2014 Mississippi Code
Title 41 - PUBLIC HEALTH
Chapter 32 - COMMITMENT OF ALCOHOLICS AND DRUG ADDICTS TO PRIVATE TREATMENT FACILITIES
§ 41-32-5 - Hearing; order for commitment; period of confinement

The chancellor shall schedule with the complainant a time on a day certain for the hearing thereof, not less than five (5) days nor more than twenty (20) days from the filing of the complaint. The case shall be triable upon three (3) days' service of process and service of notice of the time for the hearing. At the time fixed, the chancellor shall hear the evidence in the presence of the defendant if he will appear, and without the presence of the defendant if he will not appear, and all persons interested shall have the right to appear and present evidence touching upon the truth and correctness of the allegations of the complaint. If the defendant admits the truth and correctness of the allegations of the complaint, or if the chancellor shall find from the evidence that the defendant is an alcoholic or drug addict, or both, and is in need of detention, care and treatment in a private treatment facility, and that the other material allegations of the complaint are true, then the chancellor shall enter a judgment so finding, and shall order that such person be committed to and confined in a chemical dependency unit, alcohol and drug unit, outpatient house or any other private treatment facility, within or outside the state, for the treatment of chemically dependent persons, as the chancellor, in his discretion, deems to be in the best interest of the defendant. Any such order for the commitment of the defendant shall require that the defendant be committed for such period of time as the chancellor shall determine, in his discretion, as is necessary to provide for the care and treatment of the defendant or for such other period of time as may be established by authorized personnel at the designated facility or facilities; provided, however, in no event shall such period of confinement extend beyond a period of eight (8) months. The chancellor may require treatment at a combination of facilities or may designate commitment at an inpatient facility for not more than two (2) months and an outpatient facility for not more than six (6) months, subject to institutional earlier release.