Justices examination order
Encyclopedia
A Justices Examination Order (JEO) is on order for psychiatric evaluation of an individual. The following information is relevant in the state of Queensland
, Australia
. Relevant procedures are defined in the Mental Health Act 2000.
Any person may request a JEO of any other person (even someone they do not know, but see acting in a manner that suggests mental illness
). The applicant need not be over the age of 18. The Justice of the Peace
must be convinced that the person is acting in a manner that suggests that they may be mentally ill, and that they will not willingly submit to a psychiatric examination. The JEO allows a mental health practitioner
to enter the place of residence of the person and examine the person in question without their consent. If they believe that the person is mentally ill, the practitioner must approach a magistrate
for an Involuntary Treatment Order
(ITO). If the practitioner is refused entry to the premises, the JEO authorizes the police
to assist the practitioner to forcibly enter the premises.
It is worthy of note that in an emergency (such as a suicide
attempt) police and ambulance officers (amongst other people) can issue Emergency Examination Orders (EEOs) which are very similar to a JEO.
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Relevant procedures are defined in the Mental Health Act 2000.
Any person may request a JEO of any other person (even someone they do not know, but see acting in a manner that suggests mental illness
Mental illness
A mental disorder or mental illness is a psychological or behavioral pattern generally associated with subjective distress or disability that occurs in an individual, and which is not a part of normal development or culture. Such a disorder may consist of a combination of affective, behavioural,...
). The applicant need not be over the age of 18. The Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
must be convinced that the person is acting in a manner that suggests that they may be mentally ill, and that they will not willingly submit to a psychiatric examination. The JEO allows a mental health practitioner
Mental health professional
A mental health professional is a health care practitioner who offers services for the purpose of improving an individual's mental health or to treat mental illness. This broad category includes psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, clinical social workers, psychiatric nurses, mental health...
to enter the place of residence of the person and examine the person in question without their consent. If they believe that the person is mentally ill, the practitioner must approach a magistrate
Magistrate
A magistrate is an officer of the state; in modern usage the term usually refers to a judge or prosecutor. This was not always the case; in ancient Rome, a magistratus was one of the highest government officers and possessed both judicial and executive powers. Today, in common law systems, a...
for an Involuntary Treatment Order
Involuntary treatment
Involuntary treatment refers to medical treatment undertaken without a person's consent. In almost all circumstances, involuntary treatment refers to psychiatric treatment administered despite an individual's objections...
(ITO). If the practitioner is refused entry to the premises, the JEO authorizes the police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
to assist the practitioner to forcibly enter the premises.
It is worthy of note that in an emergency (such as a suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
attempt) police and ambulance officers (amongst other people) can issue Emergency Examination Orders (EEOs) which are very similar to a JEO.