Policy Text
Kern County Sheriff’s Office
Policies and Procedures
TITLE:
Mental Health Crisis Response
NO: H-0550
APPROVED:
Donny Youngblood, Sheriff-Coroner
EFFECTIVE:
February 1, 1993
REVIEWED:
05/22/2025
REVISED:
05/22/2025
UPDATED:
05/22/2025
H-550-1
POLICY
When used in this policy, the terms “officer,” “peace officer,” “deputy,” “deputies,” or “operators”
shall include Sheriff’s Deputies, Detentions Deputies, and Park Rangers.
This policy provides deputies of the Kern County Sheriff’s Office guidance on recognizing a
person in a mental health crisis, guidance in how to respond to a person in a mental health crisis,
and guidelines for taking a person into custody for psychiatric evaluation and treatment (Welfare
and Institutions Code § 5150).
It is the policy of the Kern County Sheriff’s Office to protect the public and individuals through
the legal and appropriate use of the 72-hour treatment and evaluation commitment process.
DEFINITIONS
Mental health crisis – An event