Florida Statutes
Chapter 945 - Department of Corrections
945.42 - Definitions; Ss. 945.40-945.49.

(1) “Court” means the circuit court.
(2) “Crisis stabilization care” means a level of care that is less restrictive and intense than care provided in a mental health treatment facility, that includes a broad range of evaluation and treatment services provided within a highly structured setting or locked residential setting, and that is intended for inmates who are experiencing acute emotional distress and who cannot be adequately evaluated and treated in a transitional care unit or infirmary isolation management room. Such treatment is also more intense than treatment provided in a transitional care unit and is devoted principally toward rapid stabilization of acute symptoms and conditions.
(3) “Department” means the Department of Corrections.
(4) “Director” means the Director for Mental Health Services of the Department of Corrections or his or her designee.
(5) “In immediate need of care and treatment” means that an inmate is apparently mentally ill and is not able to be appropriately cared for in the institution where he or she is confined and that, but for being isolated in a more restrictive and secure housing environment, because of the apparent mental illness:

(a)1. The inmate is demonstrating a refusal to care for himself or herself and without immediate treatment intervention is likely to continue to refuse to care for himself or herself, and such refusal poses an immediate, real, and present threat of substantial harm to his or her well-being; or
2. There is an immediate, real, and present threat that the inmate will inflict serious bodily harm on himself or herself or another person, as evidenced by recent behavior involving causing, attempting, or threatening such harm;

(b) The inmate is unable to determine for himself or herself whether placement is necessary; and
(c) All available less restrictive treatment alternatives that would offer an opportunity for improvement of the inmate’s condition have been clinically determined to be inappropriate.

(6) “In need of care and treatment” means that an inmate has a mental illness for which inpatient services in a mental health treatment facility are necessary and that, but for being isolated in a more restrictive and secure housing environment, because of the mental illness:

(a)1. The inmate is demonstrating a refusal to care for himself or herself and without treatment is likely to continue to refuse to care for himself or herself, and such refusal poses a real and present threat of substantial harm to his or her well-being; or
2. There is a substantial likelihood that in the near future the inmate will inflict serious bodily harm on himself or herself or another person, as evidenced by recent behavior causing, attempting, or threatening such harm;

(b) The inmate is unable to determine for himself or herself whether placement is necessary; and
(c) All available less restrictive treatment alternatives that would offer an opportunity for improvement of the inmate’s condition have been clinically determined to be inappropriate.

(7) “Inmate” means any person committed to the custody of the Department of Corrections.
(8) “Mental health treatment facility” means any extended treatment or hospitalization-level unit within the corrections system which the Assistant Secretary for Health Services of the department specifically designates by rule to provide acute psychiatric care and which may include involuntary treatment and therapeutic intervention in contrast to less intensive levels of care such as outpatient mental health care, transitional mental health care, or crisis stabilization care.
(9) “Mentally ill” means an impairment of the mental or emotional processes that exercise conscious control of one’s actions or of the ability to perceive or understand reality, which impairment substantially interferes with the person’s ability to meet the ordinary demands of living. However, for the purposes of transferring an inmate to a mental health treatment facility, the term does not include a developmental disability as defined in s. 393.063, simple intoxication, or conditions manifested only by antisocial behavior or substance abuse addiction. However, an individual who is developmentally disabled may also have a mental illness.
(10) “Psychiatrist” means a medical practitioner licensed pursuant to chapter 458 or chapter 459 who has primarily diagnosed and treated nervous and mental disorders for a period of not less than 3 years inclusive of psychiatric residency.
(11) “Psychological professional” means a behavioral practitioner who has an approved doctoral degree in psychology as defined in s. 490.003(3) and is employed by the department or who is licensed as a psychologist pursuant to chapter 490.
(12) “Secretary” means the Secretary of Corrections.
(13) “Transitional mental health care” means a level of care that is more intensive than outpatient care, but less intensive than crisis stabilization care, and is characterized by the provision of traditional mental health treatments such as group and individual therapy, activity therapy, recreational therapy, and psychotropic medications in the context of a structured residential setting. Transitional mental health care is indicated for a person with chronic or residual symptomatology who does not require crisis stabilization care or acute psychiatric care, but whose impairment in functioning nevertheless renders him or her incapable of adjusting satisfactorily within the general inmate population.
(14) “Warden” means the warden of a state corrections facility or his or her designee.
History.—s. 1, ch. 82-224; s. 29, ch. 84-361; s. 26, ch. 91-225; s. 3, ch. 96-422; s. 1859, ch. 97-102; s. 19, ch. 2000-161; s. 11, ch. 2008-250; s. 13, ch. 2010-64; s. 43, ch. 2013-162; s. 49, ch. 2020-133.

Structure Florida Statutes