Aurora Crisis Intervention and Commitment Guide
Aurora, Colorado residents may encounter crisis intervention and civil commitment procedures when someone poses an immediate danger to themselves or others due to mental health or substance-related conditions. This guide explains the local process, who enforces orders, how emergency holds and court-ordered treatment are initiated, and practical steps to seek help, contest actions, or obtain community supports. It emphasizes the roles of Aurora response teams, the courts, and state law that govern involuntary hospitalization and outpatient orders. Use the action steps below to report a crisis, apply for review, or find resources for diversion and follow-up care.
How the Crisis Intervention and Commitment Process Works
In Aurora, initial crisis response is typically provided by first responders and specialized crisis teams who evaluate imminent risk and possible need for emergency detention or transport to a medical facility. Where an imminent danger exists, law enforcement or designated crisis clinicians may place a person on an emergency hold for evaluation and possible admission to a behavioral health facility. Decisions about longer-term civil commitment are made by a court under applicable Colorado statutes and involve hearings, appointed representation, and medical evidence.
Steps Commonly Involved
- Initial assessment by first responders or crisis clinicians to determine immediate risk and need for emergency hold.
- Transport to an appropriate medical or psychiatric facility for evaluation if detained for imminent danger.
- Judicial hearing for any civil commitment beyond emergency detention, with notice and opportunity to be heard.
- Development of treatment plans, possible outpatient orders, and follow-up with community behavioral health services.
Penalties & Enforcement
Civil commitment proceedings are remedial, not criminal; they typically do not impose criminal fines but may result in involuntary inpatient treatment or court-ordered outpatient treatment. Monetary fines specific to civil commitment are not a standard sanction on the cited statutory pages and are not specified on the cited page.[1]
- Enforcers: Aurora Police Department and designated crisis clinicians coordinate emergency holds; county behavioral health authorities and the court system oversee commitment orders.[2]
- Non-monetary sanctions: emergency detention, involuntary inpatient admission, court-ordered outpatient treatment, and supervised release.
- Escalation: emergency hold for initial evaluation followed, if criteria met, by a court hearing to determine longer-term commitment; specific escalation timelines and fine amounts are not specified on the cited pages.
- Inspections/compliance: oversight occurs through court review, clinical discharge planning, and monitoring by community behavioral health agencies.
- Appeals & review: persons held or committed have access to a judicial review and may request counsel, file motions, and appeal orders under Colorado law; exact time limits for appeals are governed by statute and procedure and are not specified on the cited pages.
Applications & Forms
Specific municipal forms for initiating emergency detention are not generally required; emergency holds are effected by authorized responders and clinicians. Court filings for civil commitment or petitions are processed through the appropriate county court clerks; specific form names, numbers, fees, and filing instructions are not specified on the cited pages and vary by county.
Action Steps for Residents
- If there is an immediate threat, call 911 and request crisis response.
- For imminent but non-emergency concerns, contact Aurora’s crisis response programs or local behavioral health crisis lines for assessment and diversion options.
- To contest a commitment, request counsel and file a timely motion with the county court that issued the order; consult the public defender or private counsel.
- Keep records of assessments, transport, and treatment to support appeals or requests for review.
FAQ
- What is an emergency hold and who can authorize it?
- An emergency hold is a short-term detention for evaluation when a person poses an imminent danger; it is authorized by law enforcement or designated clinicians during a crisis.
- How long can someone be held for evaluation?
- Emergency evaluation periods are time-limited under state law and facility policy; exact maximum hours are governed by statute and are not specified on the cited pages.
- Can I appeal a civil commitment order?
- Yes. Individuals subject to commitment orders have rights to notice, representation, and judicial review; appeals and motions are filed in the court that issued the order.
How-To
- Call 911 immediately if the person is an immediate danger and request crisis response or law enforcement intervention.
- If not an immediate emergency, contact Aurora’s non-emergency crisis line or local behavioral health crisis services for assessment and diversion options.
- If an emergency hold occurs, ask for written documentation of the basis for detention and the facility where the person will be evaluated.
- If a petition for commitment is filed, request legal counsel and collect medical records and witness statements for the hearing.
- If ordered committed, follow court directions for treatment and learn the procedure to request modification or discharge through the issuing court.
Key Takeaways
- Emergency holds are for immediate safety and lead to clinical evaluation and possible court review.
- Aurora first responders and crisis teams coordinate initial interventions; courts control longer-term commitments.
Help and Support / Resources
- Aurora Police Department - Public Safety and Crisis Response
- City of Aurora - Health & Human Services
- Colorado Department of Human Services - Behavioral Health