Tens of Thousands of Children Taken into Custody: The Baker Act Must Be Reformed
Baker Act abuse runs rampant and calls for reformation are resounding from press to parents. CCHR says it is time for change, one that is a long time coming. Fifty years of Baker Act abuse and maltreatment is more than enough for Florida citizens, practitioners, and...
Why Florida Needs to Revisit and Reform the Mental Health Law
There is the equivalent of one hundred Baker Acts initiated on children every day of the year. It is no wonder that parents are incensed. Where did it go wrong? Florida’s Mental Health Act of 1971 was designed and meant to protect an individual’s rights and due...
WUSF Series Investigates the Fastest Growing Group Under the Baker Act, Children
The series explores the how outraged parents and advocates are fighting to stop the abusive use of this law on children. WUSF recently completed a five-part series regarding Florida’s mental health law also known as the Baker Act. Although this law was not written for...
Report Reveals a Record Number of Children Taken into Custody for Involuntary Psychiatric Examinations
Over 37,000 involuntary examinations, called a Baker Act, were initiated on children in Florida during 2018/2019. According to a report released this week by the Baker Act Reporting Center, there were over 210,000 involuntary psychiatric examinations initiated during...
Campaign Exposing Mental Health Human Rights Abuse Reaches Over 500,000
Watchdog organization is calling the abusive use of the Baker Act a serious threat to mental health human rights in Florida. The most recent report on involuntary psychiatric examinations in Florida disclosed that there were over 200,000 during 2017/2018. This same...
Baker Act Continuing Mental Health Education Course Helps Protect Human Rights
The virtual course identifies the basic human rights impacted by the Baker Act, areas of abuse and the unintended consequences. The Florida mental health law, commonly called the Baker Act, has been a source of statewide abuse as reported repeatedly in the media....
Baker Act Abuse
Florida’s Baker Act in the News The Baker Acting of children in Florida is not “new” news. In fact, the abusive use of this law has been making headlines for years. Some of these stories go viral and reach national and international audiences. Below...
Mental Health Watchdog to Host Legal Continuing Education Workshop on the Baker Act
During 2017/2018 there were over 200,000 involuntary psychiatric examinations, Baker Acts, and more than 36,000 of these were initiated on children. The Florida chapter of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) is hosting a virtual continuing legal education...
CCHR Hosts Continuing Education Course on the Florida Mental Health Law
The virtual course for mental health professionals is designed to help them identify the basic human rights impacted by the law and its unintended consequences. The mental health law in Florida, known as the Baker Act, allows for individuals of all ages, including...
Mental Health Watchdog Offering Continuing Education Course on the Baker Act
The virtual course for mental health professionals will help them identify the basic human rights impacted by the Baker Act and its unintended consequences. The mental health law in Florida, known as the Baker Act, allows for individuals of all ages, including...
Tens of Thousands of Children Sent for Involuntary Psychiatric Examination in Florida
Each year on October 10th World Mental Health Day is observed for the stated purpose of raising awareness on mental health issues. This year the Florida chapter of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), a watchdog organization, hosted a seminar on mental...
Watchdog CCHR to Host a Baker Act Rights Seminar for World Mental Health Day
During a meeting of the Children’s Baker Act Task Force, it was revealed that a significant number of children sent for an involuntary psychiatric examination did not meet the criteria to be taken into custody. Unfortunately, this is not new information. The mental...
Almost 410,000 Reached in a Campaign to Protect Children and Parental Rights
Viewed as a statewide problem, the number of children sent for involuntary psychiatric examinations, called a Baker Act, has been steadily climbing for almost two decades and with many parents only finding out their child has been taken into custody after the fact, it...
Evidence Points to Misuse of the Baker Act with Devastating Results for Children
As reported in multiple news stories, a recently released 85-page study found that “the Baker Act is increasingly being used on school children who make jokes, act out, exhibit normal manifestations of a known disability, or express ordinary sadness.” This same study...Contact CCHR Florida
109 N. Fort Harrison Ave.
Clearwater, Florida 33755
Tel: 1-800-782-2878
