Who can initiate a 5150 hold?

A 5150 hold, which allows for the involuntary detention of an individual for psychiatric evaluation, can be initiated by police officers or designated professionals. This procedure is rooted in California’s Welfare and Institutions Code, which outlines who has the authority to initiate a hold based on specific criteria related to the individual's mental health status.

Police officers are specifically empowered to do this because they can assess the situation quickly and determine if the individual poses a danger to themselves or others. Designated professionals, such as mental health workers who are authorized under the law, also have the ability to initiate a hold when they determine that an individual meets the necessary criteria for evaluation and treatment.

While family members or other individuals may express concern about someone's mental health, they do not have the legal authority to initiate a 5150 hold. This focuses the responsibility on trained personnel who can objectively assess the situation and ensure that the rights and safety of all parties are considered during the intervention. Parents, while they may have legal rights in other contexts, do not have the specific legal standing to initiate involuntary holds without the involvement of the police or designated professionals.