Policy Text
Field Services Page 1 of 4 07/11 (REV 1/04)
Mentally Disturbed Person - 5150 Welfare and Institutions Code
The purpose of this order is to establish policy and procedure for the handling of
mentally disturbed persons.
I. General Policy
The policy of the Sacramento C ounty Sheriff's Department regard ing mentally
disturbed individuals is as follows:
A. Officers shall proceed in a m anner consistent with maintaini ng the safety
and well being of the person in volved, responding officers, and the public.
B. Officers shall make every effort to obtain the necessary car e and
treatment with a minimum of psyc hological trauma for the indivi dual.
II. Use Of Physical Force
A. Officers shall use only that a mount of physical force that i s necessary in
order to take the person into cus tody and restrain the individu al (Refer to
G.O., “Use of Force”).
B. Nylon restraints are availabl e and may be used to prevent se lf-injury.
III. Welfare And Instit utions Code - 5150 Defined
A. Section 5150 W&I - Dangerous o r Gravely Disabled Person; Tak ing into
Custody; Basis of Probable Cause; Liability
"When any person as a result of mental disorder, is a danger to others, or
to himself or gravely disabled , a peace officer may, upon proba ble cause,
take or cause to be taken, the person into custody and place hi m or her in
a facility designated by the C ounty and approved by the State D epartment
of Mental Health as a facility for 72-hour treatment and evalua tion."
Field Services Page 2 of 4 07/11 (REV 1/04) "Such a facility shall require an application in writing, stati ng the
circumstances under which the pe rson's condition was called to the
attention of the officer and stat ing that the officer has proba ble cause to
believe that the person is, as a result of mental disorder, a d anger to
others, to himself or herself o r gravely disabled. If the prob able cause is
based on the statement of a pers on other than the officer, such person
shall be liable in a civil acti on for intentionally giving a st atement which he
or she knows to be false."
B. Section 5157 W&I - Information to be Given a Person Taken in to Custody;
Contents; Record of Advisement
"Each person, at the time he or she is first taken into custody under
provisions of Section 5150, shall provide, by the person who ta kes such
person into custody, the follo wing information orally. The inf ormation shall
be substantially in the following form: `My name is (name of peace office r). I am a (o ccupation), with the (name
of agency). You are not under cri minal arrest, but I am taking you for
examination by mental health p rofessionals at (name of facility ). You will
be told your rights by the ment al health practitioner(s).'
"If taken into custody at his or her residence, the person shal l be provided
with the following information in substantially the following f orm:
`You may bring a few personal ite ms with you which I will have to approve.
You can make a telephone call and/ or leave a note to tell your friends
and/or family where you have been taken.'"
IV. Alcohol Or Drug Abusers - 5170 W & I
Persons found to be a danger to s elf, danger to others, or grav ely disabled due to
intoxication, may be taken to a Detox Center or the Sacramento County Mental
Health Facility.
V. Non-Injured Persons
Non-injured mentally disturbed persons may be brought directly to the County
Mental Health Facility at 2150 Stockton Blvd. The officers shal l:
A. Secure their weapons in the trunk of the patrol vehicle or i n the lock boxes
provided.
B. Make contact at the rear e mergency door of the facility.
C. Explain the circumstances surrounding the person's condition and
complete the State Admi ttance Form (5150 hold).
Field Services Page 3 of 4 07/11 (REV 1/04) VI. Overdose/Suicide Attempt Victims
Officers will not be routinely di spatched to the scene of an at tempted suicide or
overdose unless the victim i s violent. Responder, Medical and/o r Fire personnel
shall handle t hese incidents.
VII. Injured Persons
An injured mentally disturbed person must first be cleared medi cally before being
accepted for evaluation. This w ould include attempt suicides t hat have
overdosed or injured themselves in some manner.
At UCDMC officers shall:
A. Contact the Emergen cy Room registratio n desk and fill out al l the
necessary forms including Stat e 5150 W&I Admittance Form.
B. When the subject is admitted for emergency care the officer shall contact
the appropriate Psychiatric Emerg ency Services (PES) personnel.
C. Advise the PES personnel as to the circumstances relating to the 5150
hold and related information.
D. The PES personnel will coordi nate the 5150 hold with the Eme rgency
Room personnel.
E. If the Emergency Room treat ing physician and PES personnel a gree, the
officer may be