Summary
A legal team in Los Angeles is focusing on helping people with cognitive disabilities who are in the criminal justice system. This team, led by lawyer Noah Cox, aims to provide alternatives to prison for individuals whose disabilities make it hard for them to communicate and understand legal proceedings.
Key Facts
- Noah Cox, a lawyer in Los Angeles, formed a team to support people with cognitive disabilities facing legal charges.
- The team is part of the Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office and focuses on intellectual and developmental disabilities.
- People with such disabilities often end up in prison due to misunderstood or unrecognized conditions.
- Conditions include Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Down Syndrome, traumatic brain injuries, and other intellectual disabilities.
- Many affected individuals are not diagnosed during their education and may go unnoticed for many years.
- People with these disabilities are more likely to be victims of violent crimes or become involved in the criminal justice system.
- The program aims to provide alternatives to prison to avoid worsening these individuals' situations.
