Elder Law, Estate Planning and Family Formation

Involuntary Civil Commitment

“Involuntary civil commitment is the only legal proceeding known to my grey hairs by which the state deprives a person of liberty without proof of a criminal act or a civil contempt.1 Fortunately for all of us, and especially your writer, the law has been settled since at least 1975 that “a State cannot constitutionally confine without more a non-dangerous individual who is capable of surviving safely in freedom by himself or with the help of willing and responsible family members or friends.”2

Because an involuntary civil commitment so  intensely disrupts the normal life, a state may thus intrude upon proof of the predicate facts — mental illness and some character of dangerousness — by evidence which is clear and convincing, but not necessarily beyond a reasonable doubt.3

States are free within the confines of Donaldson and Addington to create statutory authority to effect civil commitments. Each state has done so, and the lawyer must consult local law to understand state specific requirements.5

Clients, often the family members of the impaired individual, must be gently informed that the Constitution builds a protective hedge around mere eccentricity. Until a person’s state of mind so affects himself or his peers that he is unable to control himself, and a consequent, articulable danger looms in the near future, one is free to glide, stagger, and crawl through life with his fancies, fears, and foibles intact. However, when a mental illness is diagnosed,6 and there is proof by clear and convincing evidence that there is “a substantial likelihood that, as a result of mental illness, the person will, in the near future:

1. Cause serious physical harm to himself or others as evidenced by recent behavior causing, attempting, or threatening harm and other relevant information, if any, or

2. Suffer serious harm due to his lack of capacity to protect himself from harm or to provide for his basic human needs, and

3. All available less restrictive treatment alternatives to involuntary inpatient treatment … have been investigated and determined to be inappropriate,” the Court may enter an order for involuntary treatment in a mental health facility. The initial period cannot exceed 30 days, or 180 days for a subsequent commitment during the initial 30-day period.7

Procedure

The procedure for these cases is closely defined by the applicable statutes. A case for involuntary civil commitment is commenced with a petition, and usually involves the civil arrest of the respondent under an emergency custody order issued by a magistrate to require an initial evaluation.8 The initial evaluation is for a brief period not to exceed four hours. The evaluation must be conducted by a mental health professional designated by the local public mental health department or authority. The evaluator’s findings are reduced to writing in a “screening report,” which becomes evidence of the facts therein stated at the time of the evaluation.9 If the evaluation report and other evidence presented to the magistrate are persuasive that the respondent is mentally ill and requires hospitalization to avoid serious harm in the near future, a warrant is issued requiring the respondent to be taken into custody at a local hospital until a hearing can be scheduled.10

The Hearing

The hearing is held as soon as notice can be given to the petitioner, who is permitted to appear in person, and to be represented by private counsel; counsel is not appointed for the petitioner.11 Before the hearing, a statement of rights prescribed by the statute must be given to the respondent, and its content explained by his attorney.12 Before the hearing commences, an independent examiner is appointed by the court to examine the respondent. The examiner must be a designated health care licensee, and has particularized duties as a part of the evaluation process. The results of which must be reduced to written form for the court.13 In the hearing, the individual is represented by counsel of his own selection, or if none, then as appointed by the court.14 Counsel has specific duties defined by the statute, which specifies that to the extent possible, the attorney’s duty is to represent the wishes of the respondent.15 To avoid treatment for longer than is necessary, the director of the hospital having custody of the involuntary committee during the term of any involuntary civil commitment may release the involuntary committee at any time.16  Generally this occurs upon order of the treating psychiatrist. An aggrieved involuntary committee may appeal at any time during the first 30 days of any commitment in a denovo hearing, and is entitled to court appointed counsel and trial by jury as a matter of right on appeal.17 There are aspects of the involuntary civil commitment process which make it an important arrow to carry in the Elder Law attorney’s quiver. Sometimes, it’s the only arrow.

Speed and Action

Compared with guardianship, the involuntary civil commitment process is fast. Docket times for a guardianship may be upwards of two months; even an “emergency” guardianship proceeding may require several days to schedule, especially when there are time conflicts with other counsel.18 The hallmark of the proceeding is the focus upon fresh facts demonstrating an immediate need for hospitalization.
It is not unusual that a frantic call to “911” will result in nothing but a wearied police officer informing your client that nothing can be done until the gun is in her hand, or she commits some other crime. However, a knowledge of your local law and a Rolodex with the local mental health agency crisis unit numbers can be a huge help to your clients when seconds can save lives and a planned, targeted response is worth the world to your client.19 Likewise, knowing the language of your counterparts in the mental health profession can also assist your clients in making effective petitioners for intervention, and good witnesses in the hearings which result. Like everything else, prepared clients are good witnesses.Nowhere has it been truer that a picture of newspapers stacked to the ceiling or the soiled bed clothes is worth several hundred words describing either. It is not unheard of to have The Paper Bag, containing samples of the soiled clothing with a provable chain of custody, accompany a determined petitioner to a hearing.

Targeted Treatment Portal

Guardianship has its limits. More precisely, some cases that fall between the cracks of guardianship.

1 Demore v. Kim, 538 U.S. 510, 549 (2003) (pretrial immigration detention).

2 O’Connor v. Donaldson, 422 U.S. 563, 576 (1975). Mr. Donaldson, held for 15 years under a civil commitment, was entitled to bring an under 42 USC 1983 for damages on the allegations that he was harmless to himself and others during much of the confinement period.

3 To meet due process demands, the standard has to inform the fact finder that the proof must be greater than the preponderance of the evidence standard applicable to other categories of civil cases. Addington v. Texas, 441 U.S. 418, 432-433 (1979).

4 The Treatment Advocacy Center, which advocates on behalf of families in favor of involuntary commitment, publishes a useful analysis of statutory elements for the states at http://www.treat mentadvocacy center.org/StateActivity /index.php?option=com_content&task=blogsection&id=7&Itemid=94.

5 References in this note relate to Virginia’s statutory plan, Virginia Code § 37.2-800 et seq., http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+TOC37020000008000000000000.

6 Psychiatrists, social workers, and related clinicians often speak a frightful language punctuated by digital references. They can give a sensitive lawyer pause, but do not fear. They are speaking in the idiom of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. When this happens, http://allpsych.com/disorders/disorders_alpha.html is a helpful decoder ring, and will tell you (as it just has me) that in the fear of writing (and for the intrepid reader, your task of reading more of ) this little note, a diagnosis of Trichotillomania may properly lie, DSM 312.39. Mercifully, states tend to define mental illness for these purposes more generally, and functionally. In Virginia, mental illness for purposes of involuntary civil commitment means “a disorder of thought, mood, emotion, perception, or orientation that significantly impairs judgment, behavior, capacity to recognize reality, or ability to address basic life necessities and requires care and treatment for the health, safety, or recovery of the individual or for the safety of others.” Virginia Code § 37.2-100. In these proceedings, it includes the term “substance abuse,” Virginia Code § 37.2-800, permitting process to help those in the grip of alcohol and other addictions.

7 Virginia Code § 37.2-817.

8 Virginia Code § 37.2-808.

9 Virginia Code § 37.2-816. The report is not subject to hearsay objections and must be considered by the Court, which may assign as much or as little weight to the same as the circumstances of the case dictate. For the form of report, see http://www.dbhds.virginia. gov/documents/forms/0224eMH.pdf.

10 Virginia Code § 37.2-809. The hearing must be held within 48 hours, unless there is an intervening weekend or holiday.

11 Virginia Code § 37.2-814.

12 Id. The statement must at least inform the respondent of his rights to (i) retain private counsel or be represented by a court-appointed attorney, (ii) present any defenses including independent evaluation and expert testimony or the testimony of other witnesses, (iii) be present during the hearing and testify, (iv) appeal any order for involuntary admission to the circuit court, and (v) have a jury trial on appeal.

13 Virginia Code § 37.2-815. In Richmond, a psychiatrist generally serves in this capacity. The form of his report is found at http://www.dbhds.virginia.gov/documents/forms/1002IEpeMH.pdf.

14 Virginia Code § 37.2-814.

15 The attorney must also interview the respondent, the petitioner, the independent examiner described in § 37.2-815, the community services board staff, and any other material witnesses. He also shall examine all relevant diagnostic and other reports, present evidence and witnesses, if any, on his client’s behalf, and otherwise actively represent his client in the proceedings. A health care provider shall disclose or make available all such reports, treatment information,

and records concerning his client to the attorney, upon request. The role of the attorney shall be to represent the wishes of his client, to the extent possible.

16 Virginia Code § 37.2- 838.

17 Virginia Code § 37.2- 821.

18 Absent good cause for waiver, Virginia imposes a seven-day delay from service of notice before a hearing on the petition may be held. Virginia Code § 37.2-1004.

The materials available at this website or blog are for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. You should contact your attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue or problem. The opinions expressed are those of the individual author and may not reflect the opinions of the firm or any individual attorney.
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