A Study of Civil Commitment Hearings Held in the Commonwealth of Virginia During May 2007

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The following is a summary of the key findings of the Commission on Mental Health Law Reform’s Study of Civil Commitment Hearings Held in the Commonwealth of Virginia During May 2007 (the “Commission’s Hearing Study”). The Commission’s Hearing Study was designed to examine the prehearing, hearing, and disposition phases of civil commitment proceedings in Virginia for both adults and children. Civil commitment proceedings, which can result in the involuntary inpatient hospitalization of individuals with severe mental illness, operate under a detailed statutory framework and engage law enforcement, health professionals and courts. The study was designed to provide a window into how the civil commitment process functions in Virginia. A complete description of the findings is contained in the full report.