available:

• Immediately prepare a fax requesting that your relative be screened for placement in the mental health unit of measurement. Begin this fax with your relative's:
  • Full legal name
  • Date of nascence
  • Booking number
  • Location
• In the body of the fax include:
  • His/her diagnosis
  • His/her psychiatrist'due south name, telephone number, and accost
  • The medications that are prescribed for your family member by proper name, dosage, and fourth dimension of day to exist administered
  • Whether a detail medication has proven to be ineffective or has dangerous and/or uncomfortable side furnishings
  • Whatever history of suicide attempts/threats or other fierce intentions in the recent past. Briefly depict the events and when they occurred.
  • Any other urgent medical weather that might require immediate attention, such as diabetes, loftier blood pressure, seizures, eye bug, etc., and medications currently prescribed for those conditions. Include his/her medical doc'south name, accost, and phone number for verification purposes. The medical information you provide is tremendously valuable in making an cess and will help the mental wellness staff select the best treatment for your relative. In that location is a clear preference for maintaining effective current handling. Yet, the Jail Mental Health staff must conduct its ain assessment of your relative'south condition and may non necessarily prescribe exactly the same medications.

• Important:
  • Exercise NOT address any impending charges against your family unit member in this fax. Medical information simply!
  • Keep a copy of this fax for hereafter reference. If your family member is transferred to a unlike facility, you volition need to fax this data once again.
  • On the cover folio, indicate whether your relative has provided you with a written confidentiality waiver.  Even if your relative has previously washed so elsewhere, enquire that he/she be asked to sign 1 while in jail. The Jail Mental Wellness staff is prohibited by law from giving anyone data nearly a client's status unless they have the client'south consent, simply the staff can receive information from relatives or friends without the customer's consent.
• Once your relative has been booked, fax the document described in this step to the appropriate numbers below. Faxes can be sent 24 hours a day, seven days a calendar week.
• Mental Health Services
  • Men's Fax: 213-972-4002
  • Women's Fax: 323-568-4650
• Medical Services Bureau
  • 213-217-4850

Note: If y'all are sending both mental health and medical information, yous must fax the information to the Jail Mental Health Service number and the Sheriff's Medical Services Agency number.

Direct Phone Numbers for Jail Mental Health Men'south Jail Mental Health(213) 473-6183 or (213) 473-1734 Families tin phone call the phone numbers above to request information regarding male person mental health inmates in LASD. These are direct Men's Mental Health Service contact numbers. Women'due south Jail Mental Health(323) 568-4678 Families can call the phone number above to asking information regarding female mental wellness inmates in LASD. This is a straight Female person Jail Mental Health Service contact number. Healthcare providers are prohibited by State and Federal (HIPAA) constabulary from sharing confidential health and mental health information most patients without proper legal authorization. For this reason, Jail Mental Wellness Services may not exist able be able to provide you with information concerning your loved one without his or her consent. Nosotros are permitted, however, to receive any information y'all experience would help the staff provide the best care for your loved i.

STEP V:  MENTALHEALTH Court Program

The Mental Health Courtroom Program assists defendants who have a mental illness in the criminal justice system.  The objectives of this voluntary plan are to increase coordination and collaboration betwixt the criminal justice system and mental health systems, ameliorate admission to mental health services and supports, reduce incarceration time and enhance continuity of care.

• If y'all know what court your family fellow member'south case volition be heard in, delight telephone call the respective field office — see directory.
• If yous are unsure of the court assignment or would like other information on our programs, contact the Court Liaison Programme (CLP) Administrative Headquarters  — see below.
• When you contact the courtroom liaison, it is helpful to provide some important pieces of data.  Delight suggest the liaison of:
  • The attorney's name and phone number
  • A brief argument detailing the current circumstances, diagnosis, and relevant history of your family member. Be concise and to the betoken.
  • Your family fellow member's name, booking number, and date of nascency
  • Where he/she is currently being held
• If your relative has a private attorney, be sure to provide him/her with the court liaison field and administrative offices' contact information, so she/he may contact them.
• If your relative does not have an attorney, a public defender will be assigned at the arraignment

COURT LIAISON DIRECTORY

ALHAMBRA	(626) 308-5021	INGLEWOOD	(310) 419-2101
AIRPORT (W LA, Bev. Hills, Santa Monica)	(310) 727-6245	LONG Embankment	(562) 247-2529
BELLFLOWER	(562) 804-8219	NEWHALL	(818) 898-2490
BURBANK	(626) 403-4370	NORWALK	(626) 403-4370
CLARA SHORTRIDGE FOLTZ (CCB)	(213) 974-2963	PASADENA	(626) 356-5374
COMPTON	(310) 603-8077	POMONA	(213) 305-3532
DOWNEY	(626) 403-4370	SAN FERNANDO	(818) 898-2490
EL MONTE	(626) 403-4370	TORRANCE	(310) 222-4067
E LOS ANGELES	(323) 780-2075	VAN NUYS	(818) 374-2349
GLENDALE	(626) 403-4370	WEST COVINA	(626) 403-4370

CLP Administrative HEADQUARTERS (626) 403-4370

STEP SIX:  Family ADVOCATE

• If you have whatsoever difficulty with this procedure, telephone call the Section of Mental Wellness Family unit Advocate at 213-738-3948 during regular business hours. Or, you tin can electronic mail the function at [electronic mail protected]
• Don't forget to provide your family member's proper noun, location, appointment of birth, and booking number.

Pace SEVEN:  DECIDING ON LEGAL REPRESENTATION

• Your family member may want to retain a individual attorney or use the Public Defenders Office. A public defender will be assigned at arraignment if your relative does non accept or cannot beget a private chaser. Practise not exist afraid to use a public defender. Public defenders often have noesis of the organization as it pertains to those who need mental wellness services.
• If your family unit member decides to retain a private attorney, exist certain to select one that is well versed in helping people with mental illness and understands how to access the treatment facilities and mental health services that are bachelor.

IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS WHEN THE Defendant HAS A MENTAL Affliction

Bail: Think carefully nigh posting bail for your family member. No one wants a loved one to remain incarcerated for whatsoever length of fourth dimension. It is an unpleasant experience for them as well as the family. Notwithstanding, you must enquire yourself the following question. Will your family member exist able to comply with the terms of the bail and appear in court when required? Also, as hard as it may seem, jail may be a safer place for a person with astringent mental illness who is in crisis rather than having your loved one wander the streets with no help at all. At to the lowest degree in jail they will be fed, will have shelter, and exist given access to medication treatments.

Working with an attorney: Call the Public Defender's office at the court where the case is beingness heard and ask for the name and phone number of the attorney who will exist treatment the instance. It is more than likely the attorney will exist at his or her desk in the morning betwixt 8:00 a.thou. -8:30 a.m. before court begins or after in the afternoon after 3:30 p.m. If yous do non reach the chaser, be certain to get out a bulletin requesting a return call with your name, phone number, your family fellow member's name and, if possible, the case number and courtroom date. Due to the attorney-client confidentiality requirement, there volition be data the attorney may not be able to share with you. Recollect, it is your family member, non you, who is the attorney'south customer.

Inform the attorney of your family fellow member's mental affliction diagnosis, current status, and whatsoever data that may exist beneficial to the example. Provide the attorney with an all-encompassing medical, psychiatric, social, and educational history of your family member in writing. Include hospitalization, diagnosis data, medication treatment, and the contact data of those doctors/clinicians and of facilities that take treated your family unit member in the past. This data volition exist very useful in pursuing the all-time result for your loved 1. Attorneys are extremely busy and many will appreciate written or faxed correspondence.

For full general information regarding criminal cases involving mental illness and mental wellness problems, call the Public Defender's Mental Health Co-operative at 323-226–8167.

Supporting and coping with a loved one who suffers from a mental illness/encephalon disorder can be extremely challenging and stressful. Knowledge, every bit well as your love and fortitude, volition be essential in helping you lot to go a strong and constructive back up system for your family member. For information about support groups and educational programs provided free of charge in your expanse, contact the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) via the NAMI Los Angeles County Council 213-386-3615, or on the internet at http://namilacc.org/affiliates/to discover the closest chapter.

This informational guide was written by NAMI volunteers based on their ain personal experience to help families navigate the system. We are not attorneys, and this is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal communication. Please assist your family fellow member in obtaining proper legal representation.

NAMI Los Angeles Criminal Justice Committee

Updated  Nov 29, 2015

*Important Note: Although we practise our best to keep this information on this page up to appointment: regime policies, links, phone numbers, and fax numbers are all subject to alter without notice.If yous find that whatsoever of this information is out of engagement, delight let united states know past using the class on our "contact us" page.

Related Links

The Prison Constabulary Office: a nonprofit public interest constabulary firm
The Centre for Prisoner Health and Human Rights
If Your Loved One is Incarcerated by Kathy Twenty-four hour period
Mental Illness and Criminal Justice – NAMI guide
Health Intendance Assistance CA Dept of Corrections
Probe of California'southward prison-based mental health facilities ordered -LA Times
Mental Health Services Delivery Organization Plan Guide
Mental Health Care in Prison – ACLU
The Center for Prisoner Health and Man Rights: Brown Univ.
JAILS AND THE MENTALLY Sick: Problems and Analysis
Observe your state representative
Prison: The New Mental Hospital

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Source: https://namiglendale.org/dealing-with-arrest/

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