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HomeWelfare and Institutions CodeDiv. 5Pt. 1Ch. 2Art. 4§ 5250 14-Day Mental Health Certification

§ 5250 14-Day Mental Health Certification

Welfare and Institutions Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 5250 14-Day Mental Health Certification

Key Takeaways

  • •If someone is held for 72 hours because they might hurt themselves or others due to mental health issues or alcoholism, they can be kept for up to 14 more days for treatment.
  • •Doctors must check and agree that the person is a danger or can't take care of themselves before keeping them longer.
  • •The person must refuse or be unable to get help on their own.
  • •Family or friends can help avoid this by writing that they will take care of the person’s basic needs like food and shelter.

Example

If someone is acting dangerously because of severe depression and refuses help, doctors can keep them for up to 14 days for treatment.

The law allows doctors to hold and treat someone against their will if they are a danger to themselves or others and won’t get help voluntarily.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 5250 14-Day Mental Health Certification

If a person is detained for 72 hours under the provisions of Article 1 (commencing with Section 5150), or under court order for evaluation pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 5200) or Article 3 (commencing with Section 5225) and has received an evaluation, the person may be certified for not more than 14 days of intensive treatment related to the mental health disorder or impairment by chronic alcoholism, under the following conditions: (a) The professional staff of the agency or facility providing evaluation services has analyzed the person’s condition and has found the person is, as a result of a mental health disorder or impairment by chronic alcoholism, a danger to others or to themselves, or is gravely disabled. (b) The facility providing intensive treatment is designated by the county to provide intensive treatment and agrees to admit the person. A facility shall not be designated to provide intensive treatment unless it complies with the certification review hearing required by this article. The procedures shall be described in the county Short-Doyle plan. (c) The person has been advised of the need for, but has not been willing or able to accept, treatment on a voluntary basis. (d) (1) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of subdivision (h) of Section 5008, a person is not “gravely disabled” if that person can survive safely without involuntary detention with the help of responsible family, friends, or others who are both willing and able to help provide for the person’s basic personal needs for food, clothing, or shelter. (2) However, unless they specifically indicate in writing their willingness and ability to help, family, friends, or others shall not be considered willing or able to provide this help. (3) The purpose of this subdivision is to avoid the necessity for, and the harmful effects of, requiring family, friends, and others to publicly state, and requiring the certification review officer to publicly find, that no one is willing or able to assist a person with a grave disability. (Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 492, Sec. 13. (SB 1511) Effective January 1, 2025.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

treatmentgravely disableddetentionfacilitydangerhealthhearingevaluation

Related Statutes

  • § 359 Minor Drug Detention Orders
  • § 5256 Intensive Treatment Certification Review
  • § 5276 Patient Judicial Review Rights
  • § 708 Minor Drug Danger Evaluation
  • § 5150.2 Peace Officer Detention Limits

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Welfare and Institutions Code. Section 5250.
View Official Source