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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-16-26 Correspondence - Disability Rights Montana - Individual Rights in Montana’s Involuntary Commitment ProcessFrom:Disability Rights Montana - Growth Rings To:Bozeman Public Comment Subject:[EXTERNAL]Individual Rights in Montana’s Involuntary Commitment Process Date:Wednesday, September 16, 2026 7:32:46 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Every paid subscription supports Disability Rights Montana’s work across Montana. Federal funding is nowhere near sufficient to meet the advocacy and culture change work that is needed. You can help fund the future you want to see! Individual Rights in Montana’sInvoluntary Commitment Process A new free training from Disability Rights Montana explains individualrights, legal safeguards, and self-advocacy strategies during involuntarycommitment proceedings. READ IN APP One of the most serious powers government can exercise is the power to take away someone’s freedom. In Montana, people experiencing a mental health crisis or facing allegations that they meet commitment criteria can be detained, evaluated, and potentially subjected to court-ordered treatment. Yet many people, families, advocates, and SEP 16 Your Rights Don’t Disappear During a MentalHealth Crisis even professionals do not fully understand the rights that exist throughout this process. That’s why we’re sharing a new training from Disability Rights Montana attorney Colin FitzMaurice, who has spent years representing individuals in involuntary commitment proceedings across Montana. This comprehensive training explains: Watch the training here: What You’ll Learn The difference between voluntary and involuntary treatment How Montana’s involuntary commitment process works Key timelines, hearings, and legal safeguards The rights people have at every stage of the process How to work effectively with your attorney Why safety plans and community supports matter The right to remain silent and other important procedural protections Less restrictive alternatives to hospitalization Special considerations involving developmental disability commitments Practical self-advocacy strategies that can make a difference People with mental health disabilities and developmental disabilities often face life-changing decisions in a matter of days. A commitment petition can affect where someone lives, whether they remain in their community, their employment, relationships, and their ability to make decisions about their own care. Understanding your rights is not just a legal issue. It’s about dignity. It’s about liberty. It’s about ensuring that people with disabilities are treated as human beings with rights, choices, and voices that deserve to be heard. Why This Matters This training is designed for: Self-advocates People with mental health disabilities People with developmental disabilities Family members and supporters Peer support specialists Behavioral health providers Public defenders and attorneys Service providers Anyone interested in disability rights and civil liberties Whether you’re personally affected by the commitment system or simply want to better understand how it works, this training provides practical information that can help. Throughout the presentation, Colin emphasizes a simple but important principle: Rights matter at every stage of the process. People facing involuntary commitment have rights to notice, counsel, participation, evidence, witnesses, cross-examination, independent evaluations, appeal, and more. They also have the ability to actively advocate for themselves through planning, A Tool for Self-Advocates, Families, andProfessionals The Core Message preparation, and community support. Knowledge can be a powerful tool. If you believe people should understand their rights before they face a crisis, please help us spread this training. Watch the video above Share it with family, friends, advocates, providers, and community organizations The more people understand their rights, the better prepared they are to navigate difficult situations and advocate for themselves and others. Disability Rights Montana works every day to protect the rights, dignity, and freedom of Montanans with disabilities through legal advocacy, public education, policy work, and community engagement. If you value this work, please consider supporting our efforts and sharing our resources. Together, we can build a Montana where people with disabilities have the freedom, support, and respect they deserve. In solidarity, David David Carlson, J.D. Executive Director Watch and Share Support Disability Rights Montana Disability Rights Montana You’re currently a free subscriber to Life Beyond Compliance. Upgrading to paid subscriptions supports Disability Rights Montana’s work across Montana. Federal funding is no where near sufficient to meet the advocacy and culture change work that is needed. You can help fund the future you want to see! Upgrade to paid LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2026 Disability Rights Montana1022 Chestnut Street, Helena, MT 59601 Unsubscribe