The court will order treatment if there is clear and convincing evidence that the person:
- is in need of treatment, and
- unwilling or unable to accept treatment voluntarily
The person may be ordered to inpatient treatment at a hospital, or to outpatient treatment in a community based clinic, or a combination of inpatient and outpatient treatment. Treatment may also require taking medication prescribed by the provider.
Inpatient
Inpatient treatment is where the person is placed in a hospital and unable to leave until they are deemed stable by the medical staff.
The number of inpatient treatment days are dependent on how long the medical staff see the patient a danger to self, danger to others, persistently or acutely disabled, or gravely disabled. The timeframes, set by Title 36, are:
- Danger to self may be ordered up to 90 inpatient days per year;
- Danger to others and persistently or acutely disabled may be ordered up to 180 inpatient days per year; and
- Gravely disabled may be ordered up to 365 inpatient days per year.
Outpatient
Outpatient services tend to be for those who are willing to work with their assigned care team or have milder conditions, but still need guided care. Outpatient treatment may include:
- regular appointments at local clinics
- mandatory attendance at support groups, like Alcoholics Anonymous
- medication plans
Court ordered outpatient treatment plans can last up to 365 days, but can be extended based on the recommendations of the medical professionals.
Combined Inpatient-Outpatient
Depending on the situation, a combination of inpatient and outpatient treatment may be ordered by the court. The patient would first get inpatient medical care and when they are stable, be presented with an outpatient plan for continued care.
Resources
Statute: A.R.S. § 36-540(A)
