§ 20-64-811 - Continued detention. - Arkansas Statutes

20-64-811. Continued detention.

(a) If at any time the person who has voluntarily admitted himself or herself to a receiving facility or program makes a request to leave, the administrator or his or her designee may file or cause to be filed a petition for involuntary commitment.

(b) If the administrator or his or her designee determines that the person meets the criteria set forth in this subchapter for involuntary commitment and that release would place the person in imminent danger of death or serious bodily harm, the administrator or his or her designee shall file or cause to be filed a petition for involuntary commitment and shall append thereto a request for continued detention.

(c) The request for continued detention shall be verified and shall:

(1) State with particularity the facts personally known to the affiant which establish reasonable cause to believe the person is in imminent danger of death or serious bodily harm;

(2) Identify the treatment facility or program in which the person is being detained; and

(3) Contain a specific prayer that the person be involuntarily committed and that detention be continued.

(d) (1) The person shall be considered to be held by detention pending judicial determination of the petition for involuntary commitment and continued detention. Any person detained pending judicial determination shall, within two (2) hours of his or her request to leave the receiving facility, be provided with a copy of the petition for involuntary commitment and request for continued detention.

(2) The person shall be presented with an acknowledgment of receipt of the petition for involuntary commitment and request for continued detention. If the person refuses to sign the acknowledgment, this refusal shall be noted on the person's chart and shall be attested by two (2) eyewitnesses on a second document. An original of said attestation shall be furnished to the court. Either a signed acknowledgment or completed attestation shall be sufficient to prove personal service of the petition.

(e) The petition shall be filed and presented to a probate judge on or before 5:00 p.m. the next day, exclusive of weekends and holidays, after the person makes a request to leave the receiving facility or program. Thereupon, the judge shall review the petition and request for continued detention and determine whether there is reasonable cause to believe the person meets the criteria set forth in this subchapter for involuntary commitment and whether release would place the person in immediate danger of death or serious bodily harm.

(f) If the judge determines that there is reasonable cause to believe that the person meets the criteria set forth in this subchapter for involuntary commitment and that release would place the person in immediate danger of death or serious bodily harm, the judge shall order continued detention pending a hearing to be scheduled and conducted pursuant to 20-64-821.