Under WIC 5150(a), when a person with a mental health disorder is DTS/DTO/GD, what action is taken for a 72-hour hold?

• A. Take, or cause to be taken into custody for 72 hours for assessment, evaluation and crisis intervention
• B. Provide voluntary outpatient treatment
• C. Release to family with no hold
• D. Schedule an outpatient check-in

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that a 72-hour hold under 5150 is an emergency, involuntary detention to assess and stabilize someone in crisis. When a person with a mental health disorder is dangerous to themselves (DTS), dangerous to others (DTO), or gravely disabled (GD), authorities can take them into custody for up to 72 hours for focused assessment, evaluation, and crisis intervention. The purpose is to determine safety and treatment needs in a controlled setting, not to provide voluntary care or to delay action.

Choosing voluntary outpatient treatment isn’t appropriate in this moment because the person is in a crisis and cannot consent safely, and there’s a clear safety risk. Releasing to family with no hold would ignore the danger and impairment, and scheduling an outpatient check-in doesn’t address the imminent risk or provide the necessary involuntary protection and evaluation. This 72-hour hold buys time to evaluate and connect the person with appropriate services if continued care is needed.