Emergency Mental Health Detention
IC 12-26-5-1 — up to 72 hours on an application, and fourteen days if a court approves it
| From admission, excluding weekends and holidays | A person may be held |
|---|---|
| From admission, excluding weekends and holidaysWithout an application filed | A person may be heldNot more than 48 hours |
| From admission, excluding weekends and holidaysOnce the facility files an application within that time | A person may be heldNot more than 72 hours |
| From admission, excluding weekends and holidaysOnce a court approves the application | A person may be heldNot more than fourteen days, pending a final hearing |
Who handles this in Indiana: legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Indiana directory.
The application carries a physician's attestation of probable cause that the person is mentally ill and either dangerous or gravely disabled, and needs continuing involuntary detention for care and treatment. A judicial officer's approval authorizes a police officer to take the person into custody and to a facility.
For someone admitted after midnight and before 8:00 a.m., the periods begin at 8:00 a.m.
Sources for this section (2)
- IC 12-26-5-1 — 48-72 hour detention; written application; contents
- IC 12-26-5-2 — Police officer authorized to take individual into custody; reimbursement for certain nonemergency transports
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Indiana attorney.