Involuntary Commitments in Illinois

Short of involving the criminal justice system, which most agree is ill-suited to the task, Illinois law possesses very few tools for responding to mental health crises, writes Austin R. Carlson in his April Illinois Bar Journal article, “Involuntary Commitments in Illinois.” One reason is that individuals who otherwise have the power to make healthcare decisions for a prospective patient may not consent to inpatient admission on their behalf. Austin goes on to describe the default tool used in Illinois for involuntary admission on an inpatient basis for mental health treatment by court order—better known as involuntary or civil commitment.

Read the April Illinois Bar Journal’s article, “Involuntary Commitments in Illinois”