JOURNAL ARTICLE

Police reform and involuntary hospitalization.

  • Published In: Policing: A Journal of Policy & Practice, 2024, v. 18. P. 1 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Morabito, Melissa S; Savage, Jenna; Messina, Peter; Harlow, Dan; Fisher, Courtney E 3 of 3

Abstract

This article focuses on the Boston Police Department's (BPD) handling of involuntary hospitalization orders, known as Section 12(a) under Massachusetts General Laws, which authorize psychiatric evaluations often involving police intervention. Following 2020 police reform legislation in Massachusetts, the BPD centralized the collection and management of these orders through its Street Outreach Unit to improve oversight and follow-up. The article reviews the broader context of involuntary hospitalizations, details the BPD's policy changes, and analyzes quantitative data from external mental health providers and police records to assess the use and outcomes of the Section 12 process. These findings contribute to a clearer understanding of police roles and practices in involuntary psychiatric hospitalizations.

Additional Information

  • Source:Policing: A Journal of Policy & Practice. 2024/01, Vol. 18, p1
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Law
  • Publication Date:2024
  • ISSN:1752-4512
  • DOI:10.1093/police/paae124
  • Accession Number:184072975
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of Policing: A Journal of Policy & Practice is the property of Oxford University Press / USA and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Looking to go deeper into this topic? Look for more articles on EBSCOhost.