Legal Question in Criminal Law in Illinois

Suicide Attempt treated as crime

My adult son, who lives in Illinois, threatened suicide with a firearm. It took me more than 15 hours following an anonymous phone tip to determine his location. Neither the suburban police who arrested him nor the Cook County Department of Corrections which currently holds him in custody made any information available, hiding behind the veil of privacy laws; nor did they provide me with telephone information that would have made it possible for me to determine what course of action to follow. He is incarcerated on $25000 bail. He is a substance abuser without insurance. I assume this is how indigents are generally treated in such circumstances. I want to know if my son has any protection under the law that will ensure he is provided with psychiatric care rather than imprisonment, which I fear would aggravate his suicidal depression and would be a lethal response to his act. He is an adult, so I have no custodial authority. I am not affluent, and cannot provide funds for private psychiatric care. Do I have any recourse?


Asked on 9/07/05, 8:59 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Zedrick Braden III Ainsworth & Associates PC

Re: Suicide Attempt treated as crime

Hello. The county hospital has the resources to

provide your son with psychiatric care. However,

I would suggests private representation. Representation from the county, under these circumstances, in my opinion, will not be in your son's best interest. Should you have any

more questions, I will be happy to answer them.

Read more
Answered on 9/07/05, 11:10 pm


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