The Contra Costa County Superior Court is asking for lawyers interested in contract work as mental health hearings involving individuals involuntarily placed in psychiatric facilities.
These attorneys determine whether patients meet the legal criteria for involuntary detainment, look into their cases to determine eligibility for continued involuntary treatment and make sure that legally required procedures for these hearings are followed.
Qualifications include knowledge of the laws and ethics relevant to mental health proceedings along with membership in good standing with the state Bar Association and five years of experience.
Mental health hearing officers typically work in the county hospital or in the Martinez Detention Facility, though there may also be circumstances requiring them to go to other mental health or detention facilities around the county.
Hearing officers are compensated at a rate of $125 for each assignment, with mileage and parking expenses reimbursed. Assignments are typically scheduled in two-hour blocks on weekdays during business hours.
Anyone interested in applying can submit a resume to the county administrator’s office on the 10th floor of the County Administrator’s Office at 651 Pine Street in Martinez by 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16.
They can also be emailed to julie.enea@cao.cccounty.us.
17 comments
That is what we need. More shysters getting the mentally unbalanced out into the world.
The lawyers are just advocating for these peoples’ rights. There is nothing wrong with being mentally ill. 30% of the US population will at one time in their life be diagnosable with a metal illness.
Further, we keep hearing Conservatives telling us that we have a “mental health problem” in this country – and yet – not only do they never propose anything to help people with mental health issues – they actually attack them and want to marginalize them…
It’s almost as if Conservatives use that phrase to simply deflect instead of ever having to try and solve something…
But of course they would never do that …
That explains a lot of your postings.
concord ygnacio You just love to bring up dump arguments don’t you.
Rob I know democrats love to blame Reagan for closing down our mental institutions across the country when he was just the governor of California but it was a federal lawsuit brought by the leftist of the ACLU that closed them all. At this point I don’t think anyone left or right has an idea of what to do. How would it have stopped the latest two killers?
I see people are coming at me with red herring arguments, personally attacking when they have nothing else.
@30%
Good one!
@Ricardoh:
There is no evidence that the last two mass killers were mentally ill. By implying that they were only further stigmatizes that they are violent. Most mentally ill people are not violent.
Look to your left and right. One of them will be mentally ill at one time in their life. They could be your brother or sister or dad or mother.
People do bad, sometimes evil things all the time, but are not mentally ill. They are sentenced to prison rather than a hospital.
@ concord ygnacio
A person goes to a public place and starts killing innocent people he or she doesn’t know and you think that person isn’t mentally ill. Come ygn you have to be brighter than that. You don’t have to be a raving lunatic to be mentally un balanced.
Those in jails for all kinds of things have problems but not like a cold blooded killer. Of which by the way there are many walking around on the outside as we write. As far as catching them Good Luck.
@Ricardoh:
Only a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist can diagnose a mental illness. A lot of people say Donald Trump is mentally, ill, but none of us knows since his medical records are confidential. We cannot presume a mental illness because of behavior. From the El Paso killer’s manifesto, which I read on 8chan, it seems his decision was calculated and based on his long-held beliefs. He seemed to have a lot of anger towards Latinx people. I don’t know if he was mentally ill though.
Con ygnacio
Trump said they’re mentally ill.
Our you doubting our president?
just another step on the ladder or a checked career box. certainly doesn’t pay much.
Yeah, the pay seemed a little low. Two hours for $125, paid as a contractor? I make much more than that and I am far less “educated” and experienced than the average lawyer…
I wonder if this is just more loon’s running the loony bin?
Sounds like a worthwhile side gig. I may look into it further when I have enough years of eligibility to practice.
This could be the difference between another mass shooting or other violent behavior (including self-inflicted) and averting it. Any contact the mentally ill have with others is an opportunity for evaluation and determination of their mental state to provide specific needed help.
Additionally, California is woefully inadequate in providing mental health services as evidenced by the growing numbers of homeless. This seems like a step in the right direction. When you think of all that is provided to the illegal alien population in terms of services, this is a mere drop in the bucket. I believe as the current administration in Washington DC stems the tide of illegal immigration, those services can be diverted to solving the mental health issues of the homeless, which I believe we would all like to see.
It is demoralizing to us all on some level psychologically to have the plight of the homeless so front and center in our existence on a daily basis. It speaks to a hopelessness that is disheartening to us all, whether we realize it or not. I believe the mentally ill should have at least as much legal representation and assistive services as those on the soil illegally without question, and it is very clear that is not presently happening.
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