33-6-401 Emergency Detention is only allowed if:

• A. A person has a mental illness or serious emotional disturbance, AND the person poses an immediate substantial likelihood of serious harm, AND the person may be detained to obtain examination for certification of need for care and treatment.
• B. A person has a mental illness, with no risk of harm, and may be detained for examination.
• C. There is no requirement for harm, only a mental health evaluation.
• D. Emergency detention is allowed at the discretion of the officer.

Answer: (A)

Emergency detention under 33-6-401 is allowed only when the person has a mental illness or serious emotional disturbance, there is an immediate substantial likelihood of serious harm to self or others, and the detention is to obtain an examination for certification of need for care and treatment. This combination protects safety while ensuring there is a formal process to assess whether further treatment is needed.

If there is no risk of harm, even with a mental illness, detention for examination isn’t justified. If the requirement for harm isn’t met or the purpose isn’t to obtain an examination for CNCT, the action doesn’t fit the statute. And leaving detention to the officer’s discretion ignores the specific criteria that the law establishes.