945.44 Emergency placement of inmate in a mental health treatment facility.—
(1) CRITERIA.—An inmate may be placed in a mental health treatment facility on an emergency basis if he or she is mentally ill and in immediate need of care and treatment, as defined in s. 945.42.
(2) PROCEDURE FOR EMERGENCY PLACEMENT.—An inmate who is mentally ill and in immediate need of care and treatment that cannot be provided at the institution where he or she is confined may be placed in a mental health treatment facility on an emergency basis. The inmate may be placed immediately in a mental health treatment facility and shall be accompanied by the recommendation of the warden of the institution where the inmate is confined, which recommendation must state the need for the emergency placement and include a written opinion of a physician verifying the need for the emergency placement. Upon the emergency placement of the inmate in the facility, the inmate shall be evaluated; if he or she is determined to be in need of treatment or care, the warden shall initiate proceedings for placement of the inmate, as described in s. 945.43(2).
