For Families
Support for Families When Someone You Love Is Facing a Criminal Case
When someone you care about is arrested or facing court, it can be hard to know what to do first. ETS helps families organize treatment, testing, monitoring, documentation and communication so the right support can start moving.
ETS works alongside the defense attorney and does not provide legal advice or legal representation.
How Families Can Help
- Help organize information
- Support treatment follow-through
- Help coordinate appointments
- Keep important records together
- Stay connected with the legal team
A starting point
When Your Family Doesn't Know What to Do Next
You may not be able to control the case, but you can help organize what happens next.
The Legal Side
The attorney handles legal strategy, court deadlines and legal decisions.
The Support Side
Treatment, evaluations, testing, monitoring and other services may need to be organized.
The Family Side
Families often help with communication, transportation, appointments, records and follow-through.
Support options
What ETS Can Help Your Family Organize
Every case is different. These are the kinds of support ETS may help organize, depending on the person and the case.
Treatment & Evaluation Support
May include
- Behavioral-health treatment
- Mental-health evaluations
- Substance-use services
- Therapy or counseling
- Treatment planning
Case Coordination & Documentation
May include
- Progress tracking
- Provider coordination
- Records organization
- Attorney communication
- Court-facing documentation where appropriate
Testing
Drug testing and related records where appropriate.
Learn moreAlcohol Monitoring
Alcohol testing and remote monitoring where appropriate.
Learn moreElectronic Monitoring
Monitoring coordination when part of the case or plan.
Learn moreOngoing Support
Case management, follow-through and ongoing coordination.
Learn moreCommon situations
Families Often Contact ETS When...
Their Family Member Needs Help Quickly
Treatment, evaluation, testing or monitoring may need to begin before the family knows how to organize it.
Mental Health or Substance Use Is Part of the Situation
A family may be trying to understand what kind of treatment or evaluation is appropriate.
They are missing appointments or struggling to follow through
Several providers are involved and nobody has the full picture
The attorney needs clearer treatment or progress information
The family is unsure what steps matter before the next court date
Your role
What Families Can Help With
The exact family role depends on the person, their permissions, their attorney and the services involved.
Communication
Help keep important people informed.
Transportation
Help the person get to appointments where needed.
Scheduling
Help organize treatment, testing or evaluation appointments.
Records
Help gather relevant documents or provider information.
Follow-Through
Encourage attendance and consistency.
Support
Help the person stay engaged during a stressful period.
Clear roles
Everyone Has a Different Role
Each person has a part. ETS coordinates the support side. It does not control the attorney, the client or the court.
Client side
Your Family Member
Participates in services and makes personal decisions.
Family
Helps with support, logistics and follow-through where appropriate.
Coordinating layer
ETS
Coordinates treatment-side support, records and communication.
- Treatment-side support
- Records
- Communication
Legal side
Attorney
Handles legal strategy and decides how information is used in the case.
The Court
What Can ETS Share With Family Members?
Family members can often help with logistics and support, but what information can be shared depends on the client's permissions, provider rules, and the situation. ETS should not assume a family member is authorized to receive private treatment or case information.
If you are helping a family member, ETS can explain what information is needed and what permissions may be required.
Behavioral health
When Mental Health or Substance Use Is Part of the Case
A criminal case may be happening at the same time as depression, anxiety, trauma, substance use, or another behavioral-health concern. Families are often the first people to recognize that something deeper may be going on.
ETS does not diagnose. A qualified provider can help decide what kind of care fits.
Mental Health Evaluation
Understand whether an evaluation may be appropriate.
Treatment Coordination
Help connect the person with treatment where appropriate.
Substance Use Support
Coordinate treatment and related services.
Progress Documentation
Organize participation and available progress information.
Diversion & mitigation
When Diversion or Mitigation May Be Part of the Conversation
Eligibility is a legal question.
Diversion means a case may be handled through a program instead of the usual court path. Whether it applies depends on the law and the case.
Your attorney explains it.
The defense attorney should explain whether diversion may apply and what it would involve.
ETS helps with the support side.
ETS can help organize treatment, testing, monitoring and documentation where appropriate.
Starting early can help the record.
Starting useful support early may help create a clearer record of participation and progress.
Next steps
What Happens After You Contact ETS
Not every family needs every service. The plan depends on the person and the case.
- 01
Tell Us What's Going On
Share the basic situation, timeline and what your family is trying to organize.
- 02
Understand the Immediate Needs
ETS helps identify which treatment-side issues may need attention.
- 03
Build a Support Plan
Appropriate treatment, testing, monitoring, evaluation or coordination can be organized where relevant.
- 04
Keep Progress Organized
Participation and available records can be kept together.
- 05
Coordinate With the Legal Team
Relevant information can be organized for the attorney where authorized and appropriate.
Timing
When Should a Family Contact ETS?
- Right after an arrest
- Before the next court date
- When the attorney recommends treatment or evaluation
- When the family knows something needs to change
- When multiple services need to be organized
- When progress documentation is becoming difficult
- When the client is struggling to follow through
- When the family does not know what support is appropriate
You do not need to know exactly which service is needed before calling.
For parents
Helping a Young Adult Through a Legal Crisis
Parents may find themselves handling calls, transportation, appointments and communication while also trying to respect an adult child's independence. ETS can help organize the support side so the family is not trying to coordinate everything alone.
Your adult child still makes their own choices and takes part in their own services.
Working together
How Families and Attorneys Work With ETS
Client side
Family
Support · Logistics · Communication
Coordinating layer
ETS
- Coordination
- Services
- Records
Legal side
Attorney
Legal strategy · Legal decisions
The Court
Clear limits
What ETS Does Not Do
ETS does not provide legal advice
ETS does not replace the defense attorney
ETS does not decide who qualifies for diversion
ETS does not control court outcomes
Resources
Helpful Resources for Families
Confidential consultation
You Don't Have to Coordinate Everything Alone
Tell us what your family is dealing with and what has already happened. ETS can help explain which support options may be relevant and how the next steps can be organized.