What is an involuntary hold or 5150?
5150 is the number of the section of the Welfare and Institutions Code, which allows an adult who is experiencing a mental health crisis to be involuntarily detained for a 72- hour psychiatric hospitalization when evaluated to be a danger to others, or to himself or herself, or gravely disabled.

A person on a 5150 can be held in the hospital involuntarily for up to 72 hours. This does not mean that they will necessarily be held the entire 72 hours; it means that psychiatric hospitals have the legal right to do so if determined to be necessary. A person can be held involuntarily in a psychiatric facility only if he or she meets at least one of the three basic criteria as a result of a mental health disorder:
- A danger to others.
- A danger to self – Not limited to suicidal behavior.
- Gravely disabled – Unable to take care of food, clothing, and housing needs. The law also states that the evaluator shall consider available relevant information about the historical course of the person’s mental illness.

Documentation: The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has issued an updated DHCS 1801 “Application for up to 72-Hour Assessment, Evaluation, and Crisis Intervention or Placement for Evaluation and Treatment” 5150/5585 form per the update BH Information Notice. The new revision date is 09/2023; Please discontinue use of any previous form versions effective immediately.

The most prominent changes on this form revision include:
• The detainment start date and time must now be clearly listed on page 1.
• Additional line space was provided for the narrative sections on page 1.

Only law enforcement personnel or person’s trained and designated by the Solano County Behavioral Health Director may complete it.

DHCS 1801 (Revised 09/2023) Form: https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/formsandpubs/forms/Forms/DHCS-1801.pdf


Education
Disability Rights California's guide to LPS: https://www.disabilityrightsca.org/publications/understanding-the-lanterman-petris-short-lps-act