Chief Psychiatrist's Guidelines Index <

Restricted involuntary treatment orders and restricted community treatment orders (October 2008)

Download the complete document (PDF File 223KB)

If a person with mental illness is found guilty of an offence, the court has the option to make a restricted involuntary treatment order instead of giving the person a sentence. The person is then taken to an approved mental health service as an involuntary patient and must be given treatment for their mental illness. The restricted involuntary treatment order operates as a complete diversion from the criminal justice system.

A person on a restricted involuntary treatment order can be placed on a restricted community treatment order. These orders permit people on restricted involuntary treatment orders to live in the community while receiving the treatment they need for their mental illness.

Professor Kuruvilla George
Chief Psychiatrist
October 2008