Table 2

Involuntary Commitment of Minor Children

Community	Inpatient Facility
Treating mental health professional evaluates minor and determines the minor: Has a mental disorder Requires immediate inpatient treatment Does not consent to treatment Minor is held up to 12 hours to allow evaluation by a designated crisis responder to commit the minor involuntarily to an inpatient facility. Minor is evaluated within 24 hours of admission to facility^a and is advised of rights within 12 hours of commitment.^b	Inpatient provider pursues involuntary commitment for a minor initially admitted under voluntary or family-initiated treatment: Treating provider writes petition for commitment and contactsCCORS.^c CCORS representative evaluates patient and writes petitionforcommitment. Treating provider contacts designated crisis responder to evaluatefor involuntary commitment. Designated crisis responder has until 5 p.m. of 2nd judicial daytoevaluate patient for involuntary commitment. Minor advised of rights within 24 hours of commitment.

14-Day Commitment

If further inpatient treatment is believed to be necessary, facility may petition for a 14-day commitment hearing to be held within 72 judicial hours of initial commitment.
At a 14-day commitment hearing, evidence in support of petition is presented by the county prosecutor.
The minor has a right to representation by an attorney, may present evidence, may question or cross-examine witnesses, and may waive presence at hearing.
Guardians may oppose the petition and may be represented by an attorney (court-appointed if indigent).
For a 14-day commitment, burden of proof is on petitioners to demonstrate the minor: Has a mental disorder and as a result presents a “likelihood of serious harm” or is “gravely disabled” Requires the treatment provided by the petitioning inpatient facility or a less restrictive alternative treatment found to be in the best interests of the minor Is unwilling or unable in good faith to consent to voluntary treatment

Judge rules on the outcome of the hearing and advises minor of rights in closing remarks.^d
180-Day Commitment

If further treatment beyond the 14-day commitment is believed to be necessary, a petition for a 180-day commitment hearing^e must be filed by the facility at least three days prior to the expiration of the 14-day order.
For a 180-day commitment, the court must find that the minor: Has a mental disorder and as a result presents a “likelihood of serious harm” or is “gravely disabled” Needs further treatment that only can be provided in a 180-day commitment^f Less-restrictive treatment in the community is not appropriate or available^g^,^h

From Washington State Legislature Chapter 71.34 RCW: Behavioral Health Services for Minors, 2020.
↵a Minor’s guardians are notified of detention and admission.
↵b Minors retain the same rights as adults (i.e., attorney representation, communication/visitation).
↵c Children’s Crisis Outreach Response System.
↵d Once placed on a 14-day commitment, the minor preemptively loses the right to possess firearms at age 18.
↵e Minor and guardian rights during the 180-day hearing and the 14-day hearing are the same.
↵f Successive 180-day commitments are allowed (petition must be filed five days prior to expiration of previous 180-day commitment).
↵g Minor may be conditionally released under “least restrictive option” and subject to reasonable conditions, including outpatient treatment upon release; conditional release may be revoked if the minor fails to adhere to the conditions.
↵h A minor on a 180-day commitment automatically becomes eligible for admission to the state-funded Children’s Long-Term Inpatient Program.