Cal. Codes » Welfare and Institutions Code / DIVISION 5. COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES / PART 1. THE LANTERMAN-PETRIS-SHORT ACT / CHAPTER 2. Involuntary Treatment / ARTICLE 7. Legal and Civil Rights of Persons Involuntarily Detained
California Codes

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code § 5325.1 (2026)

✓ current as of May 2026
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Persons with mental illness have the same legal rights and responsibilities guaranteed all other persons by the Federal Constitution and laws and the Constitution and laws of the State of California, unless specifically limited by federal or state law or regulations. No otherwise qualified person by reason of having been involuntarily detained for evaluation or treatment under provisions of this part or having been admitted as a voluntary patient to any health facility, as defined in Section 1250 of the Health and Safety Code, in which psychiatric evaluation or treatment is offered shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity, which receives public funds.

It is the intent of the legislature that persons with mental illness shall have rights including, but not limited to, the following:

(a)A right to treatment services which promote the potential of the person to function independently. Treatment should be provided in ways that are least restrictive of the personal liberty of the individual.

(b)A right to dignity, privacy, and humane care.

(c)A right to be free from harm, including unnecessary or excessive physical restraint, isolation, medication, abuse, or neglect. Medication shall not be used as punishment, for the convenience of staff, as a substitute for program, or in quantities that interfere with the treatment program.

(d)A right to prompt medical care and treatment.

(e)A right to religious freedom and practice.

(f)A right to participate in appropriate programs of publicly supported education.

(g)A right to social interaction and participation in community activities.

(h)A right to physical exercise and recreational opportunities.

(i)A right to be free from hazardous procedures.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 3 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1990–2023 · leading case: Jackson v. Cedars-Sinai Med. Ctr., 220 Cal. App. 3d 1315 (Cal. Ct. App. 1990).
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Jackson v. Cedars-Sinai Med. Ctr., 220 Cal. App. 3d 1315 (Cal. Ct. App. 1990). “1 provides in pertinent part: “Persons with mental illness have the same legal rights and responsibilities guaranteed all other persons by the Federal Constitution and laws and the Constitution and laws of the State of California unless specifically limited by federal or state…”
(PC) Forster v. Clendenin (E.D. Cal. 2023). “4 13 Claim Four 14 Lastly, Plaintiff alleges that Defendant Price “is tortuously liable” for creating “a 15 treatment program that is inadequate, and that does not give this Plaintiff a reasonable expectation 16 to obtain his liberty,” citing to California Welfare and…”
Spath v. Cnty. of Santa Clara (N.D. Cal. 2023). “Denial of rights under California Welfare and Institutions Code § 5325.”
— Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code § 5325.1(a) — 1 case
(PC) Forster v. Clendenin (E.D. Cal. 2023). “4 13 Claim Four 14 Lastly, Plaintiff alleges that Defendant Price “is tortuously liable” for creating “a 15 treatment program that is inadequate, and that does not give this Plaintiff a reasonable expectation 16 to obtain his liberty,” citing to California Welfare and…”
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