The Baker Act is a Florida law that allows a court, law enforcement officer, or qualified professional to initiate the temporary detention and involuntary examination of a person who is experiencing a mental health crisis and poses a risk of harm to themselves or others. In the decades following its passage into law, the Baker Act has been used to save thousands of lives and give people experiencing serious mental illness or psychosis the support and care they need. In some circumstances, however, the Act is improperly applied and used to detain people who do not meet its strict criteria. If you or a family member has been unfairly detained under the Baker Act, you need to act quickly to ensure release.
In this article, the team at Baker Act Attorneys sets out the immediate steps you should take to navigate this distressing situation.

Why You Need To Act Immediately If Your Loved One Has Been Baker Acted
The purpose of the Baker Act is to facilitate the psychiatric assessment and stabilization of a person who is in crisis and in immediate need of mental health services. When a person is taken into custody and delivered to a receiving facility for an involuntary examination under the Baker Act, a qualified professional such as a physician, psychiatrist, or clinical psychologist must assess them to determine if they need to be committed for longer-term services. They may only be held for a maximum of up to 72 hours while this process is underway. However, that’s a long time for you or your loved one to be held in detention when there is no lawful justification for it, not to mention the emotional distress they will be experiencing after being separated from family and taken into custody against their will.
Additionally, there is a possibility that the detention can be extended for longer, potentially up to 6 months, if the receiving facility applies to the court to have them involuntarily committed. As any experienced Baker Act attorney will tell you, it is much more difficult to challenge a wrongful Baker Act after your family member has been committed for extended detention by a court. That’s why you need to start working as soon as possible to secure their release by urgently following the steps below.
Step-by-step Guide To Challenging An Unlawful Baker Act
If your loved one has been involuntarily and illegally Baker Acted, you’re no doubt feeling overwhelmed, shocked, and distressed. But it’s important to remember that you’re not helpless in this situation: by keeping calm and acting swiftly, you can help to secure your loved one’s release as soon as possible.
1. Locate Your Loved One
The most common instances of an improper Baker Act detention occur when law enforcement takes someone into custody even though they do not meet the Act’s criteria for involuntary assessment. In this scenario, it is imperative that you immediately find out which receiving facility law enforcement has taken your loved one to, so that you can communicate with them, gain an understanding of what led to their detention, and establish that they are safe. You will need to be in contact with a Baker Act attorney as soon as possible.
2. Contact A Reputable Baker Act Attorney
Your top priority should be to contact a Baker Act attorney. You will need excellent representation every step of the way as you navigate the legal process to ensure your loved one’s speedy release. Baker Act attorneys are intimately familiar with the processes that must be followed in wrongful Baker Act cases, and they also possess an impressive practical knowledge of how receiving facilities operate. Their depth of experience will give you the best possible chances of successfully arguing that your loved one should not be held longer. In addition to representing your loved one, your attorney will also be able to advise you on a range of legal strategies you can use to secure your loved one’s release, such as filing a writ of habeas corpus.
3. Collate Your Evidence
If your loved one is not released within the detention period, a hearing must be held to determine whether they need to be involuntarily committed for long-term mental health treatment. At this hearing, your Baker Act attorney will need to produce evidence to persuade the court that your loved one is able to look after themselves and is not a threat to themselves or others. They will need to rely on witness statements, medical records, testimony, and any other relevant documentary evidence that proves that it would be inappropriate to institutionalize your family member. To help your attorney prepare a strong body of evidence, you will need to gather all the documentation you can think of that will help them make their case, and identify suitable witnesses that could be called to testify to your loved one’s soundness of mind.
4. Request A Court Hearing
If the receiving facility where your family member is being held is refusing to release them, but has also failed to petition the court for an order for extended detention, then you can petition the court for an emergency hearing. Your Baker Act attorney will draft and file the petition on your behalf and will keep in regular correspondence with the clerk of the court until a date and time have been set for the hearing.

An Experienced Baker Act Attorney Is Here To Guide You Every Step Of The Way
Challenging a wrongful Baker Act is an administratively complex and emotionally challenging experience. Thankfully, you’re not alone. At Baker Act Attorneys, we have years of experience helping families to challenge an unlawful Baker Act, and we understand exactly what you’re going through.
We will fight tirelessly for your loved one’s release, using our depth of procedural knowledge and formidable legal skills to challenge their wrongful detention. For compassionate legal counsel that you can count on day and night throughout this distressing period, contact our offices today at 855-429-0074.