Outpatient Treatment Standards
The person is a mentally ill person, drug dependent individual or alcoholic requiring involuntary treatment (i.e. who refuses treatment) and

• who is not an inpatient but who, based on the person's treatment history or current mental status, will require outpatient treatment in order to avoid predictably and imminently becoming an inpatient; and



• who because of the person's current mental status, mental history, or nature of the person's mental illness is unable voluntarily to seek or comply with outpatient treatment.

These standards apply regardless of the origin of a petition for an order requiring a person to receive outpatient treatment, whether by a hospital in connection with an inpatient proceeding, the local mental health center, or a private party based upon a current evaluation by a designated health care professional. Once a petition for involuntary outpatient treatment is filed, the court holds a hearing after notice to the patient, the patient's representatives and the patient's attorney. If a current evaluation has not been performed, the outpatient treatment petition must be preceded by a petition for an order for an evaluation, which also requires notice, appointment of counsel, and a hearing.