Civil Commitment

Civil commitments are legal proceedings in which the Lake County Probate Court orders a mentally ill individual into a facility for treatment. The term “mentally ill” is defined in R.C. § 5122.01 (A) as ” a substantial disorder of thought, mood, perception, orientation, or memory that grossly impairs judgment, behavior, capacity to recognize reality, or ability to meet the ordinary demands of life.” The provisions of Chapter 5122 of the Ohio Revised Code govern civil commitments. The civil commitment process begins when an individual files an affidavit with the Lake County Probate Court. The affidavit must contain sufficient statements of fact to establish probable cause to commit the mentally ill individual to a facility.