The Probate Court may be able to help individuals in a mental health crisis in Muscogee County, Georgia.
However, a less restrictive, and often a better, alternative to a court order is to access services through the Georgia Crisis and Access Line (GCAL) by calling 9-8-8 or Goergia Crisis and Access Line Information ยป
GCAL can provide telephonic intervention services and dispatch mobile crisis teams services.
Mobile Crisis Team Services provide community-based, face-to-face responses to individuals in an active crisis, who have behavioral health issues, or an intellectual or developmental disability. This service offers 24/7/365 crisis assessment, short-term intervention, and referral services.
If Mobile Crisis Team Service are unsuccessful, the Probate Court may be able to help through an Orders to Apprehend and Transport.
The Probate Court exercises jurisdiction over the examination and treatment of persons with mental illness. The Probate Judge may issue an order commanding any peace officer to take such person into custody and deliver him/her to the nearest emergency receiving facility for examination. This order is commonly referred to as an "Order to Apprehend and Transport," because it directs law enforcement to apprehend the person and take them for examination. The Court does not issue orders for persons who are currently incarcerated or in the hospital. An Order to Apprehend issued by the Probate Court is for an evaluation only. It is not a guarantee of treatment or admittance into any hospital facility.
For a probate judge to issue an Order to Apprehend the person experiencing a mental health crisis must be at least 17 years of age or older. (Jurisdiction for those 16 and younger is in Juvenile Court.). Also, two individuals must come to probate court to complete an affidavit. Those individuals must swear or affirm in an affidavit that they have seen the person in the preceding 48 hours and based upon the observations contained in the affidavits, the Affiants must explain what they have observed that gives them reason to believe such person is a mentally ill person and an imminent danger to themselves or others.
To meet with a judge about an Order to Apprehend and transport please call: (706) 653- 4333 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.