Involuntary Commitment

Involuntary commitment is the civil (non-criminal) legal mechanism to direct mentally decompensating individuals with severe mental illness and/or substance use disorders into immediate stabilization, mental health evaluation, and appropriate treatment options before they can become dangerous, homeless, incarcerated, victimized, or suffer other common consequences of non-treatment (such as suicidality, familial violence, and/or being a danger to themselves or others).

Washington State’s Involuntary Treatment Act is also referred to as:

• ITA : Chapter 75.01 RCW
• Joel's Law
• Ricky's Law