People v. Standridge CA5

INTRODUCTION

Respondent and defendant Jacqueline Standridge (defendant) was arrested and charged with three felony offenses after allegedly stabbing her son with a knife. Prior to the preliminary hearing, she moved for pretrial mental health diversion pursuant to Penal Code1 section 1001.36, based on the argument that she suffered from alcohol use disorder (AUD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and major depressive disorder (MDD), and those conditions were significant factors in the commission of the charged offenses. The Tulare County District Attorney’s Office opposed the diversion motion and argued there was insufficient evidence of defendant’s mental health condition at the time of the charged offenses or that her alleged mental health issues were significant factors in the commission of the offenses. It was also argued that she could not successfully complete diversion since she had failed prior treatment programs, and she posed a risk to public safety because of the nature of the charged offenses. An evidentiary hearing was held, and a social worker employed by the public defender’s office testified about defendant’s mental health history and her current diagnoses…