§ 1 Definitions
§ 2 Regulations
§ 2A Geographically-isolated communities; factors to be considered by department when contracting for services to be established by regulation
§ 3 Transfers; notice; emergencies
§ 4 Periodic review; notice
§ 5 Commitment or retention hearings; right to counsel; medical examination; notice
§ 6 Retention of persons; validity of orders; hearing
§ 7 Commitment and retention of dangerous persons; petition; notice; hearing
§ 8 Proceedings to commit dangerous persons; notice; hearing; orders; jurisdiction
§ 8B Treatment of committed persons with antipsychotic medication; petition; notice; hearing; guardian
§ 9 Review of matters of law; application for discharge; notice; hearing
§ 10 Voluntary admissions; consultation with attorney; discharge; outpatients; veterans
§ 11 Voluntary admissions; withdrawal; notice; examination; retention
§ 12 Emergency restraint and hospitalization of persons posing risk of serious harm by reason of mental illness
§ 13 Transfer of dangerous males to Bridgewater state hospital; retention period; further commitment; procedure
§ 14 Transfers from Bridgewater state hospital to other facilities
§ 15 Competence to stand trial or criminal responsibility; examination; period of observation; reports; hearing; commitment; delinquents
§ 16 Hospitalization of persons incompetent to stand trial or not guilty by reason of mental illness; examination period; commitment; hearing; restrictions; dismissal of criminal charges
§ 17 Periodic review of incompetence to stand trial; petition; hearing; continued treatment; defense to charges; release
§ 18 Hospitalization of mentally ill prisoners; examination; reports; hearing; commitment; petition for transfer to inpatient psychiatric facility or unit licensed or operated by the department of mental health or to Bridgewater state hospital; voluntary admis
§ 18A Facility residents; contribution towards cost of counsel
§ 19 Parties or witnesses; determination of mental condition
§ 20 Extradition of mental institution escapees
§ 21 Transportation of mentally ill persons; restraint
§ 22 Civil liability of physicians, qualified advanced practice registered nurses, qualified psychologists, qualified psychiatric nurse mental health clinic specialists, police officers and licensed independent clinical social workers
§ 23 Rights of persons receiving services from programs or facilities of department of mental health
§ 23A Competent interpreter services in hospitals which provide acute psychiatric services
§ 24 Legal capacity of persons admitted or committed
§ 25 Guardian or conservator; appointment
§ 26 Deposit of funds held in trust for inpatients or residents; unclaimed funds and personal property; fiduciaries
§ 27 Administration of estate of deceased inpatient or resident
§ 28 Violent or unnatural death of patients; notice to district attorney
§ 29 Instruction and education; work programs; sale of work products
§ 30 Unauthorized absence of patients; notification of police, et al.; return
§ 31 Medicine and drugs; indigent patients
§ 32 Charges for care of persons in facilities
§ 33 Expenses of apprehension, examination, hearing, commitment or delivery; certification; audit; payment; fees
§ 34 Commitment or transfer to Veterans Administration or other federal agency
§ 35 Commitment of alcoholics or substance abusers
§ 36 Patient records; inspection; maintenance and retention
§ 36A Court records of examination or commitment; privacy
§ 36B Duty to warn patient’s potential victims; cause of action
§ 36C Transmission of committed person’s name and nonclinical, identifying information to department of criminal justice information services; prohibition of committed person from being issued firearm identification card or license to carry; petition for re

Terms Used In Massachusetts General Laws > Chapter 123 - Mental Health

  • Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Appellate: About appeals; an appellate court has the power to review the judgement of another lower court or tribunal.
  • Appropriation: The provision of funds, through an annual appropriations act or a permanent law, for federal agencies to make payments out of the Treasury for specified purposes. The formal federal spending process consists of two sequential steps: authorization
  • Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
  • Bail: Security given for the release of a criminal defendant or witness from legal custody (usually in the form of money) to secure his/her appearance on the day and time appointed.
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Continuance: Putting off of a hearing ot trial until a later time.
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another.
  • Docket: A log containing brief entries of court proceedings.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Fiduciary: A trustee, executor, or administrator.
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • Habeas corpus: A writ that is usually used to bring a prisoner before the court to determine the legality of his imprisonment. It may also be used to bring a person in custody before the court to give testimony, or to be prosecuted.
  • Indictment: The formal charge issued by a grand jury stating that there is enough evidence that the defendant committed the crime to justify having a trial; it is used primarily for felonies.
  • Joint committee: Committees including membership from both houses of teh legislature. Joint committees are usually established with narrow jurisdictions and normally lack authority to report legislation.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
  • Personal property: All property that is not real property.
  • Probate: Proving a will
  • Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
  • Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
  • Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.
  • Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.