CHAPTER 8. PROTECTIVE CUSTODY

Art. 1432. Order for custody; grounds

A. Any parish coroner or judge of a court of competent jurisdiction may order a minor to be taken into protective custody and transported to a treatment facility or the office of the coroner for immediate examination when a peace officer or other credible person executes a statement under private signature specifying that, to the best of his knowledge and belief, the minor is mentally ill or suffering from substance abuse and is in need of immediate treatment to protect the minor patient or others from physical harm. The statement may include the following information:

(1) A statement of facts, including the affiant's observations leading to the conclusion that the minor is mentally ill or suffering from substance abuse and dangerous to himself or others or gravely disabled.

(2) The date and place of any dangerous acts or threats.

(3) The name and surname, if known, of any other person who is in danger.

(4) Facts showing that the minor sought has been encouraged to seek treatment and is unwilling to be evaluated on a voluntary basis.

(5) Facts showing that the affiant has attempted to contact a specific treatment facility or a specific physician in order to obtain an examination of the minor sought to be treated.

B. The order for custody shall be in writing, in the name of the state of Louisiana, signed by the judge or parish coroner, and shall state all of the following:

(1) The date and hour of issuance and the municipality or parish where issued.

(2) The name of the minor to be taken into custody or, if his name is not known, a designation of the minor by any name or description by which he can be identified with reasonable certainty.

(3) A description of the acts or threats which have led to the belief that the minor is mentally ill or suffering from substance abuse and is in need of immediate hospitalization to protect the person or others from physical harm.

(4) That the minor shall be taken to a community mental health center, a public or private general hospital, a public or private mental hospital, coroner's office, or a detoxification center.

C. The order for custody shall be effective for seventy-two hours from its issuance and shall be delivered to the coroner or director of the treatment facility by the individual who has transported the minor. The date and hour that the minor is taken into protective custody shall be written on the order. Without delay, and in no event more than twelve hours after being taken into protective custody, the minor shall be delivered to a treatment facility or the office of the coroner or he shall be released. Upon arrival, the minor in custody shall be examined immediately by the coroner or, if at a treatment facility, by a physician, preferably a psychiatrist, who shall determine if the minor shall be voluntarily admitted, admitted by emergency certificate, admitted as a noncontested admission, or discharged. The minor in custody shall be examined within eight hours of his arrival at the treatment facility or coroner's office or he shall be released.

Acts 1991, No. 235, §14, eff. Jan. 1, 1992.