The Hidden Legal Cost of Mental Health Intervention in Brevard County

For many Floridians, access to justice is increasingly defined by affordability rather than legal merit. At the Brevard County Courthouse in Viera, individuals arrive daily to navigate complex life-altering legal procedures — often without representation. A study published by the American Bar Association notes that nearly one-third of Americans cannot afford a lawyer for civil matters, despite the potentially severe consequences that stem from these cases .

The woman seen early in this film makes the point plainly: she stated she is trying to get a divorce on her own because she cannot afford counsel, and that “if you don’t have a lawyer, you’re at a major disadvantage in this courthouse.” Her experience reflects the growing national crisis of legal inequality — a crisis matched in scale by Florida’s use of involuntary mental health intervention under the Baker Act.

According to the Florida Department of Children and Families, Baker Act initiations have surged by more than 128% since 2001. While intended to protect individuals in immediate psychiatric crisis, data and patient testimony across the state indicate that the Baker Act has expanded into a default pathway for individuals who lack legal support, insurance coverage, or access to preventative mental healthcare.

Circles of Care in Melbourne is one of the regional facilities where many of these cases are routed. Yet the issue extends far beyond one hospital or one county. In multiple jurisdictions across the U.S., jails have now become the largest mental health providers, according to recent reporting from CNN .

This investigative video — embedded below — documents one day’s environment inside and around the public institutions where these two systems intersect. It examines not only where people go, but what structural pressures push them there: lack of representation, institutional backlog, and a legal architecture that is easier to enforce than to reform.