Mental Health Concerns Raised By Readers Who Ask If Florida Could Help Him Get Well. Here’s A Look At The Act. Share Your Thoughts, Below.
BY: STAFF REPORT | BocaNewsNow.com
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2024 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — As reporting continues on Donald Trump’s seemingly bizarre behavior — including spending nearly 40 minutes Monday playing music at a town hall — many BocaNewsNow.com readers are asking a question that was asked a few years back. Could Donald Trump, a Florida resident, face an involuntary “Baker Act” hold if he displays concerning mental health behavior in the state?
To clarify what is, and what isn’t, covered under the Baker Act, we are republishing part of the 15th Circuit’s definition and explanation. You can decide for yourself whether it applies or not. The 15th Circuit covers Palm Beach County where Donald Trump lives. The following is from the 15th Circuit’s Baker Act guide:
To be eligible for an involuntary examination under the Baker Act an individual must meet the following criteria: (1) There is reason to believe that he or she is mentally ill and because of his or her mental illness, the person has refused voluntary examination. (2) The person is unable to determine for himself or herself whether examination is necessary and without care or treatment, the person is likely to suffer from neglect or refuse to care for himself or herself and such refusal could pose a threat of harm to his or her well being. (3) There is a substantial likelihood that without care or treatment, the person will cause serious bodily harm to himself, herself or others in the near future as evidenced by recent behavior.
Who Can File a Petition for a Baker Act Examination? The Petition may only be filed by: a. Any individual willing to swear in a Petition for Involuntary Examination that you have personally witnessed an individual causing harm to themselves or others. An “ex parte” Petition for an Involuntary Examination can be completed at the Clerk’s Office. The term “ex parte” means that the court will consider the petition without first serving it on the person sought to be Baker Acted.
However the Court may upon review of the ex parte Petition elect to schedule a subsequent hearing and give notice to the person sought to be Baker Acted. A law enforcement officer may transport an individual to a facility for examination if there is reason to believe that the individual’s behavior meets statutory guidelines for involuntary examination.
A physician, clinical psychologist, psychiatric nurse, licensed clinical social worker, licensed marriage and family therapist, or licensed metal heath counselor may execute a certificate stating that he or she has observed behavior that meets the Baker Act criteria in the past 48 hour.
We note that over the past several days, Donald Trump has refused to release his medical records and called for the military to be used against “the enemy from within.” Based on the Baker Act explanation, it appears his wife Melania — who has not been seen for quite some time at an event for husband — would have legal standing as his spouse and as a Florida resident to call for a mental health evaluation. There is no indication that she has done so at this time.
Do you think that Donald Trump is a candidate for a Baker Act hold in the State of Florida? What do you think about people who believe this may be necessary to make sure he is healthy and fit? Share your thoughts, below. Read more about the Baker Act here.
Baker act donald trump? Whoever wrote this article should be immediately baler acted themselves right after being fired. You are disgraceful. Fire your editor aso for letting trash storys like this be published.
Sorry Lee, this article is right on. This man, a convicted digital rapist, is unfit to hold any office. He has no moral clock as shown by his paying a prostitute $120K while his THIRD wife had just given birth just shows he has no morals at all! His recent posts on his social media platform just show how out of touch and crazy he really is.
No, this country can not survive another ten minutes with this man as president!!!
Oh just stop it!!!!! I wish I had the mentality of Trump and genius that he is!!! It is the people that are asking about the Baker’s act… are the ones that needs it!!!! Sorry we have so much stupidity that I am sick of this, I want the 4 years we Had with Trump and if you don’t like those years… There is something wrong with YOU!!!!!
I had the biggest laugh reading your post Judy. I guess you must not of lived in United States when trumptydumpty was president. Besides letting almost 500K Americans die from Covid because he thought it was a hoax, his refusal to leave the White House after he lost the election just showed how crazy this man is! And his responsibility for January 6th will go down in history labeling him the worst president the United States has seen yet! I could go on here, but don’t think I’d have enough space to finish it all!
No, America can not stand another four yours of that lying sob so definitely think President Harris will do a much better job. Besides being too old, many of his comments lately have just shown how out of touch this man really is. Sometimes, it’s like he has dementia with some of the stuff he spews out of his mouth. No, his time has come & gone…he’s just not mentally fit for this job at this point!
There is no legal evidence to support his being unable to do anything!
One might not like him personally, but he is as mentally sharp as can be.
Political witch hunts should not be part of your mantra.
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