What is a 5150 suspension? Involuntary mental health hospitalization explained. (Illustration by Aisha Yousaf) The term “5150 hold” has been used in the media in stories of psychologically distressed people who are determined to need involuntary mental health intervention, let’s look at its origins. The number refers to the section of the California State Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) on “Detention of Mentally Disordered Persons for Evaluation and Treatment.” Code 5150 states that when a person, due to a mental health disorder, poses a danger to others or to themselves,…
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Internal NYPD documents reveal officer training on involuntary admissions
The records were obtained from the New York Civil Liberties Union in a lawsuit filed in March against the NYPD and shared with POLITICO. Adams focused on the intersecting crises of homelessness and mental illness as part of a larger effort to address voter concerns about crime and perceptions of public safety. His approach has sparked outrage and lawsuits from civil rights advocates such as NYCLU, who consider him both ineffective in addressing serious mental health problems and a dangerous violation of individuals’ constitutional rights. Supporters have also criticized police…
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