Mental Health Acts PA and Federal

[Dana6]

Good Day,
In a previous post these acts were mentioned. I cannot locate either of these on-line.
Any suggestions? My friend's court date Mar 15th is approaching quickly and I don't think he has anyone to advise him besides the elusive PD.
Thanks Dana

[egs]

Dana,
I'm not sure what you are talking about. The PA Mental Health Act is used. among other things, to commit a person to psychiatric hosptial on an involuntary but civil commitment basis [determination of emminent danger to self and/or others/inability to care for self]. Those provisions are not used for criminal cases. If a judge finds the person incompetent than the judge can order the person to go to a forensic psychiatric facility. However, that doesn't sound relevant in your friend's case [the little I know about his situation]. The Mental Health Act also covers things like patient rights, confidentiality of information, basic safety measures to be provided by the psychiatric care provider, etc....it is not applicable for your friend's current situation. As far as I know, the PA Mental Health Act is not online.
As to the "federal" you are referring to....I'm not sure what you are talking about. Can you be more specific?

[Dana6]

Hi Elaine,
Nope I couldn't be more specific as I am grasping at straws. The Acts are something I saw mentioned in another post regarding forensic mental health and patients' rights.
Sometimes it sounds as though my friend is planning on making decisions with little consultation with anyone knowledgeable about the legal issues that might impact on his case, ie) a mental breakdown, a schizophrenic episode, well documented which I would think should have some mitigating effect on how the transgressions are viewed by any court.
I would like my friend to have some information regarding this before he makes any decisions. If not to be found in those acts, then where?
I would like for him to have some good info on which he could base some realistic expectations. His are currently negative visions which I try to put some hope into. How realistic is that?
There doesn't seem to be anyone there to properly explain these things to him.
Our calls are so brief, I know no law, never mind American law!
March 15th is when they decide how to deal with his case and then he goes to court on April 5th. He has been in custody since October 28th.
Any suggestions as to where to look for pertinent info would be received with endless appreciation.
Thanks for asking,
Dana