What Happens at the End of the Commitment Period?
The hospital may apply for recommitment for a period of up to 12 months if it believes that the person needs continued involuntary hospitalization. The hospital must discharge the person at the end of the commitment period unless it has started recommitment procedures, or unless the person is suitable for and has accepted voluntary admission. A hospital is not required to hospitalize a person for the entire period of commitment. In fact, it must discharge a person during the commitment period if it determines that conditions have changed and that the person no longer needs hospitalization. What is Protective Custody? Protective custody is the term for when a law enforcement officer takes a person into custody in order to bring that person to a doctor or psychologist for an evaluation for possible involuntary psychiatric hospitalization. The law enforcement officer must use the least restrictive form of transportation that meets the security needs of the situation when taking the person
