An individual may be committed to a psychiatric facility for involuntary hospitalization if the court finds:

1. (1) That the individual is mentally ill or suffering from substance abuse;
2. (2) That the individual is imminently dangerous to self or others; and
3. (3) That the individual is in need of care or treatment, or both, and there is no suitable alternative available through existing facilities and programs that would be less restrictive than hospitalization.

[L 1984, c 188, pt of §3; am L 1985, c 75, §2; am L 1986, c 335, §4; am L 2013, c 221, §§5, 24; am L 2016, c 114, §6; am L 2025, c 219, §6]

Cross References

Intermediate sanctions for selected offenders and defendants, see §§353-10.5, 353-63.5, and 706-605.1.

Law Journals and Reviews

Risky Business: Assessing Dangerousness in Hawai`i. 24 UH L. Rev. 63 (2001).

Case Notes

In light of the definition of "dangerous to self" under §334-1, person's refusal to take medications and person's racist remarks to strangers constituted insufficient evidence to support family court's finding that person was imminently and substantially dangerous to person's self. 102 H. 528 (App.), 78 P.3d 341 (2003).