Legal Definitions - civil-commitment statute

Civil-Commitment Statute

A civil-commitment statute is a law that allows for the confinement of individuals who are mentally ill, incompetent, drug-addicted, or considered a sexually violent predator. Unlike criminal incarceration, civil commitment is for an indefinite period.

One example of a civil-commitment statute is the Sexually Violent Predator Act (SVPA) in California. This law allows for the indefinite confinement of individuals who have been convicted of a sexually violent crime and are deemed to be a danger to society due to a mental disorder.

Another example is the Involuntary Commitment for Substance Abuse Treatment Act (ICSATA) in Illinois. This law allows for the involuntary commitment of individuals who are addicted to drugs or alcohol and pose a danger to themselves or others.

Civil-commitment statutes are designed to protect society from individuals who are deemed to be a danger to themselves or others due to mental illness, addiction, or criminal behavior. These laws allow for the confinement of individuals for an indefinite period, as opposed to criminal incarceration, which has a set sentence. The examples provided illustrate how civil-commitment statutes are used in different states to address specific issues, such as sexually violent behavior or substance abuse.