Arizona Revised Statutes

Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 36-524 (2026)

Application for emergency admission for evaluation; requirements; immunity

✓ current as of May 2026

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36-524. Application for emergency admission for evaluation; requirements; immunity

A. A written application for emergency admission shall be made to an evaluation agency before a person may be hospitalized in the agency.

B. The application for emergency admission shall be made by a person with knowledge of the facts requiring emergency admission. The applicant may be a relative or friend of the person, a peace officer, the admitting officer or another responsible person.

C. The application shall be made on a prescribed form and shall include the following:

1. A statement by the applicant that the applicant believes that the person, as a result of a mental disorder, is a danger to self or others, has a persistent or acute disability or a grave disability and is unable or unwilling to undergo voluntary evaluation and that during the time necessary to complete the prepetition screening procedures set forth in sections 36-520 and 36-521 the person is likely without immediate hospitalization to suffer serious physical harm or serious illness or is likely to inflict serious physical harm on another person.

2. The specific nature of the harm or illness the person is likely to suffer or inflict without immediate hospitalization.

3. A summary of the facts that support the statements made by the applicant, including the observations of persons who witnessed the events described in the statements or the behaviors of the person who is the subject of the application.

4. The signature of the applicant.

D. A telephonic application may be made not more than twenty-four hours before a written application. A telephonic application shall be made by a peace officer or a police officer who is an employee of the United States department of veterans affairs or in the presence of a peace officer unless the application is made by a health care professional who is licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 13, 15, 17 or 19.1 and who is directly involved with the care of a patient who is in a health care institution licensed in this state. For an application made by a peace officer, a police officer who is an employee of the United States department of veterans affairs or a health care professional who is licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 13, 15, 17 or 19.1, a copy of the application that contains the applicant's original signature is acceptable, does not have to be notarized and may be submitted as the written application.

E. If the person to be admitted is not already present at the evaluation agency and if the admitting officer, based on a review of the written or telephonic application and conversation with the applicant and a peace officer or a police officer who is an employee of the United States department of veterans affairs, has reasonable cause to believe that an emergency examination is necessary, the admitting officer may advise the peace officer or the police officer who is an employee of the United States department of veterans affairs that sufficient grounds exist to take the person into custody and to transport the person to the evaluation agency. The peace officer or the police officer who is an employee of the United States department of veterans affairs, on the request of the admitting officer of the evaluation agency pursuant to this subsection, shall apprehend and transport the person to the evaluation agency. The admitting officer shall not be held civilly liable for any acts committed by a person whom the admitting officer did not advise to be taken into custody if the admitting officer has in good faith followed the requirements of this section.

F. If the application for emergency admission is denied, the application shall be retained by the evaluation agency together with a written statement by the medical director of the evaluation agency or the director's designee stating the specific reasons why the application was denied.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 20 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1963–2026 · leading case: In Re Pinal Cnty. Mental Health No. Mh-201000029, 240 P.3d 1262 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2010).

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In Re Pinal Cnty. Mental Health No. Mh-201000029, 240 P.3d 1262 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2010). · cites it 4× “Therefore, although I concur in the judgment, I write separately because I cannot agree with substantial portions of my colleagues' opinion.”

In re MH 2007-001275, 196 P.3d 819 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2008). · cites it 4× “An application for an emergency admission evaluation was also filed the same day pursuant to A.R.S. § 36-524 (2003), alleging that Appellant was a danger to himself.”

In re MH 2007-001236, 204 P.3d 418 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2008). · cites it 2× “An application for an emergency admission evaluation was also filed the same day pursuant to A.R.S. § 36-524 (2003). Appellant was taken into custody for evaluation.”

In Re Mh 2008-002659, 226 P.3d 394 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2010). · cites it 2× “§ 36-520 (2009) and/or emergency admission for evaluation under A.R.S. § 36-524 (2009). G.K.’s application claimed that his mother had threatened suicide, broken dishes, spoken to imaginary people, spent $190,000 on purchases from a consumer television network, and had cooked a…”

State v. Hoggatt, 18 P.3d 1239 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2001). · cites it 2× “See also A.R.S. § 36-524(E) (allowing peace officer to take person into custody and transport person to evaluation agency if evaluation agency personnel find reasonable cause to believe emergency examination is necessary); A.”

City of Phoenix v. Super. Court, Maricopa Cty., 696 P.2d 724 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1985). · cites it 2× “See for example A.R.S. § 36-524, -525, -540 and -544. “Peace officers” are specifically defined in A.”

In Re Mh Xxxx-Xxxxxx, 196 P.3d 819 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2008). · cites it 4× “An application for an emergency admission evaluation was also filed the same day pursuant to A.R.S. § 36-524 (2003), alleging that Appellant was a danger to himself.”

In Re the Commitment of an Alleged Mentally Disordered Person MH 91-00558, 854 P.2d 1207 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1993). · cites it 2× “section 36-524, 2 Henthorne completed an *223 Application for Emergency Admission.”

DeMontiney v. Desert Manor Convalescent Ctr. Inc., 695 P.2d 255 (Ariz. 1985). “07(A) provided that: “The department [of health services] may enter into contracts with screening *9 agencies, evaluation agencies, and mental health treatment agencies to provide prepetition screenings, court-ordered evaluations, voluntary evaluation, treatment of voluntary…”

DeMontiney v. Desert Manor Convalescent Ctr., Inc., 695 P.2d 270 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1984). · cites it 2× “The department may enter into contracts with screening agencies, evaluation agencies and mental health treatment agencies to provide prepetition screenings, court-ordered evaluations, voluntary evaluations, treatment of voluntary patients and treatment of patients under the…”

Swartz v. Superior Court, 466 P.2d 9 (Ariz. 1970). · cites it 8× “On November 9, 1966, based solely upon one or both of the above-described certificates, and relying upon A.R.S. § 36-524, subsec. G, Superior Court Judge Myers entered an order restoring Mrs.”

Cohen v. Maricopa Cnty., 263 P.3d 61 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2011). · cites it 2× “§ 36-520)” and an “Application for Emergency Admission for Evaluation (Pursuant to A.R.S. § 36-524)” so that Eichten could be evaluated for treatment of his depression and substance addictions.”

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— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 36-524(E) — 4 cases

State v. Hoggatt, 18 P.3d 1239 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2001). “See also A.R.S. § 36-524(E) (allowing peace officer to take person into custody and transport person to evaluation agency if evaluation agency personnel find reasonable cause to believe emergency examination is necessary); A.”

In re MH 2007-001275, 196 P.3d 819 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2008). “An application for an emergency admission evaluation was also filed the same day pursuant to A.R.S. § 36-524 (2003), alleging that Appellant was a danger to himself.”

In Re Mh Xxxx-Xxxxxx, 196 P.3d 819 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2008). “An application for an emergency admission evaluation was also filed the same day pursuant to A.R.S. § 36-524 (2003), alleging that Appellant was a danger to himself.”

Castillo v. Yuma Cnty. Bd. of Supervisors (D. Ariz. 2025).

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