Mental Health Attorney in Phoenix, Arizona: How Mental Health Impacts Criminal Defense

October 30, 2025

Mental Health Attorney in Phoenix, Arizona: How Mental Health Impacts Criminal Defense

Many Arizona criminal cases involve complex mental health and addiction issues that can deeply influence the judicial process. These conditions often go undiagnosed or are masked by substance abuse, making a case far more complicated. When a person’s mental state is a key factor in their criminal charges, the outcome of their case depends heavily on the attorney’s ability to present these issues effectively in court.


Navigating Arizona law in these cases can be extraordinarily challenging—especially when dealing with the insanity defense or determining a defendant’s competency to stand trial. That’s why it’s essential to work with a Phoenix criminal defense lawyer who understands both the legal and psychological dimensions of mental health and addiction.


Dwane Cates: Defending Clients with Mental Health and Addiction Issues

Attorney Dwane Cates has successfully represented individuals across Arizona whose criminal charges were directly impacted by mental illness or addiction. His background includes using the insanity defense to achieve outcomes where clients were committed to mental health facilities for proper treatment instead of serving time in prison. He has also obtained case dismissals after proving that certain clients were not competent to stand trial.


This kind of experience is invaluable when choosing a mental health defense attorney in Arizona. Handling these sensitive cases requires not only deep legal knowledge but also compassion and an understanding of the human mind. When facing charges connected to mental health or addiction, having a lawyer like Dwane Cates on your side can make a life-changing difference.


Call DwaneCates.Com, PLLC today at 602-878-8695 to schedule a confidential consultation.


The Intersection of Mental Health and Criminal Charges

In cases involving violent crimes—such as assault, domestic violence, or homicide—a mental health evaluation can play a crucial role in shaping a defense strategy. The team at DwaneCates.Com, PLLCworks closely with mental health professionals to ensure the client’s psychological condition is accurately presented in court.


By highlighting the role of mental illness or addiction, Dwane Cates seeks fairer outcomes that focus on rehabilitation and treatment instead of punishment.


Mental Health Defenses in Arizona

Arizona law recognizes several defenses that relate to mental health:


Insanity Defense (Guilty Except Insane)

Under Arizona Revised Statutes §13-502, the insanity defense—known as “Guilty Except Insane”—applies when a person was suffering from a mental disease or defect that prevented them from understanding that their actions were wrong. This does not include voluntary intoxication.

This defense is extremely complex and difficult to prove. It requires admitting the act occurred while demonstrating that the person’s mental illness rendered them unable to distinguish right from wrong. In Arizona, even if someone heard voices urging them to act unlawfully, they can still be found guilty if they knew the act was wrong but chose to proceed.


Building a strong insanity defense demands thorough evaluation by forensic psychologists and detailed case preparation—something Dwane Cates has done successfully, helping clients receive treatment rather than incarceration.

Diminished Capacity

When a mental condition affects a person’s ability to fully comprehend the nature or wrongfulness of their actions, it may reduce criminal liability. This defense can result in lesser charges or lighter sentencing.

Involuntary Commitment

For individuals with severe mental illness, treatment may be a more appropriate resolution than imprisonment. In some cases, Dwane Cates has helped clients obtain involuntary commitment to secure the medical help they need.


Addressing Addiction in Criminal Defense

While voluntary intoxication is not a defense to a crime in Arizona, addiction is often a significant factor in criminal behavior. Courts recognize addiction as a mitigating circumstance, meaning it can influence sentencing and rehabilitation opportunities.


Attorney Dwane Cates understands how addiction and mental illness intertwine. With over 30 years of involvement in the addiction and recovery community, he connects clients with valuable treatment resources. His goal is not just to resolve the current criminal case but also to help individuals break the cycle that leads them back into the justice system.


Why Choose DwaneCates.Com, PLLC

Choosing the right Phoenix criminal defense lawyer is critical when mental health or addiction plays a role in a case. DwaneCates.Com, PLLC provides:


  • Proven success using the insanity and competency defenses
  • Collaboration with mental health and addiction professionals
  • A compassionate, individualized approach to each client’s situation
  • Strategic defense focused on long-term recovery and legal protection


If you or someone you love is facing criminal charges in Arizona where mental health or addiction is a factor, reach out to DwaneCates.Com, PLLC today.

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When charged with a crime in Arizona you need the Best Criminal Defense Lawyer you can find. This is not always easy. Dwane Cates is one of the Best Criminal Defense Lawyers in Arizona and has the Credentials to prove it. He is Board Certified by the State Bar of Arizona as a Specialist in Criminal Law. This means that he had to take an extra bar exam, he has to attend additional and more advanced training every year and he has verified trial experience. The State Bar of Arizona also awarded Dwane Cates with the Tom Karas Award for Criminal Justice. This is a very exclusive award and only twenty two Arizona Criminal Defense Lawyers have ever received this award. Being a great attorney is more than just about knowledge and understanding the law. Managing large criminal cases requires a true captain who can navigate the case through all types of obstacles and aversion. He or she must be able to explore the case from both an offensive and defensive position. It is essential to explore any investigative issues to challenge the allegations and evidence wherever possible while simultaneously exploring mitigation to allow for more meaningful settlement potential should the facts of the case not be favorable to the accused. Arizona Criminal Lawyer, Dwane Cates, understands how to navigate large complex criminal cases. Homicide cases require different components than Dangerous Crimes Against Children, which in turn require different components than Dangerous Drug Sales. He understands the timing and the steps needed and is never about just doing the minimum. He is an excellent captain who gathers the right resources in each case to reach the best possible outcome. Finding and hiring the best forensic experts possible is a key part of managing large criminal cases. Finding needed areas for expert review and input is just the beginning. Vetting experts, strategically setting the scope of their work, and evolving opinions through the case evolution is complex and requires skill and communication. Dwane picks up the phone and calls various experts to discuss possibilities in a case and often is directed into more areas to explore. He knows how to best use the resources around him and the relationships he built over the past 25 years. Case Investigation is particularly important. Mr. Cates thoroughly reviews the State’s evidence and investigation. He tries to challenge any physical evidence by bringing in forensic experts to challenge specific areas of DNA, ballistics, pathology, toxicology, pharmacology, and scene reconstruction. He tries to challenge any witness evidence by exploring witness backgrounds, credibility, eyewitness identification issues, interrogation issues, and finding and interviewing witnesses not appropriately identified or interviewed during the initial criminal investigation. Case Mitigation can serve a critical role in preparing a defense to a charge in Arizona. Arizona Criminal lawyer, Dwane Cates, believes that understanding the person charged is just as important as understanding the charges alleged. Exploring all extenuating circumstances to a charged event and the person charged, could aid in the reduction of charges and/or the possible sentencing outcomes faced in a case. Arizona’s mandatory minimum sentencing statutes that also include many built-in enhancements requires mitigation exploration. Gathering mitigation and supporting records should be done by an experienced Mitigation Specialist. It is also important to find potential mental health issues and when present, have them substantiated by proper forensic evaluation. Psychosexual, psychological, and neuropsychological evaluations can be critical to confirming and proving genuine conditions that contributed to offense behavior. Dwane Cates understands how to begin a case, evolve with the case through the defense investigation, and then how to navigate to the best possible outcome. He actively sends deviation requests, investigative and expert reports, and mitigation as needed to work the case to the best conclusion. Most importantly, Dwane is an excellent trial attorney and as the case is worked, he figures out if trial is proper and strategizes accordingly. Complex cases need to be managed by an experienced trial attorney with a reputation of winning trials. The prosecutions posture in complex criminal cases is dramatically affected by whether they are worried about facing an attorney in trial.