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Defense in Civil Commitment Cases

Under the California Welfare and Institutions Code Section 5150 (involuntary psychiatric hold), you can be detained for up to 72 hours without any right to ask the court for release. A 5150 can be ordered when law enforcement or a mental health professional determines that you are:

  • A danger to yourself
  • A danger to others
  • Gravely disabled due to a mental condition.

You can also be detained and forced to stay in a hospital for as long as 14 days under California Welfare and Institutions Code Section 5250. In a 5250, you have the right to an attorney and an automatic certification review hearing. When detained under 5150 and 5250 statutes, it is also likely that you will be forced to take antipsychotic medication.

This misdiagnoses or even misunderstanding of a person's mental condition can have serious consequences and lead to undeserved legal proceedings. Our firm understands the many issues surrounding mental illness, and can be trusted to provide uncompromising legal advocacy and the protection that you need. Call us for help in Santa Monica, Malibu, Westwood, and Venice.

Contact a Santa Monica criminal defense attorney for dedicated and vigorous representation if you or a loved one suffer from a mental illness and are facing criminal charges or confinement.