Comment: Involuntary commitment

is the law in most states when a person is deemed to be a danger to himself or others. Mental health professionals are required to warn specific persons when they perceive there is direct threat to them by an unstable individual. That is the law. I could tell you countless examples of families being extremely frustrated with the MH system for NOT exercising in-voluntary commitment, when they believe their relative is in serious jeopardy and their own lives may be in danger. The system errs on the side of freedom as it should.

Involuntary commitment is VERY difficult to get because of the civil rights concerns. It is likely that after the Batman case, the Family Research Council case and the other recent episodes of mentally ill people shooting innocent people, that the government is applying over-caution.

The average run of the mill, harmless lunatic is not in danger of being locked up, although there are obviously abuses of power.