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  <section xmlns="https://code.dccouncil.us/schemas/dc-library" xmlns:codified="https://code.dccouncil.us/schemas/codified" xmlns:codify="https://code.dccouncil.us/schemas/codify" xmlns:xi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XInclude" containing-doc="D.C. Code">
    <num>21-521</num>
    <heading>Detention of persons believed to be mentally ill; transportation and application to hospital.</heading>
    <text>An accredited officer or agent of the Department of Mental Health of the District of Columbia, or an officer authorized to make arrests in the District of Columbia, or a physician or qualified psychologist of the person in question, who has reason to believe that a person is mentally ill and, because of the illness, is likely to injure himself or others if he is not immediately detained may, without a warrant, take the person into custody, transport him to a public or private hospital, or to the Department, and make application for his admission thereto for purposes of emergency observation and diagnosis. The application shall reveal the circumstances under which the person was taken into custody and the reasons therefor.</text>
    <annotations>
      <annotation doc="Pub. L. 89-183" type="History">Sept. 14, 1965, 79 Stat. 753, Pub. L. 89-183, § 1</annotation>
      <annotation doc="Pub. L. 91-358" type="History">July 29, 1970, 84 Stat. 567, Pub. L. 91-358, title I, § 150(c)(2)</annotation>
      <annotation doc="D.C. Law 5-48" type="History">Feb. 24, 1984, D.C. Law 5-48,§ 11(a)(8), 30 DCR 5778</annotation>
      <annotation doc="D.C. Law 7-104" type="History">Apr. 30, 1988, D.C. Law 7-104, § 6(f), 35 DCR 147</annotation>
      <annotation doc="D.C. Law 14-56" type="History">Dec. 18, 2001, D.C. Law 14-56, § 116(g)(1), 48 DCR 7674</annotation>
      <annotation doc="D.C. Law 14-283" type="History">Apr. 4, 2003, D.C. Law 14-283, § 2(h), 50 DCR 917</annotation>
      <annotation type="Emergency Legislation">For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(h) of Mental Health Civil Commitment Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2003 (D.C. Act 15-41, March 24, 2003,  50 DCR 2784).</annotation>
      <annotation type="Emergency Legislation">For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(h) of Mental Health Civil Commitment Emergency Act of 2002 (D.C. Act 14-546, December 12, 2002,  50 DCR 199).</annotation>
      <annotation type="Emergency Legislation">For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(g) of Mental Health Commitment Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2002 (D.C. Act 14-350, April 24, 2002,  49 DCR 4417).</annotation>
      <annotation type="Emergency Legislation">For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(g) of Mental Health Commitment Emergency Amendment Act of 2002 (D.C. Act 14-265, January 30, 2002,  49 DCR 1450).</annotation>
      <annotation type="Emergency Legislation">For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 116(g)(1) of Mental Health Service Delivery Reform Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2001 (D.C. Act 14-144, October 23, 2001,  48 DCR 9947).</annotation>
      <annotation type="Emergency Legislation">For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 16(g)(1) of Department of Mental Health Establishment Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2001 (D.C. Act 14-101, July 23, 2001,  48 DCR 7123).</annotation>
      <annotation type="Emergency Legislation">For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 16(g)(1) of Department of Mental Health Establishment Emergency Amendment Act of 2001 (D.C. Act 14-55, May 2, 2001,  48 DCR 4390).</annotation>
      <annotation type="Temporary Legislation">Section 5(b) of <cite doc="D.C. Law 14-131">D.C. Law 14-131</cite> provided that the act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect.</annotation>
      <annotation type="Temporary Legislation">Section 2(g) of <cite doc="D.C. Law 14-131">D.C. Law 14-131</cite>, in the first sentence, added “, or to the Department,” following “or private hospital”.</annotation>
      <annotation type="Temporary Legislation">Section 19(b) of <cite doc="D.C. Law 14-51">D.C. Law 14-51</cite> provided that the act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect.</annotation>
      <annotation type="Temporary Legislation">Section 16(g)(1) of <cite doc="D.C. Law 14-51">D.C. Law 14-51</cite> substituted “Department of Mental Health” for “Department of Human Services” in the first sentence.</annotation>
      <annotation type="Effect of Amendments"><cite doc="D.C. Law 14-283">D.C. Law 14-283</cite> added “, or to the Department” after “or private hospital”.</annotation>
      <annotation type="Effect of Amendments"><cite doc="D.C. Law 14-56">D.C. Law 14-56</cite> substituted “Department of Mental Health” for “Department of Human Services”.</annotation>
      <annotation type="Prior Codifications">1973 Ed., § 21-521.</annotation>
      <annotation type="Prior Codifications">1981 Ed., § 21-521.</annotation>
      <annotation type="Section References">This section is referenced in <cite path="§7-1203.03">§ 7-1203.03</cite>, <cite path="§16-2315">§ 16-2315</cite>, <cite path="§21-522">§ 21-522</cite>, and <cite path="§21-582">§ 21-582</cite>.</annotation>
      <annotation type="Cross References">St. Elizabeths Hospital, commitment of mentally ill persons, see §§ <cite path="§21-901">21-901</cite> et seq., <cite path="§44-901">44-901</cite> et seq.</annotation>
      <annotation type="Cross References">Release of dower, see <cite path="§19-107">§ 19-107</cite>a.</annotation>
      <annotation type="Cross References">Redemption from tax sale, removal of disability, see <cite path="§47-1304">§ 47-1304</cite>.</annotation>
      <annotation type="Cross References">Real estate leases, mentally ill person’s rights, see <cite path="§42-3222">§ 42-3222</cite> et seq.</annotation>
      <annotation type="Cross References">Property of mentally ill persons, see <cite path="§21-2001">§ 21-2001</cite> et seq.</annotation>
      <annotation type="Cross References">Physician or qualified psychologist related by blood or marriage to alleged mentally ill person, power to apply or certify mental status, see <cite path="§21-582">§ 21-582</cite>.</annotation>
      <annotation type="Cross References">Personal property schedule filing, persons under disability, see <cite path="§47-1601">§ 47-1601</cite>.</annotation>
      <annotation type="Cross References">Militia service exemption, see <cite path="§49-401">§ 49-401</cite>.</annotation>
      <annotation type="Cross References">Emergency disclosure of mental health information, see <cite path="§7-1203.03">§ 7-1203.03</cite>.</annotation>
      <annotation type="Cross References">Conservator, guardian in proceedings for appointment, see <cite path="§21-2041">§ 21-2041</cite> et seq.</annotation>
      <annotation type="Cross References">Condemnation of insanitary buildings, appointment of guardian ad litem, see <cite path="§6-909">§ 6-909</cite>.</annotation>
      <annotation type="Cross References">Annulment of marriage, <cite path="§46-404">§ 46-404</cite>.</annotation>
    </annotations>
  </section>
  