Emergency Involuntary Psychiatric Examinations in Florida

The authors used statewide data from 2000 on 80,869 examination initiations to determine characteristics of emergency involuntary psychiatric examinations in Florida and the individuals subject to them. Information about the evidence indicated on the initiation forms and the types of professionals who initiated the examinations is presented. These data allow not only description of involuntary examinations and the characteristics of those subject to them for an entire state, but also investigation of the involvement of these individuals with certain services, such as mental health services, and systems, such as the criminal justice system.