THE DEPARTMENT.
YOUR QUESTION
YOUR QUESTION INVOLVES THE POTENTIAL FOR MANY FACTUAL SCENARIOS, FOR EXAMPLE:
1) A PERSON IS DETAINED AND TAKEN INTO CUSTODY IN CITY XYZ, HE IS TAKEN BY THE CITY POLICE OFFICERS TO THE LOCAL PRIVATE HOSPITAL, WHICH IS APPROVED TO EVALUATE PERSONS POTENTIALLY IN NEED OF PSYCHIATRIC HELP. HE IS EVALUATED WITHIN 30 MINUTES OF BEING TAKEN TO THE PRIVATE HOSPITAL AND IT IS DETERMINED THAT HE SHOULD BE TRANSPORTED TO THE REGIONAL STATE MENTAL HEALTH CENTER FOR FURTHER EVALUATION. THE LOCAL POLICE OFFICERS ARE STILL AT THE LOCAL PRIVATE HOSPITAL WITH THE PERSON AND THE REGIONAL STATE MENTAL HEALTH CENTER HAPPENS TO BE LOCATED IN THE SAME TOWN AS THE PRIVATE HOSPITAL. IS THE COUNTY SHERIFF CALLED IN TO TRANSPORT THE PERSON FROM THE PRIVATE HOSPITAL TO THE REGIONAL STATE MENTAL HEALTH CENTER OR IS THE LOCAL POLICE OFFICER RESPONSIBLE FOR TRANSPORTATION? WHAT IS THE REGIONAL STATE MENTAL HEALTH CENTER'S ROLE IN TRANSPORTATION?
2) A WOMAN PRESENTS HERSELF AT THE DOOR OF THE REGIONAL-STATE MENTAL HEALTH CENTER REQUESTING EMERGENCY EXAMINATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF DETERMINING WHETHER SHE MEETS THE STATUTORY DEFINITION TO BE INVOLUNTARILY COMMITTED OR OTHERWISE DETAINED IN EXCESS OF 72 HOURS.THE LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS DETERMINE THAT EMERGENCY DETENTION IS WARRANTED BUT ALSO THAT THEY ARE INCAPABLE OF FULLY EVALUATING THE WOMAN. THEY ARRANGE HER ADMITTANCE AND SUBSEQUENT EVALUATION AT THE STATE MENTAL HOSPITAL WHICH SERVES THE AREA IN WHICH THE REGIONAL STATE MENTAL HEALTH CENTER IS LOCATED.IS THERE A PEACE OFFICER WHICH MUST BE CONTACTED IN ORDER TO TRANSPORT THIS WOMAN? MUST THE COUNTY SHERIFF BE CONTACTED UNDER 43A O.S. 5-203 TO TRANSPORT THE WOMAN? DOES THE ENTIRE RESPONSIBILITY FOR TRANSPORTATION REST WITH THE INSTITUTION?
3) SUPPOSE A PERSON IS TAKEN INTO PROTECTIVE CUSTODY OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS OF ABC. HE IS TAKEN INTO PROTECTIVE CUSTODY BY THE COUNTY SHERIFF AND TRANSPORTED TO THE REGIONAL STATE MENTAL HEALTH CENTER (THE NEAREST APPROPRIATE MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY) WHERE HE IS EVALUATED. THE COUNTY SHERIFF HAS MANY OTHER MORE PRESSING DUTIES SO HE LEAVES THE INDIVIDUAL THERE FOR EVALUATION. UPON PERFORMANCE OF THE EMERGENCY EXAMINATION, IT IS DETERMINED THAT THE PERSON NEEDS TO BE DETAINED FOR AT LEAST 72 HOURS FOR ADDITIONAL OBSERVATION. THE NEAREST APPROPRIATE FACILITY FOR OBSERVATION IS THE STATE MENTAL HOSPITAL. WHO TRANSPORTS THE PERSON? IS IT THE COUNTY SHERIFF WHO TRANSPORTED THE PERSON INITIALLY TO THE POINT OF EVALUATION? OR IS IT THE LOCAL POLICE OFFICER IN WHOSE JURISDICTION THE REGIONAL MENTAL HEALTH CENTER IS LOCATED?
4) AT THE END OF THE 72 HOUR PERIOD, THE STATE MENTAL HOSPITAL OFFICIALS DETERMINE THAT THE PERSON HAS STABILIZED AND THAT HE SHOULD BE DISCHARGED HOME. WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR TAKING THE PERSON HOME? IS IT THE LOCAL POLICE OFFICER OR THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT WHO HAD A HAND IN TRANSPORTING THE PATIENT TO THE HOSPITAL IN THE FIRST PLACE? OR IS IT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE HOSPITAL TO TRANSPORT THE PATIENT BACK TO THE COUNTY/CITY FROM WHICH HE WAS TRANSPORTED?
THERE ARE MYRIAD OTHER