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Home / Resources / Civil Commitment and the Mental Health Care Continuum: Historical Trends and Principles for Law and Practice
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Civil Commitment and the Mental Health Care Continuum: Historical Trends and Principles for Law and Practice

Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Resource Type: Documents and Publications

Focus Population: Behavioral Health Leaders

Topics: AOT / Laura's Law, Behavioral Health Organizational Guidance Docs, Criminal or Juvenile Justice System

To meet the challenges in a shifting policy landscape, some guidance is needed to assist state policymakers and practitioners in reforming, implementing, and appropriately targeting commitment law and practice—both inpatient and outpatient—to the small proportion of adults who require and may benefit from its use. Part I of this report reviews the history and current status of involuntary commitment in the United States. Part II sets forth expert consensus principles to guide the optimal, ethical use of commitment. Part III provides practical tools—briefly stated guidelines and a checklist of requirements—to assist policy makers and others responsible for reforming or implementing civil commitment laws or systems.

Access Resource at samhsa.gov

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