I believe I/my loved one has been wrongfully convicted. Can NAMI help me appeal the sentence?

We appreciate how difficult it can be to navigate the legal system for those living with a mental health condition. However, NAMI volunteers are not legal professionals — and we cannot offer legal advice nor provide individual advocacy.  

If you wish to appeal sentencing, it would be in your best interest to secure legal counsel that specializes in appellate law.  Contact the American Bar Association to access its Find Legal Help service, where you can locate the legal referral service for your area.  In seeking counsel, you may wish to consider finding a lawyer that specializes in criminal appellate law with experience representing individuals with mental health conditions.  

Another resource is to contact your local NAMI Affiliate and request to attend a free NAMI Family Support Group. There, it’s possible to network with other families in the community about potential availability of local resources for legal assistance. To find your nearest NAMI Affiliate, click on your state through the Find Your Local NAMI menu. 

To learn more about the appeal process, you can visit the U.S. Department of Justice Appeal webpage.  

We are so glad you found this information. NAMI HelpLine offers a Family Caregiver Service. It brings together family caregivers with shared experiences and equips HelpLine Specialists with knowledge and insights into what helps. If you are a family caregiver and would like support from a peer, we encourage you to call the NAMI Family Caregiver HelpLine at 800-950-NAMI (6264) or send a text to 62640. We are available Monday through Friday, from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm EST.

Hours of operation: Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. EST 

Call: 800-950-NAMI (6264) 

Text: 62640  

Email: helpline@nami.org

Website: www.nami.org/help