Arkansas Code § 20-47-601 - Definitions

As used in this subchapter:

(1) "Community mental health centers" means those private nonprofit organizations certified by the Division of Behavioral Health Services of the Department of Human Services under ยง 20-47-202 as community mental health centers and contracted to perform designated public mental health services in the respective catchment areas of the state;

(2) "Inmate with mental illness" means a jail inmate who, after being assessed by a person qualified by licensure to conduct an assessment, meets the criteria for serious mental illness or is in danger of harm to self or to others;

(3) "Jail inmate" means a natural person who is in the custody of law enforcement authorities within the confines of a county jail;

(4) "Person with mental illness" means a person who appears to be a danger to himself or herself or to others or to need mental health evaluation for treatment and may include an individual detained by a law enforcement officer; and

(5) "Protocol" means standardized outlines of the steps to be taken by law enforcement officers, jails, community mental health centers, or regional secure psychiatric facilities to handle the situation of each person with mental illness arrested by a law enforcement officer.

Section: 20-47-602  20-47-603    Next

Last modified: November 15, 2016