Hospitalization of Mentally Ill Persons

Under

Wyoming Statutes Annotated Title 25 Chapter 10

During the month of September 2011 the Albany County Attorney’s Office received:

Ten (10) Form 3-81 Emergency Detentions by Law Enforcement or Examiner

¨      Four (4) of these detentions resulted in a 109 First Hearing to be detained at Behavioral Health Services at Ivinson Memorial Hospital not to exceed ten (10) days

¨      One (1) of these detentions resulted in a 110 Second Hearing to be committed to the Wyoming State Hospital for an indefinite period of time

¨     Three (3) of these detentions were alcohol related

¨      None (0) of these detentions arose from relationship issues

Eight (8) of these detentions were initiated by law enforcement

Two (2) of these detentions have had previous detentions

Goal:   Reduce Emergency Detentions in Albany County by understanding mental health issues and promoting human well-being.

Peak Wellness Center provides the Mental Health Examiners for Albany County.  The Mental Health Examiners responsibilities include:

• § Perform an initial examination and explain the detention process to the patient within 24 hours of detention
• § Make a recommendation to the Albany County Attorney’s Office regarding the patients need to stay longer than the initial 72 hour mental health hold (excluding weekends and holidays)
• § File the detention paperwork with the Clerk of District Court if a hearing is needed
• § Testify at hearings on behalf of the State

(All community mental health providers in the State of Wyoming are required to be nationally accredited through either CARF or JCAHO.) http://wdh.state.wy.us/mhsa/about/Standards.html

A FACT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

According to the United States Code Annotated, Title 18 Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Part I Crimes, Chapter 44 Firearms:

It is unlawful for any person who has been adjudicated as a mental defective or who has been committed to a mental institution to possess any firearm or ammunition or to receive any firearm or ammunition.

RESOURCES

Emergency                                                                    Laramie Dispatch
911                                                                               721-2523

National Hopeline Network                                           American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
1-800-784-2433                                                           212-363-3500
Toll free, 24-hour crisis hotline                                   www.afsp.org

Suicide Prevention Advocacy Network                          Wyoming Department of Health
770-998-8819                                                              http://wdh.state.wy.us/mhsa/prevention/giss.html
www.spanusa.org