§ 27-7-5 — Return of escapees; veterans

If any person confined in a mental health facility, pursuant to article five or six-a of this chapter, escapes therefrom, the chief medical officer thereof may issue a notice, giving the name and description of the person escaping and requesting the patient's apprehension and return to the mental health facility. The chief medical officer may issue an order directed to the sheriff of the county in which the patient is a resident, commanding him to take into custody and transport such escaped person back to the mental health facility, which order the sheriff may execute in any part of the state. If such person goes to another state, the chief medical officer may notify the director of health and the director may take such action as he may deem proper for the return of such person to the mental health facility.

If any veteran duly committed to a veterans' hospital or other veterans' institution, either within or without the state, escapes therefrom and any person makes complaint, under oath, to the clerk of the circuit court of the county from which such veteran was so committed upon the order of the circuit court, giving such information and stating such facts therein as may be required, or if any veteran duly committed to a veterans' hospital or other veterans' institution, either within or without the state, escapes therefrom and the chief medical officer of such hospital or institution issues a notice to the clerk of the circuit court of the county from which such veteran was so committed upon the order of the circuit court, giving the name and description of such veteran and requesting his apprehension and return to such hospital or institution, the circuit court upon receipt of such complaint or of such notice, may issue an order directed to the sheriff of the county from which the veteran was so committed commanding him to take into custody and transport such veteran back to such hospital or institution, which order the sheriff may execute in any part of the state.

The sheriff or other person taking any person into custody under this section shall be paid such compensation as is provided for like services in other cases.

A person who is taken into custody under this section may be detained, but not incarcerated in a jail or penal institution, for a period not in excess of fourteen hours, pending return to the appropriate mental health facility.

Legislative History

1977 Reg. Sess., SB585; 1975 Reg. Sess., HB1316; 1965 Reg. Sess., HB586; 1957 Reg. Sess., SB182; 1955 Reg. Sess., HB228