New Jersey Mental Health Law

Involuntary Civil Commitment in New Jersey requires immediate court (Superior Court judge or Municipal Court judge) review of the papers presented and a determination of whether there exists the statutory basis for issuance of a temporary order of commitment.

Before signing an order of temporary commitment, the judge must find “probable cause to believe that the person requires involuntary commitment.” “In need of involuntary commitment” is defined by the statute as:
…an adult who is mentally ill, whose mental illness causes the person to be dangerous to self or harmful to others or property and who is unwilling to be admitted to a facility voluntarily for care, and who needs care at the short-term care, psychiatric facility or special psychiatric hospital because other services are not appropriate or available to meet the person’s mental health care needs.

State laws are in place to support court-ordered involuntary treatment. Nevertheless, careful planning with a unified approach is essential for successfully using the laws to significantly increase the long term prognosis for your loved one’s recovery. Although we do not provide legal advice, we do provide services to help support the recovery process for all impacted by mental illness and substance abuse throughout the State of New Jersey.