Taken In For An Evaluation
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 632.305 — detention for evaluation, ninety-six hours at most
In Missouri, any adult, who need not be or have an attorney, may sign an application under oath on a court form alleging reason to believe the respondent has a mental disorder and presents a likelihood of serious harm to self or others, with the facts behind that belief.
| Route | What the section requires |
|---|---|
| RouteCourt, on an ex parte application | What the section requiresProbable cause found on sworn testimony or documents; a peace officer is directed to take the respondent in |
| RoutePeace officer, without a court finding | What the section requiresReasonable cause to believe the person has a mental disorder and that serious harm is imminent unless they are taken immediately |
| RouteAt the facility | What the section requiresA designated physician, registered nurse or mental health professional with reasonable cause to believe the same |
| RouteEvery route | What the section requiresDetention for evaluation and treatment not to exceed ninety-six hours unless further detention is authorized |
An officer who brings a person in either presents the application on which the court found probable cause, or completes an application based on the officer's own observations or investigation. The court may, in its discretion, give the respondent an opportunity to be heard before ordering custody.
What happens at the end of the period, the petition for further detention and the hearing that goes with it, is in other sections of the chapter and is not reproduced here. Whether a detention met the statute is a question for a court and for a licensed Missouri attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- Mo. Rev. Stat. § 632.305 — Detention for evaluation and treatment, application for, by whom
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Missouri attorney.