Florida § 945.43 Involuntary examination

Florida Statutes

§ 945.43 — Involuntary examination

Florida § 945.43

TitleXLVII

Ch. 945DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

This text of Florida § 945.43 (Involuntary examination) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Fla. Stat. § 945.43 (2026).

Text

(1)If there is reason to believe that an inmate has a mental illness and the inmate is in need of care and treatment, the inmate’s treating clinician may refer the inmate to a mental health treatment facility for an involuntary examination. Upon referral, the warden of the facility where the inmate is housed shall transfer the inmate to a mental health treatment facility.

(2)Upon arrival to the mental health treatment facility, the inmate shall be examined by a psychiatrist and a second psychiatrist or psychological professional to determine whether the inmate is in need of care and treatment.

(3)If, after the examination, the inmate is determined to be in need of care and treatment, the psychiatrist shall propose a recommended course of treatment that is essential to the care of the

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(1) If there is reason to believe that an inmate has a mental illness and the inmate is in need of care and treatment, the inmate’s treating clinician may refer the inmate to a mental health treatment facility for an involuntary examination. Upon referral, the warden of the facility where the inmate is housed shall transfer the inmate to a mental health treatment facility.

(2) Upon arrival to the mental health treatment facility, the inmate shall be examined by a psychiatrist and a second psychiatrist or psychological professional to determine whether the inmate is in need of care and treatment.

(3) If, after the examination, the inmate is determined to be in need of care and treatment, the psychiatrist shall propose a recommended course of treatment that is essential to the care of the inmate and the warden shall initiate proceedings for placement of the inmate in the mental health treatment facility and for involuntary treatment of the inmate as specified in s. 945.44. If the inmate is not in need of care and treatment, he or she shall be transferred out of the mental health treatment facility and provided with appropriate mental health services.

(4) The involuntary examination and initiation of court proceedings for the placement and applicable involuntary treatment of the inmate in the mental health treatment facility shall be completed within 10 calendar days after arrival.

(5) The inmate may remain in the mental health treatment facility pending a hearing after the timely filing of a petition as described in s. 945.44. Pending a hearing, necessary emergency treatment may be provided in the mental health treatment facility upon the written order of a physician as provided in s. 945.48.

Legislative History

s. 1, ch. 82-224; s. 29, ch. 84-361; s. 75, ch. 85-62; s. 4, ch. 96-422; s. 1860, ch. 97-102; s. 20, ch. 2000-161; s. 103, ch. 2004-11; s. 12, ch. 2008-250; s. 14, ch. 2010-64; s. 10, ch. 2025-81.