Missing Persons Alachua County Sheriff's Office: Business hours phone (352)-367-4050 or weekends and after 5:30 pm phone (352)- 955-1818

How to call 911

STEP-BY-STEP FOR MENTAL ILLNESS CRISIS AT HOME.

What to say to 911 operator.  Link tells you how to get your loved one safely into a Crisis Stabilization Unit in Alachua County so they can get the acute specialized mental illness observation for safety or treatment they need and deserve.

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Forensic (Jail) situations where a broken law is involved (often unknowingly by a person with a mental illness)

Misdemeanor
Baker Act Florida Statute [s. 394.462(1)(f), F.S.] states: " When any law enforcement officer has custody of a person based on either noncriminal or minor criminal behavior that meets the statutory guidelines for involuntary examination under this part, the law enforcement officer shall [must] transport the person to the nearest receiving facility for examination." (crisis stabilization unit not jail)

Felony
Baker Act Florida Statute [s. 394.462(1)(g), F.S.] states: " When any law enforcement officer has arrested a person for a felony and it appears that the person meets the statutory guidelines for involuntary examination or placement under this part, such person shall first be processed in the same manner as any other criminal suspect. The law enforcement agency shall thereafter immediately notify the nearest public receiving facility, which shall be responsible for promptly arranging for the examination and treatment of the person. A receiving facility is not required to admit a person charged with a crime for whom the facility determines and documents that it is unable to provide adequate security, but shall provide mental health examination and treatment to the person where he or she is held. "

BAKER ACT 101 — Involuntary Examination Criteria.

A person may be taken to a receiving facility for involuntary examination if there is reason to believe that the person has a mental illness and because of his or her mental illness both these criteria must be met:

1. The person has refused voluntary examination after conscientious explanation and disclosure of the purpose of the examination; or the person is unable to determine for himself or herself whether examination is necessary.

AND

2. Without care or treatment, the person is likely to suffer from neglect or refuse to care for himself or herself; such neglect or refusal poses a real and present threat of substantial harm to his or her well-being; and it is not apparent that such harm may be avoided through the help of willing family members or friends or the provision of other services; or there is a substantial likelihood that without care or treatment the person will cause serious bodily harm to himself or herself or others in the near future, as evidenced by recent behavior.

That is it.   A judge or mental health professional “may” initiate the examination – no duty to do so even if they believe the two criteria above are met. However, a law enforcement officer “shall” (=mandatory must) initiate if he/she believes the criteria to be met. The court has to rely on sworn testimony, the mental health professional has to rely on his/her own observations, and the law enforcement officer only has to describe the circumstances under which the person was taken into custody – officers do not have to see the behavior to initiate as long as there are credible witnesses, like a caring family member. The officer still has to have “reason to believe” that the criteria are met.