Mental Health and Criminal Defense

Pennsylvania Criminal Defense for the Mentally Ill

Allentown criminal defense lawyer Dennis Charles's practice places an important focus on the representation of persons with mental illness who are charged with serious felonies such as murder, arson, or rape. Since 1979, he has served as private counsel, as well as court-appointed counsel, for persons suffering from mental illness, and has extensive legal training and trial experience presenting legal insanity or mental infirmity defenses for mentally ill defendants charged with serious crimes.

In fact, attorney Dennis Charles has won two of only three successful insanity acquittals ever recorded in Lehigh County criminal trial history. Attorney Charles has appeared on the nationally syndicated Arts & Entertainment Network television program "American Justice," as well as "Court TV" and "AM Philadelphia," for his successful insanity defense of his client. If you or someone in your family needs a criminal defense lawyer who is experienced with the development and presentation of trial strategies based on mental illness, contact the Allentown office of Dennis G. Charles, Attorney at Law.

Pennsylvania criminal defense attorney Dennis Charles has extensive legal training and experience representing defendants suffering from mental illness, and working with forensic experts in order to develop and present an accurate diagnosis of his client's mental condition. In some cases, evidence of mental illness can legally justify an acquittal of all criminal charges. In other cases, evidence of the defendant’s mental illness and state of mind at the time of the criminal offense may lead to favorable treatment in sentencing. In the ideal situation, mental health treatment resources can be identified and obtained at an early stage of the case, so that the defendant can be diverted toward therapy rather than punishment.

For further information about his extensive training and trial experience in providing effective legal representation for mentally ill persons charged with serious crimes, contact Attorney Dennis Charles at his law office in Allentown.