What is a mental health warrant in Texas?
A mental health warrant allows a law enforcement agency to detain a person and take that person to a mental health hospital for an evaluation. It also allows the applicant to answer questions and state why that person is in need of mental health treatment.
What is a 5150 hold in Texas?
5150 is the number of the section of the Welfare and Institutions Code, which allows a person with a mental illness to be involuntarily detained for a 72-hour psychiatric hospitalization. A person on a 5150 can be held in the psychiatric hospital against their will for up to 72 hours.
How do I file a mental health warrant in Harris County?
To file a mental health warrant in Harris County, you need to start by contacting the Harris County Psychiatric Center at 713.741. 6024. Judges here cases Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4 pm. You may not be able to wait for a hearing with a Harris County mental health judge if your situation is more urgent.
Who can file a mental health warrant in Texas?
Anyone over the age of 18 who has personal knowledge of someone they believe poses a danger to him or herself or to others may request a mental health warrant.
What is a section 135 warrant?
What is section 135? Section 135 allows the police to enter your home and take you to (or keep you at) a place of safety so that a mental health assessment can be done. This could involve keeping you at home. The police must have a warrant from the magistrate’s court allowing them to enter your home.
What is Section 17 Leave Mental Health Act?
Section 17 Mental Health Act 1983 makes provision for certain patients who are detained in hospital under the Mental Health Act 1983 to be granted leave of absence. It provides the only lawful authority for a detained patient to be absent from the hospital.
How do you commit a mentally ill person in Texas?
You can only be admitted to the facility if the doctor who examines you determines that you are mentally ill, you pose a substantial and imminent risk of serious harm to yourself or others and emergency detention is the least restrictive way to restrain you from harm.
Does Texas have a Baker Act?
Like every state, Texas has civil commitment laws that establish criteria for determining when involuntary treatment is appropriate for individuals with severe mental illness who cannot seek care voluntarily.