122C-268. Inpatient commitment; district court hearing.
(a) A hearing shall be held in district court within 10 days of the day the respondent is taken into law enforcement custody pursuant to G.S. 122C-261(e) or G.S. 122C-262. If a respondent temporarily detained under G.S. 122C-263(d)(2) is subject to a series of successive custody orders issued pursuant to G.S. 122C-263(d)(2), the hearing shall be held within 10 days after the day that the respondent is taken into custody under the most recent custody order. A continuance of not more than five days may be granted upon motion of any of the following:
(1) The court.
(2) Respondent's counsel.
(3) The State, sufficiently in advance to avoid movement of the respondent.
(b) The attorney, who is a member of the staff of the Attorney General assigned to one of the State's facilities for the mentally ill or the psychiatric service of the University of North Carolina Hospitals at Chapel Hill, shall represent the State's interest at commitment hearings, rehearings, and supplemental hearings held for respondents admitted pursuant to this Part or G.S. 15A-1321 at the facility to which he is assigned.
In addition, the Attorney General may, in his discretion, designate an attorney who is a member of his staff to represent the State's interest at any commitment hearing, rehearing, or supplemental hearing held in a place other than at one of the State's facilities for the mentally ill or the psychiatric service of the University of North Carolina Hospitals at Chapel Hill.
(c) If the respondent's custody order indicates that he was charged with a violent crime, including a crime involving an assault with a deadly weapon, and that he was found incapable of proceeding, the clerk shall give notice of the time and place of the hearing as provided in G.S. 122C-264(d). The district attorney in the county in which the respondent was found incapable of proceeding may represent the State's interest at the hearing.
(d) The respondent shall be represented by counsel of his choice; or if he is indigent within the meaning of G.S. 7A-450 or refuses to retain counsel if financially able to do so, he shall be represented by counsel appointed in accordance with rules adopted by the Office of Indigent Defense Services.
(e) With the consent of the court, counsel may in writing waive the presence of the respondent.
(f) Certified copies of reports and findings of commitment examiners and previous and current medical records are admissible in evidence, but the respondent's right to confront and cross-examine witnesses may not be denied.
(g) To the extent feasible, hearings shall be held in an appropriate room at the facility in which the respondent is being treated in a manner approved by the chief district court judge if the facility is located within the presiding judge's district court district as defined in G.S. 7A-133. Hearings may be held in the judge's chambers. A hearing may not be held in a regular courtroom, over objection of the respondent, if in the discretion of a judge a more suitable place is available. Regardless of the manner and location for hearings, hearings shall be held in a manner that complies with any applicable federal and State laws governing the confidentiality and security of confidential information. If the respondent has counsel, the respondent shall be allowed to communicate fully and confidentially with his attorney during the proceeding.
(h) The hearing shall be closed to the public unless the respondent requests otherwise.
(i) A copy of all documents admitted into evidence and a transcript of the proceedings shall be furnished to the respondent on request by the clerk upon the direction of a district court judge. If the respondent is indigent, the copies shall be provided at State expense.
(j) To support an inpatient commitment order, the court shall find by clear, cogent, and convincing evidence that the respondent is mentally ill and dangerous to self, as defined in G.S. 122C-3(11)a., or dangerous to others, as defined in G.S. 122C-3(11)b. The court shall record the facts that support its findings. (1985, c. 589, s. 2; c. 695, s. 8; 1985 (Reg. Sess., 1986), c. 1014, s. 195(b); 1987 (Reg. Sess., 1988), c. 1037, s. 114; 1989, c. 141, s. 11; 1989 (Reg. Sess., 1990), c. 823, s. 7; 1991, c. 37, s. 10; c. 257, s. 2; 1995 (Reg. Sess., 1996), c. 739, s. 11(a), (b); 2000-144, s. 39; 2014-107, s. 6.1; 2017-158, s. 16; 2018-33, s. 29; 2021-47, s. 10(l).)
Structure North Carolina General Statutes
North Carolina General Statutes
Chapter 122C - Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Act of 1985
Article 5 - Procedures for Admission and Discharge of Clients.
§ 122C-201 - Declaration of policy.
§ 122C-202 - Applicability of Article.
§ 122C-202.1 - Hospital privileges.
§ 122C-203 - Admission or commitment and incompetency proceedings to have no effect on one another.
§ 122C-204 - Civil liability for corruptly attempting admission or commitment.
§ 122C-205 - Return of clients to 24-hour facilities.
§ 122C-205.1 - Discharge of clients who escape or breach the condition of release.
§ 122C-208 - Voluntary admission not admissible in involuntary proceeding.
§ 122C-209 - Voluntary admissions acceptance.
§ 122C-210 - Guardian to pay expenses out of estate.
§ 122C-210.1 - Immunity from liability.
§ 122C-210.2 - Research at State facilities for the mentally ill.
§ 122C-210.3 - Electronic and facsimile transmission of custody orders.
§ 122C-216 - Voluntary admission of individuals determined to be incapable.
§ 122C-217 - Discharge of individuals determined to be incapable.
§ 122C-222 - Admissions to State facilities.
§ 122C-223 - Emergency admission to a 24-hour facility.
§ 122C-224 - Judicial review of voluntary admission.
§ 122C-224.1 - Duties of clerk of court.
§ 122C-224.2 - Duties of the attorney for the minor.
§ 122C-224.3 - Hearing for review of admission.
§ 122C-224.5 - Transportation.
§ 122C-224.6 - Treatment pending hearing and after authorization for or concurrence in admission.
§ 122C-230 - Applicability of Part 4.
§ 122C-232 - Judicial determination.
§ 122C-251 - Custody and transportation.
§ 122C-252 - Twenty-four hour facilities for custody and treatment of involuntary clients.
§ 122C-253 - Fees under commitment order.
§ 122C-254 - Housing responsibility for certain clients in or escapees from involuntary commitment.
§ 122C-262 - Special emergency procedure for individuals needing immediate hospitalization.
§ 122C-263 - Duties of law enforcement officer; first examination.
§ 122C-263.2 - Mental health crisis managementreasonable safety and containment measures.
§ 122C-264 - Duties of clerk of superior court and the district attorney.
§ 122C-265 - Outpatient commitment; examination and treatment pending hearing.
§ 122C-266 - Inpatient commitment; second examination and treatment pending hearing.
§ 122C-267 - Outpatient commitment; district court hearing.
§ 122C-268 - Inpatient commitment; district court hearing.
§ 122C-268.1 - Inpatient commitment; hearing following automatic commitment.
§ 122C-269 - Venue of hearing when respondent held at a 24-hour facility pending hearing.
§ 122C-270 - Attorneys to represent the respondent and the State.
§ 122C-273 - Duties for follow-up on commitment order.
§ 122C-274 - Supplemental hearings.
§ 122C-275 - Outpatient commitment; rehearings.
§ 122C-276 - Inpatient commitment; rehearings for respondents other than insanity acquittees.
§ 122C-276.1 - Inpatient commitment; rehearings for respondents who are insanity acquittees.
§ 122C-277 - Release and conditional release; judicial review.
§ 122C-278 - Reexamination for capacity to proceed prior to discharge.
§ 122C-281 - Affidavit and petition before clerk or magistrate; custody order.
§ 122C-282 - Special emergency procedure for violent individuals.
§ 122C-283 - Duties of law enforcement officer; first examination by commitment examiner.
§ 122C-284 - Duties of clerk of superior court.
§ 122C-285 - Commitment; second examination and treatment pending hearing.
§ 122C-286 - Commitment; district court hearing.
§ 122C-289 - Duty of assigned counsel; discharge.
§ 122C-290 - Duties for follow-up on commitment order.
§ 122C-291 - Supplemental hearings.
§ 122C-293 - Release by area facility or physician.
§ 122C-294 - Local plan and data submission.
§ 122C-302 - Cities and counties may employ officers to assist intoxicated individuals.
§ 122C-303 - Use of jail for care for intoxicated individual.
§ 122C-311 - Individuals on parole.
§ 122C-321 - Voluntary admissions and discharges.
§ 122C-322 - Involuntary commitments.
§ 122C-331 - Voluntary admissions and discharges.
§ 122C-332 - Involuntary commitments.
§ 122C-333 - Order of another state.
§ 122C-341 - Determination of residence.
§ 122C-342 - Voluntary admissions and discharges.
§ 122C-343 - Involuntary commitments.
§ 122C-344 - Citizens of other countries.
§ 122C-345 - Return of a non-State resident client to his resident state.
§ 122C-346 - Authority of the Secretary to enter reciprocal agreements.
§ 122C-347 - Return of North Carolina resident clients from other states.
§ 122C-348 - Residency not affected.
§ 122C-361 - Compact entered into; form of Compact.
§ 122C-362 - Compact Administrator.
§ 122C-363 - Supplementary agreements.
§ 122C-364 - Financial arrangements.