Some people are found (in the US) unable to assist counsel. They receive treatment until they are able, at which point, they can proceed to trial.
A person with autism I know ended up institutionalized after attacking someone, and was unable to assist counsel because of her communication problems.
It happened because she was left alone in a public place by a staff person who wanted a smoke break, and had already be disciplined one for leaving a person alone. This time, the person got agitated, and when someone asked her if she needed help, she assaulted him. She probably would have gotten probation if she'd been able to assist counsel, but she ended up locked up for six months, and came out on meds that made her drool, and caused her to gain about 40 lbs. Staff person got fired, but had no legal consequences. I wanted to assault her myself.
Also, she was on essentially permanent probation. She could be locked up permanently if she ever assaulted someone again.
Not that I'm highly pissed off about this, or anything.
A person with autism I know ended up institutionalized after attacking someone, and was unable to assist counsel because of her communication problems.
It happened because she was left alone in a public place by a staff person who wanted a smoke break, and had already be disciplined one for leaving a person alone. This time, the person got agitated, and when someone asked her if she needed help, she assaulted him. She probably would have gotten probation if she'd been able to assist counsel, but she ended up locked up for six months, and came out on meds that made her drool, and caused her to gain about 40 lbs. Staff person got fired, but had no legal consequences. I wanted to assault her myself.
Also, she was on essentially permanent probation. She could be locked up permanently if she ever assaulted someone again.
Not that I'm highly pissed off about this, or anything.
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