The authors examine the emergency commitment process in one Oregon
county and present data that document the impact of a local detention
facility. The study reconfirms the dependence of commitment processes on
the mental health system in which they occur, illustrates the relative
inability of specific laws to determine the actual nature of commitment
processes, provides support for the concept of community care for the
people involved, and points to the need for additional research to clarify
the effects of commitment procedures.
Abstract Teaser