Precommitment Services
CONTACT US
Psychiatric Crisis Center
1118 Oak St SE
Salem, OR 97301
Phone :
(503) 585-4949
Fax: (503) 585-4965
What is Civil Commitment?
Civil commitment is a process in which a judge decides whether a person alleged to be mentally ill should be involuntarily hospitalized or treated for their mental illness. This happens when a person is behaving in a way that appears to require inpatient psychiatric hospitalization for the person's own safety, or for the safety of the community. The court values a person's civil rights and liberties, therefore the bar to meet criteria for civil commitment is very high.
During the civil commitment process, the allegedly mentally ill person may be held involuntarily prior to a civil commitment hearing to receive care at a hospital.
- Law enforcement may find a person in the community and have probable cause that the person is immediately dangerous to themselves or other due to a mental illness. Law enforcement may take custody of the person to transport them to an emergency care facility.
- A licensed independent practitioner with hospital privileges may hold a person to evaluate if that person is immediately dangerous to themselves or others and is in immediate need of treatment for their mental illness.
- A judge can order a hold on an allegedly mentally ill person in certain circumstances. The judge has the authority to order a precommitment hold on a person longer than five days, if needed, until a hearing can be held.
What Happens at a Civil Commitment Hearing?
If the investigator determines a person meets criteria for civil commitment, the investigator will request a hearing in front of a judge. This is a closed proceeding. The judge makes the ultimate determination of whether a person is civilly committed.
How can I Initiate a Precommitment Investigation?
You can submit a Notification of Mental Illness (Two-Party Petition). Any two people, over the age of 18, with firsthand knowledge of the alleged mentally ill person's mental disorder and their concerns of imminent danger can complete a Petition. You can use the link below to print the petition or pick one up at our Crisis Center. Both petitioners will need to bring valid identification and the completed petition to a notary. The Crisis Center has notary staff available Monday thru Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Petition Letter - EnglishMarion County Two Party Petition - English
Health & Human Services
Behavioral Health
Email Privacy: While we are happy to answer general questions via email, we suggest you do not transmit personal or health related information in your message. We cannot meet any expectation you might have of confidentiality when you communicate with us over the Internet. If you have a specific personal or health-related issue, please call the appropriate county government office instead.
Email address: health@co.marion.or.us
To report a public health emergency, or make an urgent report of communicable disease, call (503) 588-5621 at anytime.
