Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 79.djvu/804

 764

PUBLIC LAW 89-183-SEPT. 14, 1965

[79 STAT.

reasonable inquiry be ascertained by him. I n the case of a person described by section 21-907, the agency head shall notify the head of the department having jurisdiction over the service to which the person belongs. (d) The agency of the United States in control of the place where a person is apprehended for a hearing pursuant to this section may employ physicians for the purpose and pay compensation for their services and pay expenses of witnesses in the proceedings out of funds available therefor. Physicians who are officers or employees of the United States or who are members of the armed forces of the United States may render the services without additional compensation. § 21-903. Apprehension by certain officials of persons believed to be mentally ill; proceedings (a) An officer or employee of the United States authorized to make arrests, and a guard or watchman employed by the United States, may apprehend and detain a person whom he believes to be a mentally ill person and found in a place specified by section 21-902, and, except as provided by section 21-904, bring the person for a hearing before a United States commissioner for the district where the person was apprehended, and designated as provided by section 21-902. When an immediate hearing before a commissioner cannot be had, the officer or employee may take the person to Saint Elizabeths Hospital. The Superintendent of Saint Elizabeths Hospital may detain the person pending a hearing before a United States commissioner for the District of Columbia, designated as provided by section 21-902, for a period not exceeding 72 hours. (b) The United States commissioner specified by subsection (a) of this section shall hold a hearing as promptly as practicable after the apprehension of a person pursuant to that subsection and in any event not later than 72 hours thereafter. The hearing shall be conducted at Saint Elizabeths Hospital if the Superintendent of the hospital certifies that in his opinion it would be prejudicial to the health of the person or unsafe to produce him at a hearing elsewhere. If, after a hearing at a place other than Saint Elizabeths Hospital, the commissioner commits a person to Saint Elizabeths Hospital, an officer, employee, guard, or watchman specified by subsection (a) of this section may transport the person to Saint Elizabeths Hospital in accordance with the order of the commissioner. § 21-904. Admission upon written application j right of release A person in a place specified by section 21-902 may, upon his written application, be admitted for observation and diagnosis to Saint Elizabeths Hospital in the discretion of the Superintendent of the hospital for a period not exceeding 30 days. If, after admission to Saint Elizabeths Hospital, he expresses a desire for release from the hospital, he shall be released within 72 hours thereafter, unless proceedings for his adjudication as a mentally ill person have been instituted as provided for by section 21-906. § 21-905. Superintendent to receive persons committed or apprehended under sections 21-902 and 21-903 The Superintendent of Saint Elizabeths Hospital shall receive for observation and diagnosis a person apprehended or committed as

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