Civil Commitments

“Mental illness” means the individual has a substantial disorder of thought, mood, perception, orientation or memory that grossly impairs judgment, behavior, capacity to recognize reality, or the ability to meet the ordinary demands of life. A mentally ill individual is subject to court order and hospitalization if it is found by the court after hearing and through the presentation of clear and convincing evidence that because of the mental illness the individual is then (a) a substantial risk of danger to themselves, as shown by threats, or attempts, to commit suicide or to inflict serious harm to themselves, (b) a substantial risk of danger to others as shown by attempts, or threats, to harm others, (c) unable to provide for, and is not providing for, their own basic needs and those needs cannot be met in the community.

In general, a mentally ill individual is subject to court-ordered assisted outpatient mental health treatment if all of the following are proven by clear and convincing evidence of behavior indicating the mentally ill person (a) based on a clinical determination is unlikely to survive safely in the community without supervision; (b) has a history of a lack of compliance with treatment for mental illness, and (i) has been hospitalized for mental illness at least twice within the prior 36 months with a lack of compliance being a significant contributing factor or (ii) a lack of compliance resulted in one or more serious violent acts, threats or attempts to self or others within the prior 48 months; (c) is unlikely to voluntarily participate in needed treatment; (d) has a history and current behavior and needs treatment to prevent a relapse that that presents a substantial risk of serious harm to self or others.   Supporting documentation and medical information should accompany the initial filings.  The availability of appropriate treatment in an outpatient setting is a pre-condition for outpatient treatment being ordered by the probate court.

Emergency psychiatric assessments and pre-screenings for individuals believed to be mentally ill and subject to court order are conducted by Grady Memorial Hospital Emergency Room staff for individuals transported to, and/or presenting at, the Grady Memorial Hospital Emergency Room, Delaware, Ohio.

Based on the information provided and the assessment, the examiner may arrange for the transport of the individual to a psychiatric hospital for up to 72 hours while a civil commitment action is commenced in the probate court.

If the situation is not an emergency, or within 3 days of the emergency hospitalization, an Affidavit of Mental Illness may be filed with the probate court by the family member, or assessor, alleging the existence of the mental illness and setting forth the specific actions, conditions and behavior which supports the criteria necessary for a court order.  Filings in mental health commitment proceedings in the probate court are not public records and the hearings are not open to the public.

A hearing on an affidavit alleging mental illness is held at which an independent psychiatrist or psychologist who has examined the individual testifies regarding the mental illness and the existence, if any, of criteria for hospitalization.  The individual is served with notice of the date time and place of the hearing, is permitted to attend, permitted to have counsel present, entitled to notice of the times, date and place of the hearing (as are the individual’s next of kin), and is entitled to have a court appointed attorney, if indigent.  Consideration is given to the least restrictive available alternative to hospitalization.  If the individual applies for voluntary hospitalization prior to the conclusion of the hearing, the court may dismiss the involuntary proceedings and expunge the record.  If the emergency hospitalization has been to a psychiatric facility in another county, our court will generally transfer the file to the probate court in that county to conduct the full hearing.

After the hearing, the probate court may dismiss the case and order the individual discharged or may order hospitalization for a period not to exceed 90 days, and that time period can be extended upon application of the hospital and a further hearing.  Delaware County does not have an in-patient mental health treatment facility for involuntarily hospitalized individuals.  Involuntary hospitalization will generally be to a facility in Franklin County or to one of the state facilities operated by the Ohio Department of Mental Health.  In most situations, the treating psychiatric hospital treats the individual and when they are determined to no longer meets the criteria for hospitalization, they are released with a plan for follow-up treatment through the community mental health provider agencies or their personal physicians.

If assisted outpatient treatment is appropriate and available for the person’s mental illness and the person meets all of the mandated criteria, the probate court may order that the individual complies with the recommended mental health treatment.  If the person fails to comply with the treatment plan the court may hold a hearing and issue additional orders or dismiss the case.  The court cannot consider jailing the person for not abiding the Order.  If the person then demonstrates the criteria permitting court ordered hospitalization, upon proper hearing the court may commit the person to a more restrictive in-patient setting.

The Delaware-Morrow Mental Health and Recovery Services Board (DMMHRSB), 40 N. Sandusky St., 3rd Flr, Delaware, OH is the governmental entity charged by law with the responsibility of creating and funding a community network of mental health providers (Phone 740-833-2160).

• Syntero, is a contract provider of the DMMHRSB, with offices at 299 Cramer Creek Ct., Dublin, OH. (Intake Phone 614-889-5722, ext. 133).
• Maryhaven, Inc is a contract provider of the DHMMRSB, with offices at 88 N. Sandusky St., Delaware, OH.  (Phone 740-203-3800).
• Southeast Healthcare Services is a contract provider of the DHMMRSB, with offices at 824 Bowtown Rd., Delaware, OH. (Phone 740-695-7795).
• Grady Memorial Hospital (ER Staff) conduct psychiatric assessment/hospital pre-screenings on a 24/7 basis for individuals transported to, and/or presenting at, the Emergency Department.
• HelpLine is the 24 hour DMHHRSB crisis referral agency for Delaware County (Phone 740-369-3316).
• Individual and agency psychiatric, psychological and social services providers also are available to provide educational and vocational assistance, housing support and social networking to mentally ill individuals.

The probate court is responsible for filings made when it is deemed necessary to place a developmentally disabled individual in an institutional setting, typically the Columbus Developmental Center operated by the state.

The Delaware County Board for Developmental Disabilities, 7791 Columbus Pike, Lewis Center, OH 43035 (Phone 740-201-3600) is the governmental entity for creating and funding the network of community providers for developmentally disabled individuals who are residents of Delaware County.

Ohio law (RC 3793.32 et. seq.) permits a spouse, relative or guardian to file in the Probate Court a verified petition alleging that an individual residing in Delaware County who suffers from alcohol or drug abuse, is in imminent danger or imminent threat of danger to self, family or others as a result of the alcohol or other drug abuse, and can reasonably benefit from treatment.  The applicable court cost deposit must be paid.  The case caption is entitled “In the Interest of (name of respondent)”.  The contents of the petition are specified in the statutes and the filing of the petition requires a probable cause hearing where the Applicant is examined by the Court under oath, and permits the Probate Court to schedule a full hearing within 7 days.  Upon a finding based upon clear and convincing evidence that the individual may reasonably benefit from treatment, the Probate Court is permitted (but not required) to order the individual to undergo treatment.

The responsibility for payment for the treatment and examination expenses is upon the applicant, who must deposit with the Court upon the filing of the petition one-half of the estimated costs of the treatment of the respondent and sign a financial guarantee for the costs associated with the hearing, the examination of the respondent and the balance of the costs of any treatment ordered by the Court.  Treatment, if ordered, must be delivered by a licensed or certified facility from a list of the providers established by the mental health and recovery services board.

The governmental entity with responsibility for establishing a community network of providers is the Delaware Morrow Mental Health and Recovery Services Board (DMMHRSB).  It may be contacted for referral information at 40 N. Sandusky St., 3rd Flr., Delaware, OH (Phone 740-833-2160).

Alcohol and substance abuse treatment services are offered through many private providers.  Two principal contract providers of the DMMHRSB with Delaware delivery sites are:

• Maryhaven, Inc.  (Phone 614-203-3800); and
• Recovery & Prevention Resources of Delaware and Morrow Counties, (Phone 740-369-6811 & 800-641-3924).

The receipt of good legal advice can be critically important to a person intending to file a petition for the involuntary treatment of an individual suffering from alcohol or other drug abuse since upon filing there are substantial financial deposits for treatment that must be paid and further financial guarantees that must be signed.  The petitioner is not required to have an attorney.