New York City Authorizes Police/Peace Officers To Involuntarily Hospitalize Homeless Residents With Mental Illness

On November 29, 2022, the City of New York announced a new policy that authorizes city peace officers or police officers to remove a person who appears to be mentally ill and displays an inability to meet basic living needs, even when no recent dangerous act has been observed, and even if the individual in question does not agree to go. Previously, city policy allowed only designated health care professionals to instigate these involuntary measures by requesting assistance from police to implement these involuntary hospitalizations. The goal of this policy change is to curb street homelessness.

Individuals who are involuntarily . . .