Mental health lawyer Toronto and how we can help
If you or a loved one have mental health issues and are accused of a crime, The Criminal Law Team is here to help.
We recognize the frustration and sadness that people feel when they have a family member who is charged with a criminal offence who cannot or will not obtain the proper medication and/or counseling to treat their mental illness. We know there are limited resources for persons with mental health issues, and that families often struggle to get their loved ones the help they need. By retaining mental health lawyers with decades of experience handling these issues related to the criminal law, you can feel certain that we will understand how to best represent your family member`s case, and how to tap into the existing services that are available.
It is clear to us that persons with mental health issues can lead a happy and productive life.
In the past, we have been successful in getting clients with mental health issues released on bail. This will often necessitate the client complying with appropriate bail conditions, one of which will require him or her to take the prescribed medication. As mental health lawyers, we can secure the services of mental health professionals who will focus on long-term strategies aimed at addressing issues such as housing, medication compliance, and life-skills training. As well, given the strong link between addiction and mental illness, we can assist the client in obtaining substance abuse counseling. We are experienced in working with families to prepare a plan for release that provides treatment, counseling and supports geared to the needs of the accused and his family. If the person with a mental illness cannot be managed in the community, we will ensure that he or she is treated fairly at the institution where he or she resides, and we will work with their treatment team towards a plan for his or her eventual reintegration into society.
Persons suffering from mental health issues are affected by the same criminal laws applicable to all Canadians under the Criminal Code of Canada, such as:
- assault, including weapons offences, forcible confinement, sexual assault, aggravated assault and murder
- mischief (damage to property including arson and other similar allegations)
- breach of court orders such as probationary terms and bail conditions
- property offences (theft, possession of stolen property and fraud-related allegations)
- drug offences and other mental health and addictions-based criminal allegations
Experienced Mental Health Lawyer Toronto
At Toronto’s Criminal Law Team , our goal is to get the mentally ill accused person the help they need, and to avoid them spending time in jail. To accomplish this task, we use the resources available under the Criminal Code and the Mental Health Act, as well as our knowledge of community-based programs, to prepare a plan of release that directly addresses the rehabilitation of the accused person through mental health care. The criminal justice system recognizes that persons with mental illness who are accused of a crime are less morally responsible for their actions, and that treatment for their illness is not only the compassionate thing to do, but is the sensible alternative to jail. At the Criminal Law Team, we have referred numerous clients for psychiatric assessment and treatment, and have presented reports of their progress to the courts, resulting in charges being withdrawn, sentences reduced, and, most important of all, an opportunity for the client and his family to gain a new lease on life.
We have also had the satisfaction of working as mental health lawyers in the criminal justice system where the defense of Not Criminally Responsible ( NCR ) has been advanced in order to ultimately have accused persons with serious mental illness charged with crimes of violence housed and treated in a Mental Health facility as opposed to the minimal treatment available in the federal justice penitentiary service.
In addition, in appropriate cases, we have been successful in having charges, in which there is a mental health component, withdrawn through the entry and assessment of our clients into the Mental Health Diversion Program. In cases in which the Criminal Law Team has been able to obtain this result, our client has had the benefit of continuing his or her life without the stigma of a criminal record.
We welcome the opportunity for you to contact us for a free consultation to discuss what we can do to help.
Toronto’s Criminal Law Team has a combined experience of over 60 years specifically in the criminal law. As experienced mental health lawyers, we have defended many clients who suffer from mental health issues and have an over 85% success rate in getting client’s charges dropped, reduced or withdrawn completely. If your family member or friend suffers from a mental illness of any kind, and has been charged with a crime in the Greater Toronto Area, or elsewhere in Ontario, contact us today. We are confident that we can get your loved one the help he or she needs to get better.
Client Testimonials
I appreciate the quick response. Stephen Hebscher gave me extremely good advice about my situation. I was being extorted by an employee of mine,and he helped me resolve the matter within days. Now I don¹t have this black cloud hanging over my head. I will highly suggest Stephen and The Criminal Law Team to anyone that needs the help of an experienced criminal lawyer! Thanks again!
M.A.
I came to Stephen Hebscher with a somewhat irregular case. Both my spouse and I had been mutually charged with domestic assault, a legal situation that neither of us had wished upon each other. While my spouse's lawyer had been content to seek mutually binding peace bonds, Stephen was able to get in front of the case and negotiate a withdrawal of both of our charges- the best possible outcome on BOTH sides of the table – once we successfully completing the PARs program. I remain entirely pleased with Stephen's competency, professionalism and accessibility, and would not hesitate to recommend him as a criminal defence lawyer. L.A.
Mr. Hebscher: I would like to thank you for your excellent representation of me in relation to the domestic assault charges that you worked so hard to have withdrawn. You have made a critical difference in my future and I am very happy with the outcome.
I also appreciate your hard work, and the extra time and effort you have put in to deal with all the other issues that came along. I thank you for being a phone call away (or email) even when you did not have to be.
I will gladly recommend your services to any of my friends or family should they ever need it. I am very grateful for what you have done.
M.B. Toronto
Dear Bruce Karten
I wanted to send a note to express my family’s gratitude for everything you have done for my brother. With his mental illness, and the serious charges that were laid against him that included arson and endangering life under the Criminal Code of Canada, we were terrified of what was going to happen to him. These charges could well have resulted in him being sentenced to jail for a period of 10 years or more.
I did not know what to expect when I made that first call to you, Bruce, but through the months it took to resolve this, your professionalism, knowledge and patience in explaining what you were planning to do in a way that we were able to understand, made us feel less anxious and more hopeful.
Thanks to you, his charges were substantially reduced and he received a sentence that allowed him to continue to receive the medical help he needs to recover and look to putting his life back together. Any period of jail would have been devastating to his chances of recovering from this devastating situation. We would recommend you, Bruce Karten, without hesitation, to anyone in need of an excellent criminal defense lawyer.
Thank you,
Shirley, T., Whitby, Ontario
Dear Mr. Hebscher: I wish to commend and thank you for your recent handling of my friend’s court case. Your compassionate and thorough scrutiny of the circumstances lead to a withdrawal verdict. Thank you so much. I was most impressed and should I ever be in a similar serious situation you will be the first person I call. Again, you represent all the good side of lawyers.
C.M.
Toronto, ON
Dear Mr. Hebscher: I would like to take this opportunity to thank you ever so much for your great professionalism and humane service to me at a time of profound confusion and in dire need of legal counsel. From my first introduction via telephone, your voice made me feel comfortable. Dealing with you from the beginning to end kept me reassured I was in good hands. The final outcome of my court case, which was “withdrawn” confirmed that I truly had a good lawyer on my side and it was your advocacy that convinced the crown. I would highly recommend you to anyone in need of an excellent criminal lawyer. Once again, I thank you and God bless.
M.J.
Toronto
Excellent news!
I am impressed especially after our meeting on Monday – I was resigned that something bad would befall me, so I am very blessed to have this outcome. I thank you for the hard work that you have put into this case, and the dedication on getting me this fantastic outcome!
I am so glad that we retained you as my lawyer! You have done an outstanding job and allowed me to now rebuild my life. Thank you, Bruce Karten.
Dave B. (Ajax, Ontario)
We were referred to Stephen Hebscher when our child was in need of legal representation. He was charged with sexual assault. As parents, we were quite frightened for our child but Mr. Hebscher was the calm voice of reason. We are very grateful to Mr. Hebscher for the excellent results he got for our child, as the charges were dropped.
J.N. (Toronto, Ontario)
Mr. Hebscher is a very professional lawyer who takes pride in his work and because of this the end result was the judge ruling me not guilty and I got my innocence and life back. My family and I would like to thank you again Stephen Hebscher for doing a wonderful job and also being a very supportive man.
Chris T. (Scarborough, Ontario)
I am happy to report that Bruce’s superior negotiation strategy and ability to present facts effectively helped convince the Crown to reduce his position. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Bruce for getting my charge withdrawn and keep my criminal record clean.
J.S (Toronto, Ontario)
I looked and found Barrister Stephen Hebscher I introduced myself and my case and after listening to all details he was able to ensure me that my case would go well. All charges against me have be thrown out and my life is back to normal.
Blair H. (North York)
Bruce ...The care and concern you showed us during our dealings certainly helped to reduce the stress we were under. I would recommend you without a second thought. Your winning record is a bonus as well. My husband and myself can't thank you enough for all you've done for our family.
Debi T. (Mississauga, Ontario)
Dear Mr. Hebscher...There are not enough words to express my appreciation for your...giving me your undivided attention at all times, work in my case with your heart and soul, that makes you "ONE OF A KIND" lawyer.
Ahmed A. (Brampton, Ontario)
Mr. Bruce Karten was able to help to extricate me from a very serious criminal case containing severe charges, including weapons –threat to use weapons, death threat, harassment,etc. He succeeded in winning my case. I was discharged; was able to keep my career, and no criminal record. This was a tremendous accomplishment, and I am very appreciative of that.
Nickolai V. (Toronto, Ontario)
Again, from the depth of our hearts we sincerely thank you very much for being my Counsel on this case. We now can say you are the BEST and we will surely recommend you to our friends and anybody here we know who needs the best Lawyer in Ontario. You have done an extremely good job and we are very happy with the outcome this morning.
Roman A. (Markham, Ontario)
Mr. Hebscher was the only lawyer who gave me hope and made me feel like I had a real fighting chance. I am extremely satisfied with the quick results that he delivered, and I am happy to say that he was able to convince the court to drop the charges against me and clear my name.
Tina M. (Toronto, Ontario)
