What is Certification Hearing?
A Certification Hearing is also known as a Probable Cause Hearing. It is an informal hearing held at the hospital to determine if there is “good cause” to keep you in the hospital. At the hearing, a hearing officer will determine whether or not you are still a danger to yourself, a danger to others, or gravely disabled as a result of a mental disorder. If there is no good cause to keep you in the hospital, the hearing officer can discharge you from the hospital immediately. If there is good cause, the hearing officer will allow your psychiatrist to keep you in the hospital for up to fourteen more days.
