Bill Text: VA HB918 | 2020 | Regular Session | Prefiled
Bill Title: Emergency custody and temporary detention orders; execution.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-02-11 - Left in Health, Welfare and Institutions [HB918 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2020-HB918-Prefiled.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §§37.2-808 through 37.2-811, and 37.2-814 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:
§37.2-808. Emergency custody; issuance and execution of order.
A. As used in this section, "execute" means to take the person who is the subject of an emergency custody order into custody and transport the person to a convenient location to be evaluated to determine whether the person meets the criteria for temporary detention and to assess the need for hospitalization or treatment.
B. Any magistrate shall issue, upon the sworn petition of any responsible person, treating physician, or upon his own motion, an emergency custody order when he has probable cause to believe that any person (i) has a mental illness and that there exists a substantial likelihood that, as a result of mental illness, the person will, in the near future, (a) cause serious physical harm to himself or others as evidenced by recent behavior causing, attempting, or threatening harm and other relevant information, if any, or (b) suffer serious harm due to his lack of capacity to protect himself from harm or to provide for his basic human needs, (ii) is in need of hospitalization or treatment, and (iii) is unwilling to volunteer or incapable of volunteering for hospitalization or treatment. Any emergency custody order entered pursuant to this section shall provide for the disclosure of medical records pursuant to §37.2-804.2. This subsection shall not preclude any other disclosures as required or permitted by law.
When considering whether there is probable cause to issue an emergency custody order, the magistrate may, in addition to the petition, consider (1) the recommendations of any treating or examining physician or psychologist licensed in Virginia, if available, (2) any past actions of the person, (3) any past mental health treatment of the person, (4) any relevant hearsay evidence, (5) any medical records available, (6) any affidavits submitted, if the witness is unavailable and it so states in the affidavit, and (7) any other information available that the magistrate considers relevant to the determination of whether probable cause exists to issue an emergency custody order.
B. C. Any person for whom an
emergency custody order is issued shall be taken into custody and transported
to a convenient location to be evaluated to determine whether the person meets
the criteria for temporary detention pursuant to §37.2-809 and to assess the
need for hospitalization or treatment. The evaluation shall be made by a person
designated by the community services board who is skilled in the diagnosis and
treatment of mental illness and who has completed a certification program
approved by the Department.
C. D. The magistrate issuing an
emergency custody order shall specify the primary law-enforcement agency and
jurisdiction to execute the emergency custody order and provide transportation.
However, the magistrate shall consider any request to authorize transportation
by an alternative transportation provider in accordance with this section,
whenever an alternative transportation provider is identified to the
magistrate, which may be a person, facility, or agency, including a family
member or friend of the person who is the subject of the order, a
representative of the community services board, or other transportation
provider with personnel trained to provide transportation in a safe manner,
upon determining, following consideration of information provided by the
petitioner; the community services board or its designee; the local
law-enforcement agency, if any; the person's treating physician, if any; or
other persons who are available and have knowledge of the person, and, when the
magistrate deems appropriate, the proposed alternative transportation provider,
either in person or via two-way electronic video and audio or telephone
communication system, that the proposed alternative transportation provider is
available to provide transportation, willing to provide transportation, and
able to provide transportation in a safe manner. When transportation is ordered
to be provided by an alternative transportation provider, the magistrate shall
order the specified primary law-enforcement agency to execute the order, to take
the person into custody,
and to transfer custody of the person to the alternative transportation
provider identified in the order. In such cases, a copy of the emergency
custody order shall accompany the person being transported pursuant to this
section at all times and shall be delivered by the alternative transportation
provider to the community services board or its designee responsible for
conducting the evaluation. The community services board or its designee
conducting the evaluation shall return a copy of the emergency custody order to
the court designated by the magistrate as soon as is practicable. Delivery of
an order to a law-enforcement officer or alternative transportation provider
and return of an order to the court may be accomplished electronically or by
facsimile.
Transportation under this section shall include transportation to a medical facility as may be necessary to obtain emergency medical evaluation or treatment that shall be conducted immediately in accordance with state and federal law. Transportation under this section shall include transportation to a medical facility for a medical evaluation if a physician at the hospital in which the person subject to the emergency custody order may be detained requires a medical evaluation prior to admission. If an emergency custody order cannot be executed within the time period specified in subsection L due to the duration of an emergency medical evaluation or medical treatment, the medical facility to which the person has been transported shall notify the community services board responsible for conducting the evaluation.
D. E. In specifying the primary
law-enforcement agency and jurisdiction for purposes of this section, the
magistrate shall order the primary law-enforcement agency from the jurisdiction
served by the community services board that designated the person to perform
the evaluation required in subsection B C to execute the order and, in cases in which transportation is ordered
to be provided by the primary law-enforcement agency, provide transportation.
If the community services board serves more than one jurisdiction, the
magistrate shall designate the primary law-enforcement agency from the
particular jurisdiction within the community services board's service area
where the person who is the subject of the emergency custody order was taken
into custody or, if the person has not yet been taken into custody, the primary
law-enforcement agency from the jurisdiction where the person is presently
located to execute the order and
provide transportation.
E. F. The law-enforcement agency
or alternative transportation provider providing transportation pursuant to
this section may transfer custody of the person to the facility or location to
which the person is transported for the evaluation required in subsection B C, G H, or H I if the facility or location
(i) is licensed to provide the level of security necessary to protect both the
person and others from harm, (ii) is actually capable of providing the level of
security necessary to protect the person and others from harm, and (iii) in
cases in which transportation is provided by a law-enforcement agency, has
entered into an agreement or memorandum of understanding with the
law-enforcement agency setting forth the terms and conditions under which it
will accept a transfer of custody, provided, however, that the facility or
location may not require the law-enforcement agency to pay any fees or costs
for the transfer of custody.
F. G. A
law-enforcement officer may lawfully go or be sent beyond the territorial
limits of the county, city, or town in which he serves to any point in the
Commonwealth for the purpose of executing an emergency custody order pursuant
to this section.
G. H. A law-enforcement officer
who, based upon his observation or the reliable reports of others, has probable
cause to believe that a person meets the criteria for emergency custody as
stated in this section may take that person into custody and transport that
person to an appropriate location to assess the need for hospitalization or
treatment without prior authorization. A law-enforcement officer who takes a
person into custody pursuant to this subsection or subsection H I may lawfully go or be sent
beyond the territorial limits of the county, city, or town in which he serves
to any point in the Commonwealth for the purpose of obtaining the assessment.
Such evaluation shall be conducted immediately. The period of custody shall not
exceed eight hours from the time the law-enforcement officer takes the person
into custody.
H. I. A law-enforcement officer
who is transporting a person who has voluntarily consented to be transported to
a facility for the purpose of assessment or evaluation and who is beyond the
territorial limits of the county, city, or town in which he serves may take
such person into custody and transport him to an appropriate location to assess
the need for hospitalization or treatment without prior authorization when the
law-enforcement officer determines (i) that the person has revoked consent to
be transported to a facility for the purpose of assessment or evaluation, and
(ii) based upon his observations, that probable cause exists to believe that
the person meets the criteria for emergency custody as stated in this section.
The period of custody shall not exceed eight hours from the time the
law-enforcement officer takes the person into custody.
I. J. Nothing herein shall
preclude a law-enforcement officer or alternative transportation provider from
obtaining emergency medical treatment or further medical evaluation at any time
for a person in his custody as provided in this section.
J. K. A representative of the
primary law-enforcement agency specified to execute an emergency custody order
or a representative of the law-enforcement agency employing a law-enforcement
officer who takes a person into custody pursuant to subsection G or H or I shall notify the
community services board responsible for conducting the evaluation required in
subsection B C, G H, or H I as soon as practicable after
execution of the emergency custody order or after the person has been taken
into custody pursuant to subsection G or
H or I.
K. L. The person shall remain in the custody of the law-enforcement officer who executed the emergency
custody order or, if
the criteria set forth in subsection F have been met, the facility to which the person is
transported for evaluation,
until a temporary detention order is issued, until the person is released,
or until
the emergency custody order expires. An emergency custody order shall be valid
for a period not to exceed eight hours from the time of execution at which the person is taken into custody pursuant to the emergency
custody order.
L. M. Nothing in this section
shall preclude the issuance of an order for temporary detention for testing,
observation, or treatment pursuant to §37.2-1104 for a person who is also the
subject of an emergency custody order issued pursuant to this section. In any
case in which an order for temporary detention for testing, observation, or
treatment is issued for a person who is also the subject of an emergency
custody order, the person may be detained by a hospital emergency room or other
appropriate facility for testing, observation, and treatment for a period not
to exceed 24 hours, unless extended by the court as part of an order pursuant
to §37.2-1101, in accordance with subsection A of §37.2-1104. Upon completion
of testing, observation, or treatment pursuant to §37.2-1104, the hospital
emergency room or other appropriate facility in which the person is detained
shall notify the nearest community services board, and the designee of the
community services board shall, as soon as is practicable and prior to the
expiration of the order for temporary detention issued pursuant to §37.2-1104,
conduct an evaluation of the person to determine if he meets the criteria for
temporary detention pursuant to §37.2-809.
M. N. Any person taken into
emergency custody pursuant to this section shall be given a written summary of
the emergency custody procedures and the statutory protections associated with
those procedures.
N. O. If an emergency custody
order is not executed within eight hours of its issuance, the order shall be
void and shall be returned unexecuted to the office of the clerk of the issuing
court or, if such office is not open, to any magistrate serving the
jurisdiction of the issuing court.
O. P. In addition to the
eight-hour period of emergency custody set forth in subsection G, H, I, or K, L, if the individual is
detained in a state facility pursuant to subsection E of §37.2-809, the state
facility and an employee or designee of the community services board as defined
in §37.2-809 may, for an additional four hours, continue to attempt to
identify an alternative facility that is able and willing to provide temporary
detention and appropriate care to the individual.
P. Q. Payments shall be made
pursuant to §37.2-804 to licensed health care providers for medical screening
and assessment services provided to persons with mental illnesses while in
emergency custody.
Q. R. No person who provides
alternative transportation pursuant to this section shall be liable to the
person being transported for any civil damages for ordinary negligence in acts
or omissions that result from providing such alternative transportation.
§37.2-809. Involuntary temporary detention; issuance and execution of order.
A. For the purposes of this section:
"Designee of the local community services board" means an examiner designated by the local community services board who (i) is skilled in the assessment and treatment of mental illness, (ii) has completed a certification program approved by the Department, (iii) is able to provide an independent examination of the person, (iv) is not related by blood or marriage to the person being evaluated, (v) has no financial interest in the admission or treatment of the person being evaluated, (vi) has no investment interest in the facility detaining or admitting the person under this article, and (vii) except for employees of state hospitals and of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, is not employed by the facility.
"Employee" means an employee of the local community services board who is skilled in the assessment and treatment of mental illness and has completed a certification program approved by the Department.
"Execute" means to take the person who is the subject of a temporary detention order into custody, transport the person to the facility of temporary detention identified in the temporary detention order or to an alternate facility of temporary detention designated by the employee or designee of the local community services board, and transfer custody of the person to the facility of temporary detention.
"Investment interest" means the ownership or holding of an equity or debt security, including shares of stock in a corporation, interests or units of a partnership, bonds, debentures, notes, or other equity or debt instruments.
B. A magistrate shall issue, upon the sworn petition of any responsible person, treating physician, or upon his own motion and only after an evaluation conducted in-person or by means of a two-way electronic video and audio communication system as authorized in §37.2-804.1 by an employee or a designee of the local community services board to determine whether the person meets the criteria for temporary detention, a temporary detention order if it appears from all evidence readily available, including any recommendation from a physician or clinical psychologist treating the person, that the person (i) has a mental illness and that there exists a substantial likelihood that, as a result of mental illness, the person will, in the near future, (a) cause serious physical harm to himself or others as evidenced by recent behavior causing, attempting, or threatening harm and other relevant information, if any, or (b) suffer serious harm due to his lack of capacity to protect himself from harm or to provide for his basic human needs; (ii) is in need of hospitalization or treatment; and (iii) is unwilling to volunteer or incapable of volunteering for hospitalization or treatment. The magistrate shall also consider, if available, (a) information provided by the person who initiated emergency custody and (b) the recommendations of any treating or examining physician licensed in Virginia either verbally or in writing prior to rendering a decision. Any temporary detention order entered pursuant to this section shall provide for the disclosure of medical records pursuant to §37.2-804.2. This subsection shall not preclude any other disclosures as required or permitted by law.
C. When considering whether there is probable cause to issue a temporary detention order, the magistrate may, in addition to the petition, consider (i) the recommendations of any treating or examining physician or psychologist licensed in Virginia, if available, (ii) any past actions of the person, (iii) any past mental health treatment of the person, (iv) any relevant hearsay evidence, (v) any medical records available, (vi) any affidavits submitted, if the witness is unavailable and it so states in the affidavit, and (vii) any other information available that the magistrate considers relevant to the determination of whether probable cause exists to issue a temporary detention order.
D. A magistrate may issue a temporary detention order without an emergency custody order proceeding. A magistrate may issue a temporary detention order without a prior evaluation pursuant to subsection B if (i) the person has been personally examined within the previous 72 hours by an employee or a designee of the local community services board or (ii) there is a significant physical, psychological, or medical risk to the person or to others associated with conducting such evaluation.
E. An employee or a designee of the local community services board shall determine the facility of temporary detention in accordance with the provisions of §37.2-809.1 for all individuals detained pursuant to this section. An employee or designee of the local community services board may change the facility of temporary detention and may designate an alternative facility for temporary detention at any point during the period of temporary detention if it is determined that the alternative facility is a more appropriate facility for temporary detention of the individual given the specific security, medical, or behavioral health needs of the person. In cases in which the facility of temporary detention is changed following transfer of custody to an initial facility of temporary custody, transportation of the individual to the alternative facility of temporary detention shall be provided in accordance with the provisions of §37.2-810. The initial facility of temporary detention shall be identified on the preadmission screening report and indicated on the temporary detention order; however, if an employee or designee of the local community services board designates an alternative facility, that employee or designee shall provide written notice forthwith, on a form developed by the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia, to the clerk of the issuing court of the name and address of the alternative facility. Subject to the provisions of §37.2-809.1, if a facility of temporary detention cannot be identified by the time of the expiration of the period of emergency custody pursuant to §37.2-808, the individual shall be detained in a state facility for the treatment of individuals with mental illness and such facility shall be indicated on the temporary detention order. Except as provided in § 37.2-811 for inmates requiring hospitalization in accordance with subdivision A 2 of §19.2-169.6, the person shall not be detained in a jail or other place of confinement for persons charged with criminal offenses and shall remain in the custody of law enforcement until the person is either detained within a secure facility or custody has been accepted by the appropriate personnel designated by either the initial facility of temporary detention identified in the temporary detention order or by the alternative facility of temporary detention designated by the employee or designee of the local community services board pursuant to this subsection. The person detained or in custody pursuant to this section shall be given a written summary of the temporary detention procedures and the statutory protections associated with those procedures.
A physician at the facility of temporary detention may require a medical evaluation or treatment of the person prior to admission. Such medical evaluation or treatment shall not exceed the assessment and screening guidelines published by the Department, and no physician at a facility of temporary detention shall deny admission unless the results of such assessment and screening indicate a medical condition that would preclude the person from receiving standard psychiatric care at the facility of temporary detention.
F. Any facility caring for a person placed with it pursuant to a temporary detention order is authorized to provide emergency medical and psychiatric services within its capabilities when the facility determines that the services are in the best interests of the person within its care. The costs incurred as a result of the hearings and by the facility in providing services during the period of temporary detention shall be paid and recovered pursuant to §37.2-804. The maximum costs reimbursable by the Commonwealth pursuant to this section shall be established by the State Board of Medical Assistance Services based on reasonable criteria. The State Board of Medical Assistance Services shall, by regulation, establish a reasonable rate per day of inpatient care for temporary detention.
G. The employee or the designee of the local community services board who is conducting the evaluation pursuant to this section shall determine, prior to the issuance of the temporary detention order, the insurance status of the person. Where coverage by a third party payor exists, the facility seeking reimbursement under this section shall first seek reimbursement from the third party payor. The Commonwealth shall reimburse the facility only for the balance of costs remaining after the allowances covered by the third party payor have been received.
H. The duration of temporary detention shall be sufficient to
allow for completion of the examination required by §37.2-815, preparation of
the preadmission screening report required by §37.2-816, and initiation of
mental health treatment to stabilize the person's psychiatric condition to
avoid involuntary commitment where possible, but shall not exceed 72 hours prior to a hearing from the time the person is taken into custody and
detained pursuant to the temporary detention order. If the
72-hour period herein specified terminates on a Saturday, Sunday, legal
holiday, or day on which the court is lawfully closed, the person may be
detained, as herein provided, until the close of business on the next day that
is not a Saturday, Sunday, legal holiday, or day on which the court is lawfully
closed. The person may be released, pursuant to §37.2-813, before the 72-hour
period herein specified has run.
I. If a temporary detention order is not executed within 24
hours of its issuance, or within a shorter period as is specified in the order,
the order shall be void and shall be returned unexecuted to the office of the
clerk of the issuing court or, if the office is not open, to any magistrate
serving the jurisdiction of the issuing court. Subsequent In
cases in which a temporary detention order is not executed within 24 hours of
its issuance and becomes
void, subsequent orders may be issued upon the original
petition within 96 hours after the petition is filed. However, a magistrate
must again obtain the advice of an employee or a designee of the local
community services board prior to issuing a subsequent order upon the original
petition. Any petition for which no temporary detention order is executed or other process
in connection therewith is served on the subject of the petition within 96
hours after the petition is filed shall be void and shall be returned to the
office of the clerk of the issuing court.
J. The Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia shall establish and require that a magistrate, as provided by this section, be available seven days a week, 24 hours a day, for the purpose of performing the duties established by this section. Each community services board shall provide to each general district court and magistrate's office within its service area a list of its employees and designees who are available to perform the evaluations required herein.
K. For purposes of this section, a health care provider or designee of a local community services board or behavioral health authority shall not be required to encrypt any email containing information or medical records provided to a magistrate unless there is reason to believe that a third party will attempt to intercept the email.
L. If the employee or designee of the community services board who is conducting the evaluation pursuant to this section recommends that the person should not be subject to a temporary detention order, such employee or designee shall (i) inform the petitioner, the person who initiated emergency custody if such person is present, and an onsite treating physician of his recommendation; (ii) promptly inform such person who initiated emergency custody that the community services board will facilitate communication between the person and the magistrate if the person disagrees with recommendations of the employee or designee of the community services board who conducted the evaluation and the person who initiated emergency custody so requests; and (iii) upon prompt request made by the person who initiated emergency custody, arrange for such person who initiated emergency custody to communicate with the magistrate as soon as is practicable and prior to the expiration of the period of emergency custody. The magistrate shall consider any information provided by the person who initiated emergency custody and any recommendations of the treating or examining physician and the employee or designee of the community services board who conducted the evaluation and consider such information and recommendations in accordance with subsection B in making his determination to issue a temporary detention order. The individual who is the subject of emergency custody shall remain in the custody of law enforcement or a designee of law enforcement and shall not be released from emergency custody until communication with the magistrate pursuant to this subsection has concluded and the magistrate has made a determination regarding issuance of a temporary detention order.
M. For purposes of this section, "person who initiated
emergency custody" means any person who initiated the issuance of an
emergency custody order pursuant to §37.2-808 or a law-enforcement officer who
takes a person into custody pursuant to subsection G H of §37.2-808.
§37.2-809.1. Facility of temporary detention.
A. In each case in which an employee or designee of the local
community services board as defined in §37.2-809 is required to make an
evaluation of an individual pursuant to subsection B C, G H, or H I of §37.2-808, an employee
or designee of the local community services board shall, upon being notified of
the need for such evaluation, contact the state facility for the area in which
the community services board is located and notify the state facility that the
individual will be transported to the facility upon issuance of a temporary
detention order if no other facility of temporary detention can be identified
by the time of the expiration of the period of emergency custody pursuant to §
37.2-808. Upon completion of the evaluation, the employee or designee of the
local community services board shall convey to the state facility information
about the individual necessary to allow the state facility to determine the
services the individual will require upon admission.
B. A state facility may, following the notice in accordance with subsection A, conduct a search for an alternative facility that is able and willing to provide temporary detention and appropriate care to the individual, which may include another state facility if the state facility notified in accordance with subsection A is unable to provide temporary detention and appropriate care for the individual. Under no circumstances shall a state facility fail or refuse to admit an individual who meets the criteria for temporary detention pursuant to §37.2-809 unless an alternative facility that is able to provide temporary detention and appropriate care agrees to accept the individual for temporary detention and the individual shall not during the duration of the temporary detention order be released from custody except for purposes of transporting the individual to the state facility or alternative facility in accordance with the provisions of §37.2-810. If an alternative facility is identified and agrees to accept the individual for temporary detention, the state facility shall notify the community services board, and an employee or designee of the community services board shall designate the alternative facility on the prescreening report.
C. The facility of temporary detention designated in accordance with this section shall be one that has been approved pursuant to regulations of the Board.
§37.2-810. Transportation of person in the temporary detention process.
A. As used in this section, "execute" shall have the same meaning as in §37.2-809.
B.
In specifying the primary law-enforcement agency and jurisdiction for purposes
of this section, the magistrate shall specify in the temporary detention order
the law-enforcement agency of the jurisdiction in which the person resides, or
any other willing law-enforcement agency that has agreed to provide
transportation, to execute the order and,
in cases in which transportation is ordered to be provided by the primary
law-enforcement agency, provide transportation. However, if
the nearest boundary of the jurisdiction in which the person resides is more
than 50 miles from the nearest boundary of the jurisdiction in which the person
is located, the law-enforcement agency of the jurisdiction in which the person
is located shall execute the order and
provide transportation.
B. C. The magistrate issuing the
temporary detention order shall specify the law-enforcement agency to execute
the order and
provide transportation. However, the magistrate shall
consider any request to authorize transportation by an alternative
transportation provider in accordance with this section, whenever an
alternative transportation provider is identified to the magistrate, which may
be a person, facility, or agency, including a family member or friend of the
person who is the subject of the temporary detention order, a representative of
the community services board, or other transportation provider with personnel
trained to provide transportation in a safe manner upon determining, following
consideration of information provided by the petitioner; the community services
board or its designee; the local law-enforcement agency, if any; the person's
treating physician, if any; or other persons who are available and have
knowledge of the person, and, when the magistrate deems appropriate, the
proposed alternative transportation provider, either in person or via two-way
electronic video and audio or telephone communication system, that the proposed
alternative transportation provider is available to provide transportation,
willing to provide transportation, and able to provide transportation in a safe
manner. When transportation is ordered to be provided by an alternative
transportation provider, the magistrate shall order the specified
law-enforcement agency to
execute the order, to take the person into custody, and to transfer custody of
the person to the alternative transportation provider identified in the order.
In such cases, a copy of the temporary detention order shall accompany the
person being transported pursuant to this section at all times and shall be
delivered by the alternative transportation provider to the temporary detention
facility. The temporary detention facility shall return a copy of the temporary
detention order to the court designated by the magistrate as soon as is
practicable. Delivery of an order to a law-enforcement officer or alternative
transportation provider and return of an order to the court may be accomplished
electronically or by facsimile.
The order may include transportation of the person to such other medical facility as may be necessary to obtain further medical evaluation or treatment prior to placement as required by a physician at the admitting temporary detention facility. Nothing herein shall preclude a law-enforcement officer or alternative transportation provider from obtaining emergency medical treatment or further medical evaluation at any time for a person in his custody as provided in this section. Such medical evaluation or treatment shall be conducted immediately in accordance with state and federal law. If a temporary detention order cannot be executed within the time period specified in subsection I of §37.2-809 due to the duration of an emergency medical evaluation or medical treatment, the medical facility to which the person has been transported shall notify the employee or the designee of the local community services board that conducted the evaluation pursuant to §37.2-809.
C. D. In cases in which an
alternative facility of temporary detention is identified and the
law-enforcement agency or alternative transportation provider identified to
provide transportation in accordance with subsection B C continues to have custody of
the person, the local law-enforcement agency or alternative transportation
provider shall transport the person to the alternative facility of temporary
detention identified by the employee or designee of the community services
board. In cases in which an alternative facility of temporary detention is
identified and custody of the individual has been transferred from the
law-enforcement agency or alternative transportation provider that provided
transportation in accordance with subsection B C to the initial facility of
temporary detention, the employee or designee of the community services board
shall request, and a magistrate may enter an order specifying, an alternative
transportation provider or, if no alternative transportation provider is
available, willing, and able to provide transportation in a safe manner, the
local law-enforcement agency for the jurisdiction in which the person resides
or, if the nearest boundary of the jurisdiction in which the person resides is more
than 50 miles from the nearest boundary of the jurisdiction in which the person
is located, the law-enforcement agency of the jurisdiction in which the person
is located, to provide transportation.
D. E. A law-enforcement officer
may lawfully go to or be sent beyond the territorial limits of the county,
city, or town in which he serves to any point in the Commonwealth for the
purpose of executing any temporary detention order pursuant to this section.
Law-enforcement agencies may enter into agreements to facilitate the execution
of temporary detention orders and
provide transportation.
E. F. No person who provides
alternative transportation pursuant to this section shall be liable to the person
being transported for any civil damages for ordinary negligence in acts or
omissions that result from providing such alternative transportation.
§37.2-811. Emergency treatment of inmates in the custody of local correctional facilities.
A. In any case in which temporary detention is ordered
pursuant to §37.2-809 upon petition of a person having custody of an inmate in
accordance with subdivision A 2 of §19.2-169.6, the magistrate executing issuing the temporary
detention order shall place the person in a hospital designated by the
Commissioner as appropriate for treatment and evaluation of persons under a
criminal charge or, if such facility is not available, the inmate shall be
detained in a local correctional facility or other place of confinement for
persons charged with criminal offenses and shall be transferred to such
hospital as soon as possible thereafter.
B. The hearing shall be held, upon notice to the attorney for the inmate, either (i) before the court having jurisdiction over the inmate's case or (ii) before a district court judge or special justice in accordance with the provisions of §37.2-820, in which case the inmate shall be represented by counsel as specified in §37.2-814.
§37.2-814. Commitment hearing for involuntary admission; written explanation; right to counsel; rights of petitioner.
A. The commitment hearing for involuntary admission shall be
held after a sufficient period of time has passed to allow for completion of
the examination required by §37.2-815, preparation of the preadmission
screening report required by §37.2-816, and initiation of mental health
treatment to stabilize the person's psychiatric condition to avoid involuntary
commitment where possible, but shall be held within 72 hours of the execution of the time at which the person is taken into custody and detained
pursuant to the temporary detention order as provided for
in §37.2-809; however, if the 72-hour period herein specified terminates on a
Saturday, Sunday, legal holiday, or day on which the court is lawfully closed,
the person may be detained, as herein provided, until the close of business on
the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, legal holiday, or day on which the
court is lawfully closed.
B. At the commencement of the commitment hearing, the district court judge or special justice shall inform the person whose involuntary admission is being sought of his right to apply for voluntary admission for inpatient treatment as provided for in §37.2-805 and shall afford the person an opportunity for voluntary admission. The district court judge or special justice shall advise the person whose involuntary admission is being sought that if the person chooses to be voluntarily admitted pursuant to §37.2-805, such person will be prohibited from possessing, purchasing, or transporting a firearm pursuant to §18.2-308.1:3. The judge or special justice shall ascertain if the person is then willing and capable of seeking voluntary admission for inpatient treatment. In determining whether a person is capable of consenting to voluntary admission, the judge or special justice may consider evidence regarding the person's past compliance or noncompliance with treatment. If the judge or special justice finds that the person is capable and willingly accepts voluntary admission for inpatient treatment, the judge or special justice shall require him to accept voluntary admission for a minimum period of treatment not to exceed 72 hours. After such minimum period of treatment, the person shall give the facility 48 hours' notice prior to leaving the facility. During this notice period, the person shall not be discharged except as provided in §37.2-837, 37.2-838, or 37.2-840. The person shall be subject to the transportation provisions as provided in §37.2-829 and the requirement for preadmission screening by a community services board as provided in § 37.2-805.
C. If a person is incapable of accepting or unwilling to accept voluntary admission and treatment, the judge or special justice shall inform the person of his right to a commitment hearing and right to counsel. The judge or special justice shall ascertain if the person whose admission is sought is represented by counsel, and, if he is not represented by counsel, the judge or special justice shall appoint an attorney to represent him. However, if the person requests an opportunity to employ counsel, the judge or special justice shall give him a reasonable opportunity to employ counsel at his own expense.
D. A written explanation of the involuntary admission process and the statutory protections associated with the process shall be given to the person, and its contents shall be explained by an attorney prior to the commitment hearing. The written explanation shall describe, at a minimum, the person's rights to (i) retain private counsel or be represented by a court-appointed attorney, (ii) present any defenses including independent evaluation and expert testimony or the testimony of other witnesses, (iii) be present during the hearing and testify, (iv) appeal any order for involuntary admission to the circuit court, and (v) have a jury trial on appeal. The judge or special justice shall ascertain whether the person whose involuntary admission is sought has been given the written explanation required herein.
E. To the extent possible, during or before the commitment hearing, the attorney for the person whose involuntary admission is sought shall interview his client, the petitioner, the examiner described in § 37.2-815, the community services board staff, and any other material witnesses. He also shall examine all relevant diagnostic and other reports, present evidence and witnesses, if any, on his client's behalf, and otherwise actively represent his client in the proceedings. A health care provider shall disclose or make available all such reports, treatment information, and records concerning his client to the attorney, upon request. The role of the attorney shall be to represent the wishes of his client, to the extent possible.
F. The petitioner shall be given adequate notice of the place, date, and time of the commitment hearing. The petitioner shall be entitled to retain counsel at his own expense, to be present during the hearing, and to testify and present evidence. The petitioner shall be encouraged but shall not be required to testify at the hearing, and the person whose involuntary admission is sought shall not be released solely on the basis of the petitioner's failure to attend or testify during the hearing.
