Alaska Severe Mental Illness Information, Laws, & Helpful Resources

ALASKA STAT. § 47.30.700(a). Upon petition of any adult, a judge shall immediately conduct a screening investigation or direct a local mental health professional … to conduct a screening investigation of the person. ALASKA STAT. § 47.30.705(a). A peace officer, a psychiatrist or physician who is licensed to practice in this state or employed by the federal government, or a clinical psychologist licensed by the state Board of Psychologist and Psychological Associate Examiners who has probable cause to believe that a person [meets the criteria for emergency evaluation] may cause the person to be taken into custody and delivered to the nearest crisis stabilization center (…) or the nearest evaluation facility. ALASKA STAT. § 47.30.705(a). [Where there is] probable cause to believe that a person is gravely disabled or is suffering from mental illness and is likely to cause serious harm to self or others of such immediate nature that considerations of safety do not allow initiation of [a court-ordered screening investigation] … the person [may] be taken into custody and delivered to the nearest crisis stabilization center (…) or the nearest evaluation facility.

ALASKA STAT. § 47.30.730(a). The petition [for commitment] must be signed by two mental health professionals who have examined the respondent, one of whom is a physician. ALASKA STAT. § 47.30.735(c). [T]he court may commit the respondent to a treatment facility … if it finds, by clear and convincing evidence, that the respondent is mentally ill and as a result is likely to cause harm to the respondent or others or is gravely disabled. ALASKA STAT. § 47.30.915(12). "likely to cause serious harm" means a person who (A) poses a substantial risk of bodily harm to that person's self, as manifested by recent behavior causing, attempting, or threatening that harm; (B) poses a substantial risk of harm to others as manifested by recent behavior causing, attempting, or threatening harm, and is likely in the near future to cause physical injury, physical abuse, or substantial property damage to another person; or (C) manifests a current intent to carry out plans of serious harm to that person's self or another. ALASKA STAT. § 47.30.915(9). "gravely disabled" means a condition in which a person as a result of mental illness: (A) is in danger of physical harm arising from such complete neglect of basic needs for food, clothing, shelter, or personal safety as to render serious accident, illness, or death highly probable if care by another is not taken; or (B) will, if not treated, suffer or continue to suffer severe and abnormal mental, emotional, or physical distress, and this distress is associated with significant impairment of judgment, reason, or behavior causing a substantial deterioration of the person's previous ability to function independently.

ALASKA STAT. § 47.30.755(b). If the court finds that there is a viable less restrictive alternative [to inpatient commitment] available [to a person who meets the inpatient commitment criteria] and that the respondent has been advised of and refused voluntary treatment through the alternative, the court may order the less restrictive alternative treatment … if the program accepts the respondent.