Quote:
Originally Posted by kittygilchrist
For people who don't want to look this up, baker act is a law under which a person may be committed for mental health treatment without their own consent.
The Villages Counties have a crisis stabilization unit where outpatient assessment is available if the person is willing to be brought there to be assessed. Here are the locations.
North Florida Behavioral Health Partners: Provider Directory
If the individual will not go voluntarily, two options remain....deputies will come make an assessment (i do not like this option due to lack of credentials, but it is what we have), the last is for statements by family and friends to be presented to a judge to ask for a court order to commit.
It must be evident that the person is a risk to himself or others if the commitment does not take place.
If the OP wants further advice, please pm or email me. |
I love you, Kitty, but give me a break. Deputies "lack credentials?" I have successfully talked people out of jumping off of bridges, and convinced others to put down the guns they were about to shoot themselves with. I even once disarmed and Baker acted a fellow deputy who was in uniform, taking his Service pistol. Experience can be a pretty good credential. What you may not remember about the process when deputies Baker Act people is that the in-processing at the confinement facility includes an assessment by a professional "with credentials." The confinement is not on the word of the deputy only.
Don't sell the deputies short.