According to new numbers from the Florida Department of Children and Families, the total of minors taken into protective custody for mental health exams- under the Baker Act- has increased by 50 percent from 2010 to 2015. In Pinellas County, the numbers rose by 41 percent and they doubled in Hillsborough County.
While it is unclear what’s happening, because patient records are exempt from public record, Pinellas-Pasco Public Defender Bob Dillinger is attempting to get the law amended so that he is able to contact children and their families (he isn’t totally sure that some of the removals aren’t violating the law) to make sure everything is above board.
From the article:
“Here’s how the Baker Act works: A person who appears to be mentally ill or wanting to harm themselves or others is evaluated by a law enforcement officer or a licensed mental health professional. If they meet the criteria, they’re taken to one of five intake facilities for children in Tampa Bay. Pinellas, Pasco, and Hillsborough have their own centers; Hernando transfers minors outside the county.
Barbara Daire, president of the Suncoast Center, which provides outpatient mental health services, said specialists try to divert minors into alternative treatments to avoid the need for a future Baker Act exam because the procedure can be a ‘traumatic event for youth and their families.'”
Once the patient arrives at the facility they are evaluated by a psychiatrist and can be held up to 72 hours. Once the Baker Act period ends, patients can be released with referral paper work for additional treatment or stay longer. However, the facility can petition the court to keep them against their will, which then prompts a hearing and the appointment of a public defender to the case.
As mental illness and depression has lost its stigma, law enforcement -and those who work with youth- have gotten better training about how to recognize mental health symptoms. While there are a lot of reasons why the surge could be happening, at least counties are working on awareness and prevention.
Source: Tampa Bay Times
