Criminal Defendants With Special Needs

New Jersey Criminal Defense Attorney Representing Defendants with Substance Abuse or Mental Health Issues

Criminal Defendants With Special Needs People incur criminal charges for many different reasons. Statistics show that many State and Federal criminal defendants and prison inmates have drug or alcohol problems, or other mental health issues. These people are "in the system" because their criminal conduct was motivated, either in whole or at least in part, by their substance abuse or metal health problem.

In recent years, criminal justice and corrections officials have finally started to realize that these defendants and their cases must be handled differently. Thus, there are a growing number of "diversionary" programs now available for these individuals. Eligible defendants may be eligible to have their cases "diverted" away from the regular criminal court into a specialized court designed to address their unique needs. Successful defendants receive needed services, and may avoid prison time.

Further, even if the defendant is not eligible for a diversionary program, it still may be possible to use their addiction or mental health problem to achieve a more positive result in their matter. Regardless of the nature or severity of the underlying criminal charge(s), these defendants should be represented by a New Jersey criminal defense lawyer who understands mental health and addiction problems, and how they factor into a criminal case.

We are criminal defense attorneys in New Jersey who represent many defendants with substance abuse and mental health issues. Follow these links to learn more about the services we provide in these cases:

If you or a member of your family has criminal charges stemming from an addiction or mental health problem, call us at 800-361-6554 (toll free) or contact us online with any questions and to schedule a consultation.

Client Reviews
★★★★★
"I hired Mr. Friedman to represent my son in a criminal matter that could have landed him in jail. Nobody in our family had ever been involved with the criminal justice system before, so this was all very new to us. He was very patient, answered all of our questions, and made sure we understood everything each step of the way. By the time the case was over, my son had a reduced charge for which he only had to pay some fines." Anonymous
★★★★★
"Mr. Friedman represented me when I was one of several students caught with drugs in a college dorm room. I was set to graduate at the end of the semester, and thought this case would ruin my life. He got my charges dismissed, and the record expunged. This lawyer was a total lifesaver!" Anonymous
★★★★★
"Our daughter has mental health issues. She got into a scuffle with the police and was charged with assaulting an officer. Our attorney, Jim Friedman, was able to show the prosecutor and Judge that the real problem here was her mental stability. She was placed on probation and avoided jail time. Most other lawyers we spoke to refused to take this case, but Jim Friedman took it and got us a great result. Thank you Mr. Friedman!" Anonymous
★★★★★
"I had federal criminal charges and felt totally lost. I was one of who knows how many defendants in this case, and I read on the Internet that almost everyone in federal court end up with a prison sentence, so I was really scared. My first lawyer, who told me that I would probably spend at least some time in prison, barely gave me the time of day after I paid him. Then I hired Jim Friedman to represent me. He stayed with me throughout the entire process. He was always available to answer my questions, and never let me lose hope. He negotiated aggressively with the federal prosecutor and I ended up with a short term of probation. I knew I would get convicted of something, but this lawyer kept me out of jail." Anonymous
★★★★★
"The only part of my trial that was better than watching Mr. Friedman question the witnesses was when the jury came out and said “not guilty” over and over again. You have to see this lawyer in court!" Anonymous