My child, who is under 18, has been arrested and needs drug treatment, mental health treatment, or specialized education. Can the Public Defender help?
There are programs available to minors to deal with problems involving drug abuse, mental health issues and specialized educational needs. These programs are provided through various state and county agencies and can be accessed by parents themselves or with the help of private advocates. If your child is represented by the Public Defender’s Office, please alert the lawyer to any problems your child has with drugs, school or mental health so that our office can begin the referral process at the earliest possible time. Also, any records you have which relate to these problems should be shown to the lawyer. If the Juvenile Court is not made aware of the problems, the source of a behavioral problem might go undiscovered and untreated, and the child may not receive the full benefit of the resources available to the Court.
Related Questions
- My child, who is under 18, has been arrested and needs drug treatment, mental health treatment, or specialized education. Can the Public Defender help?
- Are there treatment interventions that can effectively respond to the mental health needs of youth in the juvenile justice system?
- What are the most critical child and adolescent mental health needs and problems in the Commonwealth of Virginia?
