One Stop Therapy: Solving your loved one's legal problem and the behavior that caused it

Does your loved one have a history of problem behavior?

Please understand: Many people are just at the wrong place, at the wrong time and are wrongly accused of being on the wrong side of the law.

Yet many criminal defense clients have a long history of problem behavior. Their families are frustrated because the person seems to repeatedly do things that doesn't make sense. The person in question isn't necessarily "crazy" (as in thinking they are Jesus or possessed by aliens) but their behavior has caused problems in several areas of their life. Usually, the problem behavior is the result of "brain illness" - a real medical problem that can't just be talked away through counseling alone.

One Stop Therapy is a program designed by me after many years of studying people accused of crimes. The goal of One Stop Therapy is simple: Solve the problem behavior that created the legal problem and solve the legal problem at the same time.

Here is a brief test to see if the person you love fits the One Stop Therapy Program criteria:

□ Did your loved one finish high school?
□ Is your loved one impulsive in matters of money or love?
□ Does your loved one appear to sabotage themselves?
□ Does your loved one make empty promises?
□ Does your loved one have a substance abuse problem?
□ Has your loved one been in substance abuse treatment previously, but it didn't work?
□ Has your loved one ever been prescribed anti-depressants or anti-anxiety drugs?
□ Has your loved one ever sought out or been court ordered to attend counseling?
□ Does your loved one attract people who are a negative influence?
□ Does your loved one make ridiculous excuses for misbehavior?
□ Is your loved one unreliable?
□ Have some family members "written off" your loved one?
□ Has your loved one been arrested before, even if it was a long time ago?

If you marked two or more of the above questions, then your loved one may be a candidate for One Stop Therapy. This does not excuse wrongful behavior nor does it fit every individual's circumstance. However, after having hundreds of clients evaluated by a PhD level psychologist using advanced psychometric testing, most "repeat offenders" have chemical imbalances and other brain illnesses which affect their behavior. This may be why your loved one doesn't get it.

I believe that this approach is the future of criminal law. The merger of pscyhology, psychiatry and law has the potential to actually solve the social problem of crime in over eighty percent (80%) of all criminal cases.

How to Select a Criminal Defense Lawyer Who is Right for You

One of the advantages to lawyer's marketing on the Internet and in the phone books, it that consumers have access to information. Obviously, one of the disadvantages is the asymetry of information: The lawyer has more information and knows how to use it to land a case.

The best phone book ad doesn’t guarantee the best lawyer. For example, a lawyer may have a big, flashy ad that says “DUI Only!” yet that lawyer may not be a criminal law specialist. In fact, there is no specialty in DUI recognized by the Florida Bar Association or the Florida Supreme Court! The only two specialties in criminal law are criminal trial law and criminal appellate law.

Select a lawyer by asking questions before you go to the lawyer’s office. A handy checklist is provided.

Most lawyers in the criminal defense field provide free initial consultations. The free initial consultation has two purposes: 1) explain what a lawyer can do for you, and; 2) what the fee would be if you and the lawyer agree to representation.

Desperate lawyers will offer low money down payment plans, cheap fees and cheap service. The best best criminal defense attorneys are lawyers who will expect their fee up front, they will charge more, and they will have the time to provide the best service. Most importantly, they can answer the questions on the checklist with a ‘yes,’ not an excuse.

Checklist for Hiring A Criminal Defense Lawyer

• Are you certified by the Florida Bar Association and the Florida Supreme Court as a specialist in criminal law?
• Does your law firm focus on criminal law exclusively?
• Have you handled at least a thousand or more criminal cases?
• Are you a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers?
• Are you a member of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers?
• Are you a member of your local Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers?
• Do other lawyers call you when they have questions about criminal law?
• Are you a “Lone Ranger” or do you have a defense team?
• Have you ever led a defense team?
• Have you handled cases like mine in the past?
• Have you had trials in cases like mine in the past?
• Have you practiced law for more than ten years?
• Have you won any cases that have been reported in the Southern Second Edition Case Reporter?
• Are you qualified to handle capital death penalty cases?
• Have you ever won a capital case?
• Have you ever won any motions to dismiss?
• Have you ever won any motions to suppress?
• Have you ever won any judge trials?
• Have you ever won any jury trials?

Now, some of these won't apply in every case: If you or your loved one has been charged with Burglary, then this Checklist for Hiring a Criminal Defense Lawyer can be modified to suit your needs.