What Is a 5150 Hold in California
A comprehensive guide to California's involuntary psychiatric hold law — what it means, who can initiate it, how it works in Los Angeles, and what rights patients and families have.
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If Someone Is in Immediate Danger
If someone is threatening to harm themselves or others, or is in a psychiatric crisis, call 911 immediately. You can also contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988 for mental health crisis support. In Los Angeles County, the Department of Mental Health ACCESS Hotline at (800) 854-7771 provides 24/7 crisis assessment and referral.
Key Facts About 5150 Holds in California
- A 5150 hold is authorized under California Welfare and Institutions Code Section 5150, part of the Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) Act.
- A person can be placed on a 5150 hold if they are determined to be a danger to themselves, a danger to others, or gravely disabled due to a mental health disorder.
- Only peace officers and designated mental health professionals can initiate a 5150 hold — family members cannot directly place someone on a hold.
- A 5150 hold lasts up to 72 hours. Extensions (5250 hold for 14 days) require additional legal proceedings and certification review hearings.
- A 5150 hold is a civil action, not a criminal arrest. It does not result in a criminal record.
- A 5150 hold triggers a five-year prohibition on firearm purchase or possession in California.
- Patients on a 5150 hold have the right to a patients' rights advocate, legal counsel, and a certification review hearing.
- California does not have an involuntary commitment law specifically for substance use disorder — a 5150 hold addresses mental health crises, not addiction alone.
Understanding the 5150 Hold
The 5150 hold is California's primary mechanism for involuntary psychiatric detention. Named after Section 5150 of the California Welfare and Institutions Code, it is part of the Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) Act enacted in 1967 to regulate involuntary psychiatric treatment in the state. The law reflects a balance between protecting individual liberty and intervening when a person's mental health condition creates an immediate risk.
Under a 5150 hold, a person can be detained in a designated psychiatric facility for up to 72 hours for evaluation and treatment. The hold can only be initiated when a qualified individual — a peace officer or designated mental health professional — determines that the person meets at least one of three criteria:
Danger to Self
The person is threatening or attempting to harm themselves, or their behavior indicates an imminent risk of self-harm.
Danger to Others
The person is threatening or demonstrating behavior that presents an imminent risk of harm to other people.
Gravely Disabled
The person is unable to provide for their basic needs — food, clothing, or shelter — as a result of a mental health disorder.
It is important to understand that a 5150 hold is not a criminal action. The person is not being arrested, and the hold does not create a criminal record. It is a civil protective measure intended to provide emergency psychiatric evaluation and stabilization.
5150 Holds and Substance Use Disorders
One of the most common questions families ask is whether a 5150 hold can be used to force a loved one into addiction treatment. The short answer is: not directly. California law does not provide for involuntary commitment based solely on substance use disorder. A 5150 hold is specifically for mental health crises.
However, there is significant overlap between mental health crises and substance use. A person who is acutely intoxicated and threatening suicide may qualify for a 5150 hold — not because of the intoxication, but because of the suicidal threat. A person in a drug-induced psychosis who is a danger to others may also qualify. In these cases, the 5150 hold addresses the psychiatric emergency, and the substance use is assessed as part of the evaluation.
During the 72-hour evaluation period, psychiatric professionals will assess the person's mental health and substance use. This can be a window of opportunity for treatment engagement — while the person is sober and receiving psychiatric care, clinicians can introduce the idea of substance abuse treatment and facilitate a warm handoff to addiction services.
For families hoping to get a loved one into addiction treatment, a professional intervention is generally more effective and appropriate than attempting to use the 5150 system. Call (213) 277-7446 for guidance on intervention options and treatment referrals in Los Angeles.
How the 5150 Process Works in Los Angeles
Crisis Initiation
A 5150 hold typically begins with a call to 911, a crisis team response, or a referral from a hospital emergency department. In Los Angeles, LAPD officers, LA County Sheriff deputies, and designated LA County Department of Mental Health (DMH) clinicians can initiate a 5150 hold. The LA County DMH ACCESS Hotline at (800) 854-7771 dispatches mental health assessment teams.
Assessment and Transport
The authorized individual assesses whether the person meets 5150 criteria. If so, the person is transported to a designated psychiatric facility. In LA County, designated receiving facilities include psychiatric emergency rooms at county hospitals (such as LAC+USC Medical Center, Harbor-UCLA, and Olive View-UCLA) and private psychiatric facilities with 5150 designation.
72-Hour Evaluation
Once at the facility, the person receives a psychiatric evaluation by a licensed professional. The 72-hour clock begins when the person is first detained (not when they arrive at the facility). During this period, the treatment team assesses the person's mental health condition, substance use, medication needs, and safety.
Release or Extension
At the end of 72 hours, the person is either released, agrees to voluntary treatment, or — if they continue to meet criteria — the hold is extended to a 5250 hold for up to 14 additional days. A 5250 hold requires a formal certification by a psychiatrist and gives the patient the right to a certification review hearing before a hearing officer.
Patient Rights During a 5150 Hold
California law provides significant protections for individuals on involuntary psychiatric holds. These rights exist to prevent abuse of the system and to ensure that involuntary detention is used only when truly necessary.
Right to Be Informed
The person must be told the reason for their detention, their rights, and how to contact a patients' rights advocate. This information must be provided in a language the person understands.
Right to a Patients' Rights Advocate
Every person on a 5150 hold has the right to contact and receive assistance from a patients' rights advocate. In LA County, the Office of the Patients' Rights Advocate provides this service at no cost.
Right to Refuse Medication
Patients on a 5150 hold generally have the right to refuse medication except in emergency situations where the person presents an imminent threat to themselves or others. Longer-term involuntary medication requires additional legal proceedings (a Riese hearing).
Right to Communication
Patients have the right to make phone calls, send and receive mail, and communicate with an attorney. Facilities may restrict communication only in specific circumstances related to the patient's treatment or safety.
Right to a Hearing (If Extended)
If the hold is extended beyond 72 hours to a 5250 hold, the patient has the right to a certification review hearing before an administrative hearing officer. The patient can be represented by a public defender or private attorney at this hearing.
Information for Families
If your loved one has been placed on a 5150 hold, you are likely feeling frightened, confused, and helpless. Here is what you should know.
Families cannot directly place someone on a 5150 hold. If you believe someone needs to be evaluated, call 911, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or the LA County DMH ACCESS Hotline at (800) 854-7771. These services will dispatch a qualified individual who can assess whether 5150 criteria are met.
Due to HIPAA and California confidentiality laws, the treatment facility may be limited in what information they can share with you about your loved one's condition. However, you can provide information to the treatment team — telling them about your loved one's history, medications, and substance use is extremely helpful and is not restricted by confidentiality laws.
A 5150 hold can be a traumatic experience for everyone involved. Seeking your own support through family counseling, Al-Anon, or NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) can help you process the experience and prepare for your loved one's return. Call (213) 277-7446 for family support referrals.
Crisis and Support Hotlines
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Call (213) 277-7446Frequently Asked Questions
What is a 5150 hold?
A 5150 hold is an involuntary psychiatric detention authorized under California Welfare and Institutions Code Section 5150. It allows a person to be held in a psychiatric facility for up to 72 hours for evaluation and treatment when they are determined to be a danger to themselves, a danger to others, or gravely disabled due to a mental health disorder.
Can a 5150 hold be used for drug addiction?
A 5150 hold is specifically for mental health crises — not for substance use disorder alone. However, if a person under the influence of drugs or alcohol is a danger to themselves or others, or is gravely disabled, a 5150 hold may be applied. The hold addresses the psychiatric crisis, not the substance use directly. California does not have an involuntary commitment law specifically for addiction.
Who can place someone on a 5150 hold in California?
Only designated individuals can initiate a 5150 hold in California. These include peace officers (police, sheriff), designated mental health professionals (such as licensed clinical social workers, psychologists, or psychiatrists authorized by the county), and certain designated staff at approved facilities. Family members cannot directly place someone on a 5150 hold.
How long does a 5150 hold last?
A 5150 hold lasts up to 72 hours. During this time, the person is evaluated by mental health professionals. If the crisis resolves, the person is released. If continued treatment is needed, the hold can be extended to a 5250 hold (14 additional days) with a certification review hearing. Further extensions require additional legal proceedings.
What rights does a person have during a 5150 hold?
Patients on a 5150 hold retain significant rights under California law. These include the right to be informed of the reason for detention, the right to contact a patients' rights advocate, the right to refuse most medications (except in emergencies), the right to communicate with an attorney, the right to a certification review hearing if the hold is extended, and the right to humane treatment.
Does a 5150 hold appear on a background check?
A 5150 hold does not appear on standard criminal background checks because it is a civil (not criminal) action. However, under California law, a person who has been placed on a 5150 hold is prohibited from purchasing or possessing firearms for five years. This prohibition is reported to the California Department of Justice and will appear on a firearms background check.