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Mental Health Services
The Plaquemines Parish Coroner's Office responds to requests from the public for mental health crisis situations when they arise. To access assistance when needed, contact the Plaquemines Parish Sheriff's Office at 504-564-2525, and the dispatcher will have a Coroner's Office representative contact you as soon as possible.
CORONER INVOLUNTARY COMMITMENT
- Pursuant to LSA R.S. 28:53.2, the office may issue an Order for Protective Custody (OPC) upon the request of a credible person who has witnessed the subject’s actions or behavior which indicates that the subject is a danger to themselves or others or gravely disabled as a result of mental illness or substance abuse and is unwilling to seek treatment. The OPC will authorize the Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office to transport the subject to a treatment facility (commonly a hospital emergency room) for a mental status evaluation by a medical professional. This OPC process is usually accomplished by a credible person appearing in the Coroner’s office and signing the request for an OPC.
- Once at the treatment facility, the subject will be examined by a medical professional who will determine if the subject is a danger to themselves, a danger to others or is gravely disabled as a result of mental illness or substance abuse and is unwilling to do a voluntary admission. If the person is symptom free, they are released. If symptoms are found, this first medical exam results in the issuance of a Physician’s Emergency Certificate (PEC) which can detain or admit the subject against their will for up to 72 hours
- If a PEC is issued, and the subject remains detained because his symptoms are not cleared, the law requires a second examination by the Coroner which may result in a Coroner’s Emergency Certificate if the subject is found to meet the same criteria as stated above for a PEC. If both a PEC and CEC are issued on a subject, that person can be held against their will for up to 15 days at the treatment facility or until discharged by the treatment facility because they no longer meet any criteria.