How does a person get detained?
Initial referral can be from anyone, such as police, family, neighbor, landlord, hospital emergency room, hospital in-patient unit. The DMHP interviews the person(s) making the referral, takes a statement, and gathers all pertinent information. The person referred is then evaluated by the DMHP, who determines whether there are appropriate alternatives to hospitalization, and whether the person would accept voluntary hospitalization. If neither are an option, the DMHP could then detain the person, if the evidence warrants detention.
