Connecticut Law About Rights of Mental Health Consumers

Connecticut Law About Commitment (Voluntary/Involuntary)
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Research Guides

Connecticut General Statutes

State of Connecticut Probate Courts:

OLR Research Reports - Office of Legislative Research:

Shock Therapy Law and Court Rules 2019-R-0203
Provide a summary of Connecticut law and probate court rules on informed consent for shock therapy.
Kentucky and Connecticut Laws on Involuntary Treatment for Substance Abuse 2018-R-0311
Compares Kentucky's law on involuntary treatment for alcohol or drug abuse (Casey's Law) to Connecticut's law on this issue.
Whiting Forensic Hospital Patient Abuse Investigations 2018-R-0077
This report briefly describes the mission of Whiting Forensic Hospital and the status of the (1) Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services' recent investigations of patient abuse at the hospital and (2) hospital's Medicare certification. It updates OLR Report 2017-R-0311.
Whiting Forensic Division 2017-R-0218
Describe the administrative control and admission standards of Connecticut's Whiting Forensic Division.
Concise Summary of Civil Commitment Laws 2013-R-0087
You asked for a concise summary of the civil commitment law.
Civil Commitment of Children 2013-R-0102
You asked for a concise summary of the law governing the civil commitment of mentally ill children.
Updated Report: Involuntary Outpatient Mental Health Treatment Laws 2013-R-0105
You asked for an update of OLR Report 2011-R-0438, which described involuntary outpatient mental health treatment laws in other states. You want to know how often the states with such laws have invoked them. Finally, you requested information on recent legislative changes to New York's outpatient commitment law.
Duty of Mental Health Professionals to Warn of Potentially Violent Conduct by Patients 2013-R-0089
You asked us to update OLR report 2010-R-0024 on the duty of mental health professionals to warn of potentially violent conduct by patients. This report also addresses a related common law concept, the duty to control, as it applies in such cases.
Involuntary Civil Commitment and Patients' Rights 2013-R-0041
This report provides a summary of the law on involuntary civil commitment of people age 16 and over with mental illness, updating OLR Report 2002-R-0848. This report also briefly describes the rights of patients who are receiving psychiatric care.
Shock Therapy Statute 2012-R-0467
You asked for a summary and history of the statute addressing informed consent for shock therapy (CGS 17a-543(c)).
Commitment For Substance Abuse Disorders 2012-R-0217
You asked about the process in Connecticut for commitment of individuals with a substance abuse disorder (e.g., a drug addiction).
Whiting Forensic 2000-R-0704
You asked what Whiting Forensic Institute is, who gets sent there and what the standards for admission are.

Useful Websites

Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services:

Your Rights as a Client or Patient

Infoline eLibrary:

Involuntary Admission - Connecticut

Library Materials

Connecticut Estates Practice: Incapacity, Powers of Attorney and Adoption in Connecticut 3d Edition., by Ralph H. Folsom & Gayle B. Wilhelm

Chapter 1 Commitments and Placements
Search the online catalog for availability and locations.

Probate Court Locations

Probate Court Directory

Selected Statutes:

Chapter 319i Persons with Psychiatric Disabilities

Part II - Commitment. General Provisions:

Sec.17a-497 (Formerly Sec. 17-177). Commitment Jurisdiction. Application. Appointment of three-judge court.
Sec.17a-498 (Formerly Sec. 17-178). Hearing on Commitment Application. Notice. Rights of Respondent. Examination by Physicians. Order of Commitment. Election of Voluntary Status Prior to Adjudication. Review of Confinement.
Sec.17a-502 (Formerly Sec. 17-183). Commitment Under Emergency Certificate. Examination of Patient. Explanation of Rights. Hearing. Private Hospitals' Notification to Commissioner. Immediate Discharge of Patient. Notification of Next of Kin. Prohibited Commitments to Chronic Disease Hospitals.
Sec.17a-503 (Formerly Sec. 17-183a). Detention by Police Officer Prior to Commitment. Issuance of Emergency Certificates by Psychologist, Certain Clinical Social Workers and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses and in Correctional Facilities.
Sec.17a-506 (Formerly Sec. 17-187). Voluntary Admissions. Notification of Next of Kin. Restriction on Right to Leave. Commitment Proceedings. Continuation of Confinement. Probable Cause Hearing.
Sec.17a-510 (Formerly Sec. 17-192). Release or Transfer; Procedure.
Sec. 17a-528. (Formerly Sec. 17-205a). Payment of Commitment and Transportation Expenses.

Part III - Patients' Rights

Sec.17a-540 (Formerly Sec. 17-206a). Definitions
Sec.17a-541 (Formerly Sec. 17-206b). Deprivation of Rights of Patient Prohibited. Exception.
Sec.17a-542 (Formerly Sec. 17-206c). Humane and Dignified Treatment Required. Formulation of Discharge Plan.
Sec.17a-543 (Formerly Sec. 17-206d). Procedures Governing Medication, Treatment, Psychosurgery and Shock Therapy.
Sec.17a-544 (Formerly Sec. 17-206e). Placement of Patient in Seclusion or Mechanical Restraint. Medication Not to Be Used as Substitute for Habilitation.
Sec.17a-545 (Formerly Sec. 17-206f). Physical and Psychiatric Examinations.
Sec.17a-546 (Formerly Sec. 17-206g). Communication by Mail and Telephone.
Sec.17a-547 (Formerly Sec. 17-206h). Visitors. Restrictions on Mail, Telephone, and Visitor Privileges, When Allowed.
Sec.17a-548 (Formerly Sec. 17-206i). Patient's Rights re Clothing, Possessions, Money and Access to Records. List of Rights to Be Posted.
Sec.17a-550 (Formerly Sec. 17-206k). Remedies of Aggrieved Persons.

Part IV - Whiting Forensic Division

Sec.17a-560 (Formerly Sec. 17-238). Definitions.
Sec. 17a-561 (Formerly Sec. 17-239). Persons to be Treated at Whiting Forensic Hospital.

Part V - Psychiatric Review Board

Sec.17a-583 (Formerly Sec. 17-257d). Initial Hearing by Board After Commitment.
Sec.17a-585 (Formerly Sec. 17-257f). Periodic Review by Board.

Click on the link below to search the full-text of the statutes: https://search.cga.state.ct.us/r/statute/dtsearch_form.asp

Official Connecticut Probate Court Forms

Listing of Official Probate Court Forms

Petition for Involuntary Commitment of Person With Psychiatric Disabilities PC-801

Probable Cause Hearing Request (Adult) PC-802

Petition for Involuntary Commitment Alcohol and/or Drug Dependency PC-803

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