4-16/010.00 - Mentally Ill Persons

4-16/010.00
MENTALLY ILL
PERSONS

For line procedures, see Volume 5, Chapter 9.

The Crisis Negotiations Team (CNT) and/or the Mental Evaluation Team (MET) may assist field personnel in the following instances:

• Suspect is a danger to himself/others;
• Barricaded suspect/emotionally disturbed;
• Bizarre behavior/violent; and/or
• Threat of suicide in progress, i.e. jumpers, self-inflicted injuries (gun, knives, etc).

Field personnel to contact MET (available from 1700 to 0100 hours daily) and/or CNT (available 24 hours daily) through SCC, and should be contacted for situations with a tactical solution such as barricaded mentally ill individuals and attempt suicide in progress.  When available, MET is a resource that should be considered along with requesting CNT due to their quick response and coordination abilities with CNT pending CNT’s arrival.

CNT has exclusive availability to the Mental Health Alert Team and Department of Mental Health psychiatrists and psychologists who are specially trained in hostage, barricade and attempt suicide situations.

For crimes committed by barricaded, alleged mentally ill suspects, or in those situations where notification to SEB is recommended (section 5-06/110.65) field personnel shall contact SEB who will automatically contact CNT.  In situations where SEB is not responding, CNT should be contacted through SCC.

Alleged mentally
ill - emergency
detention

SH-R-49
MH 302
URN
46

Station/Unit
Patrol

I

If the MH 302, 72-Hour Detention for Evaluation and Treatment application is issued and signed by a Deputy, it will be included in the Station/Unit URN file along with:

• Copy of the report and application;
• Original receipt for valuables; and
• Original receipt for transportation.

Reports and application must accompany a patient transported by a Deputy to any of the following designated area hospitals:

• LAC/USC Medical Center, Unit III;
• Olive View County Hospital;
• Harbor/UCLA Medical Center, or
• any other Department Mental Health designated facility.

NOTE:  If available, MET should be requested via SCC to respond for assessment and appropriate placement of the alleged mentally ill person.

The Department does not transfer patients when requested from one of the above hospitals to another.

Deputies shall advise hospitals of pending "Holds" for criminal charges.  Station/Unit personnel handling the hold shall advise hospitals of hold status.

Reports shall be taken for the following reasons:

• when a person, whether admitted or not, is taken by a Deputy to any of the aforementioned hospitals; and/or
• when transporting a patient to the Regional County Department of Mental Health Service Office (clinic).

NOTE:  The assignment will be concurrent with Homicide Bureau when alleged mentally ill person is unidentified.

Code 461 - Person Mentally Ill.

Escape or
unauthorized
leave from
mental institution:

--Court
committed,
judicially
committed juvenile or adult patients

SH-R-49
URN
46

Station/Unit
Patrol

I

Confer by phone with Mental Health Liaison Officer regarding apprehension and placement of authorized and unauthorized leave patient or escapee.

Code 462 - Person Mentally Ill Escape.

--CYA committed
patients

SH-R-49
URN
32

Station/Unit
Patrol

A

Escapees from California Youth Authority (CYA) Southern Reception Center in Norwalk.

Code 323 - Escape

--Conservatee

(See below)

--Other -
involuntary
detained patients

SH-R-49
MH 302
URN
46

Station/Unit
Patrol

Seventy-two hour commitments for observation (5150 WIC).

After review, may reassign to Station/Unit detectives for disposition and made an active assignment.

For release of information policy, refer to Miscellaneous Administrative Procedures, Release of Information to the General Public and the Media (section 3-09/090.10).

Escape, juvenile
from Sheriff's custody

SH-R-77

Station/Unit
Patrol

A

Supplemental report to original report.  Assignment to Station/Unit detectives where escape occurs.

Conservatee,
apprehension,
custody, delivery
of

SH-R-49
URN
46

Station/Unit
Patrol

I

Refer conservator to assigned Unit.  The assigned Unit shall initiate the first report.

Submit written request and certified copy of the judicial commitment documents or certified copy of documents establishing conservatorship with the report.

Code 461 - Person Mentally Ill.