Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia Mental Health Division
Description
The Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia Mental Health Division and Development is located in Washington, D.C. The Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia Mental Health Division specializes in cases where adults and children face a loss of liberty. Public Defenders and private attorneys appointed by the District of Columbia courts pursuant to the Criminal Justice Act (CJA) provide constitutionally mandated legal representation to indigent people facing a loss of liberty in the District of Columbia. PDS handles a majority of the most difficult, complicated criminal cases, while CJA attorneys handle most of the less serious felony, misdemeanor, and regulatory offenses. Attorneys in the Mental Health Division (MHD) handle involuntary civil commitment cases that arise in D.C. Superior Court. PDS is initially appointed when a person is detained in a mental hospital upon allegations that the person is a danger to self or others as a result of mental illness. MHD lawyers also represent persons in post-commitment proceedings, including commitment reviews and outpatient revocation hearings, and involuntary commitment proceedings of persons found incompetent to stand trial because of mental illness or intellectual disorder. If you have any questions about this organization, please use the contact information on the right-hand side of the page.