I was going to come to say something similar. At least in CA or the part I am in (very liberal) getting someone committed for a longer period (3 months + etc) - I think may be pretty much impossible? This can be despite a whole host of criminal and self harming behavior. Pre pandemic I think it was probably easier to get folks in at least for a few days at a time to jail pending disposition of whatever the latest case was - which was time enough to fix locks / windows / doors etc or move.

In Michigan you can petition that someone be involuntarily committed for treatment and then they get a hearing in front of a judge. It has to happen within a few days.

(just enumerating, not particularly comparing)

Interesting. I wonder if that requires a lawyer or not. (Legal fees for this sort of thing are exorbitant in California, and the cases tend to be a stretch.)

It’s an odd (broken?) process if the judge would ascertain the person’s mental health. Hopefully, most judges would call in professionals.

The prosecutor brings it before the judge. There is testimony, the judge isn't directly doing the mental health assessment.

Typically a social worker is helping the petitioner figure it out.

https://courts.michigan.gov/administration/scao/forms/courtf...