Murder Charges & Pretrial Support
Facing Murder Charges? Organize the Right Support Before Court.
Murder allegations are among the most serious criminal cases a person can face. Behavioral-health evaluations, counseling, treatment, monitoring and organized documentation may become relevant depending on the circumstances. ETS coordinates the support side while your attorney handles the legal defense.
A support plan may involve
Behavioral Assessment
Mental Health Evaluation
Counseling / Therapy
Substance Use Support
Case Management
Progress Documentation
The appropriate steps depend on the allegations, provider recommendations and attorney strategy.
What it may involve
Common Murder and Homicide-Related Charges
Every case is different. These are some of the charges that can come up. Code references are general and may not match every case.
First-Degree Murder
PC 187 / 189
Allegations involving a killing the prosecution claims was planned or deliberate.
Second-Degree Murder
PC 187
Murder allegations that are not charged as first degree.
Felony Murder
PC 189(e)
Allegations that a death happened during certain other felonies.
Attempted Murder
PC 664 / 187
Allegations of an attempt to kill that did not result in death.
Voluntary Manslaughter
PC 192(a)
Homicide allegations the law treats differently from murder.
Involuntary Manslaughter
PC 192(b)
Homicide allegations that do not involve intent to kill. Your attorney can explain how the law defines it.
Vehicular Manslaughter
PC 192(c)
Allegations that a death was connected to driving.
Juvenile Murder Allegations
Special context · Younger defendants
Homicide allegations involving a younger person, which may follow different procedures.
Homicide laws are complex and fact-specific. Your attorney can explain which charges, degrees and consequences apply.
When firearm allegations are part of the case, separate firearm-related legal issues may also need to be evaluated by defense counsel. Fatal driving cases may involve different homicide theories, including vehicular manslaughter or, in certain DUI-related circumstances, Watson murder allegations.
Timing
Waiting and Acting Early Can Look Very Different
Acting early may create a clearer record of the steps being taken outside the courtroom.
Wait & react
- Wait for the next hearing to plan anything
- Delay a needed evaluation
- Leave mental-health or substance-use needs unaddressed
- Keep provider records in different places
- Lose track of steps taken since the arrest
Act early
- Ask counsel which support may be relevant
- Arrange an appropriate evaluation if recommended
- Start provider-led care where appropriate
- Use case management to keep steps on track
- Keep a clear record of participation
Acting early does not change murder liability or guarantee any result. Legal decisions stay with the attorney and court.
Support options
What May Be Worth Organizing?
Providers deliver these services. ETS helps coordinate them and keep participation organized.
Featured · Evaluation
Behavioral / Mental Health Evaluation
An appropriate evaluation may help clarify mental-health, trauma, substance-use or other treatment-side needs.
Featured · Care & records
Counseling, Treatment & Documentation
Provider-led counseling, treatment and organized records may become relevant depending on the support plan.
Specialized evaluation
A Specialized Evaluation May Help Clarify Treatment-Side Needs
Depending on the circumstances, an appropriately qualified provider may help evaluate mental-health, trauma, substance-use or other behavioral-health needs.
Current Concerns
Clarify what may need clinical attention.
Provider Recommendations
Identify appropriate provider-led care where relevant.
Next Steps
Create a clearer starting point for treatment-side planning.
ETS does not make forensic findings or offer violence risk assessments. A qualified provider decides what kind of evaluation, if any, fits.
Assessments & EvaluationsBehavioral health
When Mental Health, Trauma or Substance Use May Be Relevant
Some cases may involve mental-health concerns, trauma, substance use or other behavioral-health needs. Appropriate provider-led care may help clarify treatment-side needs.
Mental Health
Evaluation or therapy may be appropriate depending on the situation.
Trauma
Trauma-informed care may be relevant where clinically appropriate.
Substance Use
Treatment, testing or monitoring may be worth discussing if substance use is part of the situation.
These concerns do not explain or excuse any alleged conduct. Providers decide what care is clinically appropriate.
Research & Support
Specialized Violence Treatment Has a Measurable Evidence Base
Research involving people with histories of violent offending has examined whether specialized psychological treatment is associated with later behavior. This evidence is not murder-specific and does not determine intent, malice, guilt or the outcome of a homicide case.
Offense-treatment meta-analysis
70 Studies
Specialized Offense Treatment Was Examined Across 70 Studies
A 2019 meta-analysis reviewed 70 studies of specialized psychological treatment addressing sexual offending, domestic violence and general violence.
Only part of the evidence base involved general-violence treatment.
Specialized psychological offense-treatment meta-analysis · 2019
Offense-treatment meta-analysis
55,604
More Than Fifty-Five Thousand Individuals Were Included
The combined meta-analysis included 55,604 individuals across the three specialized offense-treatment categories.
Participants were not people with murder convictions as a group.
Specialized psychological offense-treatment meta-analysis · 2019
General-violence programs
24.3%
Relative Reduction Reported in General-Violence Programs
Within the general-violence treatment category, specialized programs were associated with a 24.3% relative reduction in offense-specific recidivism compared with untreated groups.
This finding concerns general-violence treatment populations and is not specific to murder cases.
Specialized psychological offense-treatment meta-analysis · 2019
This research concerns specialized treatment for violence-related behavior in studied offender populations. It is not an ETS outcome statistic. ETS does not claim to provide or replicate the specific intervention programs evaluated in these studies. It does not determine whether a homicide occurred, intent, malice, guilt, charge level, diversion eligibility, sentencing, custody or any other legal outcome.
The meta-analysis also found that staffing and program implementation mattered. Treatment effectiveness appeared stronger when qualified psychologists were actively involved and treatment staff received clinical supervision. Source: PubMed (PMID 31476514)
Relevant ETS support:Assessments & EvaluationsMental Health TherapyBehavioral Health & Substance Abuse TreatmentCase Management
An important difference
Treatment-Side Support and Criminal Liability Are Different
Treatment / Support
Evaluations, counseling and treatment address treatment-side needs through appropriate providers.
How they connect
ETS can coordinate treatment-side support, but it does not determine intent, malice, guilt or criminal responsibility.
Criminal Liability
Intent, malice, guilt, the degree of any offense and sentencing are questions handled by attorneys and courts.
Fit matters
Not Every Murder Case Needs the Same Support Plan
The right approach depends on the allegations, behavioral-health concerns, existing care and attorney strategy.
Important
ETS does not determine guilt, intent, legal strategy or court requirements.
Nature of the allegations
What is alleged and the circumstances around it.
Behavioral-health concerns
Whether mental health, trauma or substance use may be relevant.
Existing care
Treatment or evaluation that may already be in place.
Attorney strategy
How your attorney is approaching the case.
The coordination process
How ETS Helps Organize Support in Murder Cases
- 01
Understand the Situation
Learn what is going on and what support may be relevant.
- 02
Identify Relevant Support Needs
Look at whether an evaluation, treatment or monitoring may fit.
- 03
Coordinate Evaluation / Counseling / Treatment
Help arrange services with appropriate providers.
- 04
Keep Participation and Records Organized
Track sessions and progress so the record stays clear.
- 05
Coordinate Relevant Updates
Share relevant information with the legal team, with consent.
Once it starts
What Happens Once Services Begin?
Once services start, the focus is on steady participation and a clear record over time.
- 01
Participate
Take part in the services that were arranged.
- 02
Follow the Provider Plan
Follow the steps the provider or plan sets.
- 03
Track Treatment / Monitoring
Sessions, tests and check-ins are recorded over time.
- 04
Organize Relevant Progress Information
Progress is put in one place so it is easy to review.
Your attorney decides whether and how treatment-side information may be used in the legal case.
Younger defendants
When Age or Developmental History May Be Relevant
For younger defendants, developmental history, mental health, trauma, family circumstances or treatment needs may be relevant to the broader support plan.
Developmental History
Age, development and school history may provide context.
Mental Health / Trauma
Age-appropriate evaluation or therapy may be relevant.
Family Circumstances
Family support may help with scheduling and follow-through where appropriate.
Important
ETS does not give advice on juvenile court or transfer decisions. Support and treatment do not guarantee a different court outcome.
Legal pathways
Alternative Pathways Require Individual Legal Review
Many murder charges may be excluded from ordinary diversion programs. Any mental-health, veteran-specific or alternative pathway must be evaluated by defense counsel.
Common Exclusions
Many murder charges are excluded from ordinary diversion programs.
Specialized Pathways
Mental-health or veteran-specific options depend on the law and the facts.
Attorney Review
Defense counsel must evaluate whether any pathway may apply.
PC 1001.36 Mental Health Diversion and Veterans Diversion do not apply automatically. ETS does not determine eligibility.
Connected, not the same
How Treatment-Side Support May Fit Into Pretrial Mitigation
When evaluation, counseling, treatment or monitoring are appropriate, consistent participation and organized records may help the legal team understand the steps being taken outside the courtroom.
This does not guarantee any legal result. Your attorney decides how information is used.
Clear roles
Who May Be Involved?
Client
Takes part in services and follows the plan.
Family
May help with schedules and support, where appropriate and authorized.
ETS
Coordinates evaluations, counseling, treatment, monitoring and relevant documentation.
ETS coordinates support. It does not make clinical or legal decisions.
Provider
Handles evaluations, counseling, treatment and clinical decisions.
Attorney
Handles the criminal defense and legal strategy.
The Court / Agency remains separate and makes legal and official decisions.
Family
When Family Support May Help
Family members may help with transportation, scheduling, reminders and general support where appropriate and authorized.
Scheduling
Help keep appointments on the calendar.
Transportation
Help getting to sessions or check-ins.
Reminders
Gentle reminders about upcoming steps.
General Support
Everyday support where appropriate.
Family involvement is not right for every case. Information sharing depends on consent and applicable privacy rules.
Documentation
Keeping Counseling, Treatment and Monitoring Progress Organized
- 01
Services Begin
Evaluation, counseling, treatment or monitoring starts.
- 02
Participation / Monitoring Are Tracked
Sessions and check-ins are recorded.
- 03
Relevant Provider Records May Be Available
Providers may share records, where authorized.
- 04
Progress Information Is Organized
Records are put in order so they are easy to review.
For defense attorneys
Support That Works Alongside Your Defense Attorney
Organized Information
Keep evaluation, treatment and monitoring records easier to locate.
Appropriate Updates
Relevant information may be shared where authorized.
Clear Boundaries
Your attorney handles criminal defense and legal strategy. ETS coordinates the support side.
Clear boundaries
What ETS Does Not Do
ETS helps coordinate the support side. Legal and clinical decisions stay with the right people.
What ETS Does Not Do
- ETS does not provide murder defense
- ETS does not provide legal advice
- ETS does not determine guilt
- ETS does not determine intent or malice
- ETS does not determine whether a homicide occurred
- ETS does not replace your attorney
- ETS does not determine diversion eligibility
- ETS does not guarantee reduced charges
- ETS does not guarantee a manslaughter resolution
- ETS does not guarantee sentencing relief
- ETS does not guarantee probation
- ETS does not guarantee avoidance of custody
- ETS does not guarantee court acceptance of treatment or documentation
What ETS Helps Coordinate
- Behavioral assessments
- Mental-health evaluations
- Counseling / therapy
- Trauma-informed support
- Substance-use treatment
- Case management
- Monitoring
- Documentation
- Attorney coordination
Worth a conversation
When Might Support Be Worth Discussing?
If any of these sound familiar, treatment-side support may be worth discussing with your attorney.
- A murder charge is pending
- A court date is approaching
- An evaluation may be appropriate
- Mental-health concerns may be relevant
- Trauma may be relevant
- Substance use may be part of the situation
- Treatment has already begun
- The attorney wants clearer treatment-side documentation
Learn more
Helpful Resources for Murder Cases
Related
Related Services
Related situations
All situationsQuestions
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers about support in murder cases and how ETS works alongside your attorney.
View All FAQsConfidential consultation
Facing Murder Charges and Not Sure What to Organize Before Court?
ETS can help coordinate evaluations, counseling, treatment and documentation while your attorney handles the legal defense.
