What is the difference between civil commitment and criminal commitment?

The difference between civil commitment and criminal commitment in Kansas is related to mental health laws. Civil commitment is a legal proceeding that is initiated to determine if an individual requires involuntary psychiatric treatment due to a mental illness or disorder. Civil commitment proceedings involve a judge or court evaluating the evidence presented in an effort to determine if the individual in question poses a danger to themself or others. If the court determines that the individual does pose a threat, they can order them to a psychiatric facility for treatment. Criminal commitment, on the other hand, is the process of committing an individual to a mental health institution because they have committed a crime. In this case, the individual is typically convicted of their crime and sentenced to an appropriate length of time in a mental health facility. The individual will then receive treatment and be monitored by mental health professionals in order to ensure that they are not a threat to the public. Once the individual has been deemed safe to society, they are then released from the facility and may be required to follow up with mental health professionals as a condition of their release.

Related FAQs

What is the Mental Health Parity Act?
What is the right to a hearing before being involuntarily committed?
What are the legal obligations of a mental health professional?
What is the right to receive information about a mental health diagnosis?
What is the right to an attorney during a commitment proceeding?
What is the right to a guardian ad litem in mental health proceedings?
What are the legal implications of neglecting someone with mental illness?
What is the right to treatment while in custody?
What is the right to refuse treatment?
What is the right to an independent living facility?

What is the difference between civil commitment and criminal commitment?

Related FAQs

Related Blog Posts