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Utah Code 26B-5-331 — a temporary commitment of up to 72 hours, not counting weekends and holidays
An adult is temporarily and involuntarily committed to a local mental health authority on a written application by a responsible person with personal knowledge, certified by a physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner or designated examiner who examined the adult within the three days before, that due to mental illness the adult poses a substantial danger to self or others.
Who handles this in Utah: legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Utah directory.
- A peace officer or mental health officer may also start it, on probable cause from the adult's observed conduct, by completing an application stating the specific danger and the facts behind it.
- A patient who no longer meets the criteria is released, and the change is documented.
- A patient may be held for at most 72 hours after commitment, not counting Saturdays, Sundays and state holidays, unless an application for involuntary commitment is begun.
Sources for this section (1)
- Utah Code 26B-5-331 — Temporary commitment -- Requirements and procedures -- Rights
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Utah attorney.