Commitment Division

PROCEDURES FOR EMERGENCY AND NON-EMERGENCY COMMITMENTS

EMERGENCY COMMITMENTS
DETENTION ORDERS

If you have a family member or friend that you believe requires immediate treatment for either a mental illness or chemical dependency, you may go to the Columbia Area Mental Health Center (CAMHC) located at 2715 Colonial Drive Suite 200-B or a nearby emergency room, if after hours, and request an Emergency Commitment, also known as a Detention Order. The CAMHC operating hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. The phone number is 898-8888. The requirements for a Detention Order are as follows:

1. The individual must pose an immediate threat to self or others.
2. If threats were made, they must have been witnessed by the petitioner within 24 hours of the Detention Order request.
3. The petitioner must know where the individual is currently located. (This will assist law enforcement in locating and detaining the individual.)
4. It is helpful to know whether the individual has a history of mental illness and/or chemical dependency.
5. It is helpful to know whether the individual is currently taking any medication(s).
6. It is helpful to know whether the individual is having any self-care or self-neglect issues, such as not sleeping, not eating, or neglecting hygiene, that suggest the possibility of harm to self.

Based on the information provided to the Mental Health Professional, the Detention Order request may or may not be forwarded to the Probate Court for approval. If approved, the Probate Court will issue a Detention Order and law enforcement will be dispatched to locate and detain the individual. The individual will be transported to either the CAMHC or the emergency room for examination. If, in the opinion of the mental health professionals, the individual meets the requirements for an emergency commitment, then the individual will be admitted to an appropriate treatment facility.

NON-EMERGENCY COMMITMENTS
JUDICIAL PETITIONS

If you have a family member or friend that you believe requires non-emergency treatment for either a mental illness or chemical dependency, you may go to the Columbia Area Mental Health Center (CAMHC), located at 2715 Colonial Drive Suite 200-B and request a Petition for Judicial Admission. The CAMHC operating hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. The phone number is 898-8888.

1. The CAMHC will send the Judicial Petition to the Probate Court.
2. The Court will schedule an examination for the person with the alleged mental illness or chemical dependency.
3. You will receive notice from the Court of the place, date, and time of the scheduled examination and as the petitioner, you are required to attend the examination to offer information that will be considered by the examiners.
4. The individual will also receive notice of the examination by both mail and personal service.
5. After the examination, if the individual is found to be a mentally ill or chemically dependent person in need of treatment, a hearing will be held by a Probate Judge. Notice of the hearing will be provided to both the petitioner and the mentally ill/chemically dependent person.

Non-Emergency Examinations are scheduled in the order in which the Petitions are received by the Court. Therefore, please allow adequate time for the Petition to be processed, before contacting the Court. Once a Petition has been filed with the Court, it is unable to be cancelled.

Authorization and Release of Information from Commitment Division Files

CONTACT INFORMATION

Nia Behling, Director
Commitment Division
behlingn@rcgov.us
Phone: 803-576-1965
Fax: 803-576-1982

1701 Main St, Room 207
PO Box 192
Columbia, SC 29202
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