Section 22-52-7

Restrictions on imposition of limitations upon liberty of person sought to be committed pending hearings; ordering, etc., of examinations of person sought to be committed; supervision of temporary treatment.

(a) When a petition has been filed seeking to have limitations placed upon the liberty of a respondent pending the outcome of a final hearing on the merits, the probate judge shall order the sheriff of the county in which the respondent is located to serve a copy of the petition upon the respondent and to bring the respondent before the probate judge instanter. When any respondent against whom a petition has been filed seeking to have limitations placed upon the respondent's liberty pending the outcome of a full and final hearing on the merits is initially brought before the probate judge, the probate judge shall determine from an interview with the respondent and with other available persons what limitations, if any, shall be imposed upon the respondent's liberty and what temporary treatment, if any, shall be imposed upon the respondent pending further hearings. If limitations on the respondent's liberty are ordered, the probate judge may order the respondent detained under the provisions of this section at a designated mental health facility or a hospital.

(b) No limitations shall be placed upon the respondent's liberty nor treatment imposed upon the respondent unless such limitations are necessary to prevent the respondent from doing substantial and immediate harm to himself or to others or to prevent the respondent from leaving the jurisdiction of the court. No respondent shall be placed in a jail or other facility for persons accused of or convicted of committing crimes.

(c) The probate judge shall order the respondent to appear at the times and places set for hearing the petition and may order the respondent to appear at designated times and places to be examined by licensed medical doctors or qualified mental health professionals. If the respondent does not appear as ordered by the probate judge, the probate judge may order the sheriff of the county in which the respondent is located to take the respondent into custody and compel the respondent's attendance as ordered by the probate judge. If temporary treatment or admittance to a hospital is ordered for the respondent, such treatment shall be supervised by a licensed medical doctor or qualified mental health professional who has willingly consented to treat the respondent, and admission to a hospital shall be ordered by a licensed medical doctor who has willingly consented to admit and treat the respondent.

(Acts 1975, No. 1226, p. 2562, §5; Acts 1977, No. 670, p. 1143; Acts 1991, No. 91-440, p. 783, §8.)