Applica- FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1 What is involved in starting the Court Ordered If the patient is not a danger to self or others, an applica - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS . Mental Health evaluation process? tion for Involuntary evaluation is completed and submitted to Community Partnership of Southern Arizona's Crisis Re- Any responsible person may apply for a court or- If I signed the initial application that started the Court sponse Center. Ordered evaluation process, can I withdraw the appli- dered evaluation of a person who is unwilling or unable to undergo a voluntary mental health eval- The Crisis Response Center will send a team of psychiatric cation and stop the process? uation . Assistance with the application process is evaluators to evaluate the patient in the community. If No, the applicant cannot change his/her mind and available: they determine further evaluation is necessary, a petition for an Order For evaluation (usually as an inpatient) is filed have the patient released. If you are located in Pima County, call Commu- with the Court.

2 When the Order for evaluation is signed, the Court notifies the appropriate law enforcement agency If I am listed as a witness, do I have to appear in nity Partnership of Southern Arizona's court? Community-Wide Crisis Line, which provides that the patient must be picked up and taken to the desig- 24-hour/7 days a week mental health crisis nated hospital or evaluation facility within 14 days. Once Yes. Your appearance is important. As soon as the the patient is admitted by Court Order, 2 psychiatrists services at: hearing is scheduled, a Paralegal from the Pima Coun- must evaluate the patient within 72 hours (excluding (520) 622-6000 or 1-800-796-6762. ty Attorney's Office begins gathering information and weekends and holidays) to determine whether a petition contacting potential witnesses. You may only testify for Treatment is necessary. If so, the petition is filed and a about what you have personally seen or heard. If If you are located in Graham, Greenlee, Santa hearing date is set (within 4-6 business days).

3 An attorney there is a problem concerning your appearance, ad- Cruz, or Cochise Counties, contact Southeast- is appointed to represent the patient's interests through- vise the Paralegal assigned to the case immediately. ern Arizona Behavioral Health Services out the process. Please note, however, that you must appear if you (SEABHS) at: 1-800-586-9161. have received a Subpoena. What Happens at the Hearing? In the event of a life-threatening Hearings are held at the hospital or mental health treat- How long will the person be on Court Order and will or medical emergency , call 911911. ment facility where the patient is being evaluated. The they have to stay in the hospital the entire time? patient will have a Court appointed attorney to represent An Application for emergency Admission for Eval- him/her and will be present in the Courtroom. Evidence in The Court Order lasts for 1 year (365 days). It is usual- uation is the appropriate form when the person in support of the petition for Treatment is presented to the ly a combination of inpatient and outpatient treat- need of evaluation is a danger to self and/or oth- Court by an assigned Deputy Pima County Attorney from ment.

4 The inpatient portion can be up to 90 days if the Civil Law Division. The 2 evaluating psychiatrists will the patient is a danger to self, 180 days if the patient ers and requires immediate hospitalization. testify and at least 2 additional witnesses, such as family is a danger to others or persistently and acutely disa- When the patient arrives at the emergency Room, members or other people who may be involved in the pa- bled, or 365 days if the patient is gravely disabled. he/she is examined by a psychiatrist who deter- tient's life will testify. The attorney for the patient may pre- This does not mean the person has to stay in the hos- mines whether emergency admission is neces- sent witnesses as well. The patient is not required to testi- pital. As soon as the patient is well enough to be sary. If the patient is admitted on the emergency treated in a less restrictive setting, they will be dis- fy, but may choose to do so. Application, the patient will be further evaluated charged from the hospital and begin the outpatient over the next 24 hours (excluding holidays and portion of their treatment.)

5 Weekends). The evaluating psychiatrist will decide When the Judge Makes a Decision whether the patient requires further evaluation . If At the hearing, one of three things will happen. The judge If the person is still on Court Order and living in the so, a petition for an Order for evaluation is filed in will decide: community and the need arises for another hospitali- Superior Court and the patient remains in hospi- zation, do we have to go through the evaluation pro- 1. Yes, court ordered treatment is necessary and the tal. The patient will be further evaluated by 2 psy- patient will remain in the hospital until the inpatient cess again and another hearing? chiatrists over a 72-hour period (excluding week- treatment team decides the patient is ready for dis- ends and holidays). During that 72-hour evalua- No. If the person still has inpatient days left on the charge and the outpatient portion of the court order. court order and it is still within 1 year from the original tion period, a decision will be made by the evalu- ating psychiatrists whether the person needs 2.

6 Yes, court ordered treatment is necessary, but the court order date, the process does not have to be re- court ordered treatment. If so, then a petition for person is well enough to be discharged and begin the peated. The assigned outpatient treatment agency Treatment is filed in Superior Court, a hearing outpatient portion of the court order. may ask the Court to amend the Court Order to return date is set within 4 to 6 business days. An attor- 3. No, court ordered treatment is not necessary and the the patient to the hospital. However, the outpatient ney is appointed to represent the patient's inter- patient is discharged immediately. treatment team may have some other solutions that ests during the process. are less restrictive. CRISIS INTERVENTION. WHAT IS THE. CPSA Community-Wide Crisis Line/Crisis Response Center COURT- Behavioral Health Crisis Services No-Cost Help Phone: Fax: (520) 740-5750. (520) 620-6556. ORDERED. 24 Hours a Day / 7 Days a Week Website: MENTAL.

7 Crisis Line: (520) 622-6000. or 1-800-796-6762 Address: Health Law Unit HEALTH. Address: 2802 E. District St. (south of Ajo Civil Division evaluation . Way & Country Club Road) Pima County Attorney's Office Tucson, AZ 85714 32 N. Stone Ave., Ste. 2100. PROCESS? Tucson, AZ 85701-1412. COMMUNITY RESOURCES. Community Partnership of Southern Arizona (CPSA) If you are involved in or thinking Paula Perrera, Deputy County Attorney Regional Behavioral Health Authority about beginning the Court Ordered Barbara Burstein, Deputy County Attorney (520) 318-6946 Mental Health evaluation process for 1-800-771-9889 someone you know or care about and whom you believe needs psychiatric CODAC care, but is unwilling or unable to ob- Behavioral Health Services tain care voluntarily, the following in- (520) 327-4505 formation may help you better under- stand the process. COPE Community Services Behavioral Health Services The Purpose of Court Ordered Mental (520) 205-4732 Health evaluation is to provide a safe place for people who may be in need La Frontera Center of behavioral health care and psychi- Behavioral Health Services atric services where they can be fully (520) 884-9920 assessed by mental health profes- sionals.

8 Psychiatrists, nurses, social Southeastern Arizona Behavioral workers, and other behavioral health Health Services (SEABHS) professionals work together as a mul- Behavioral Health Services ti-disciplinary team collaborating with 1-800-586-9161 referring physicians, outpatient treat- ment teams from behavioral health National Alliance on Mental Illness agencies, and other health care pro- Barbara LaWall of Southern Arizona (NAMISA) fessionals to ensure the best out- No-Cost Advocacy, Education, & Support Pima County Attorney come for the patient. (520) 622-5582