SECTIONS 7225-7232 - California Statutes

WELFARE AND INSTITUTIONS CODE

SECTION 7225-7232

7225. Except as otherwise provided, all patients admitted to a
state hospital shall be duly committed or transferred thereto, and
shall be subject to the general rules and regulations of the
department and of the hospital.

7226. The State Department of Mental Health may admit to any state
hospital for the mentally disordered, if there is room therein, any
mentally disordered soldier or sailor in the service of the United
States on such terms as are agreed upon between the department and
the properly authorized agents, officers, or representatives of the
United States government.

7227. Mentally disordered prisoners in the state prisons shall be
admitted to the state hospitals in accordance with the provisions of
the Penal Code.

7228. Prior to admission to the Napa State Hospital or the
Metropolitan State Hospital, the State Department of Mental Health
shall evaluate each patient committed pursuant to Section 1026 or
1370 of the Penal Code. A patient determined to be a high security
risk shall be treated in the department's most secure facilities. A
Penal Code patient not needing this level of security shall be
treated as near to the patient's community as possible if an
appropriate treatment program is available.

7230. Those patients determined to be high security risk patients,
as described in Section 7228, shall be treated at Atascadero State
Hospital or Patton State Hospital, a correctional facility, or other
secure facility as defined by the State Department of Mental Health,
but shall not be treated at Metropolitan State Hospital or Napa State
Hospital. Metropolitan State Hospital and Napa State Hospital shall
treat only low- to moderate-risk patients, as defined by the State
Department of Mental Health.

7231. The State Department of Mental Health shall develop policies
and procedures, by no later than 30 days following the effective date
of the Budget Act of 1997, at each state hospital, to notify
appropriate law enforcement agencies in the event of a patient escape
or walkaway. Local law enforcement agencies, including local police
and county sheriff departments, shall review the policies and
procedures prior to final implementation by the department.

7232. The State Department of Mental Health shall issue a state
hospital administrative directive by no later than 30 days following
the effective date of the Budget Act of 1997 to require patients
whose placement has been required pursuant to the Penal Code, and
other patients within the secured perimeter at each state hospital,
to wear clothing that enables these patients to be readily
identified.