Involuntary commitment registry

Submitted by SermonOnTheRecount t3_10p9ok6 in massachusetts

Does anyone know if Massachusetts has a registry available to police of individuals who have been involuntarly committed to a mental hospital within the state? I'm asking because I'm worried about someone who might be applying for a gun licensce. I know that people who have been committed can't get a gun, but I can't find mention of a registry anywhere. If there's a registry then when they apply for a licensce, it'll be denied. But if there's no registry I may need to take action. Thanks!

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DumbshitOnTheRight t1_j6j350w wrote

Pretty sure this would violate HIPAA.

[EDIT] Turns out I'm 100% wrong.

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thomastodon01027 t1_j6jobev wrote

You might want to consider reaching out to the police chief where this person lives. That’s who ultimately makes the call, and if you have information that they might miss, that would probably be the most direct way to share it.

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melissafromtherivah t1_j6js9h0 wrote

Yes this is the correct way to approach this. The local police chief is the authority responsible for approving a license to carry.

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Smith-WessonPat t1_j6jegyu wrote

It is a federal crime to answer that question falsely on ATF form 4473 and a background check called into the state will catch an involuntary commitment.

When you say you are worried about this person, what is the backstory? Do you have reason to believe they would be a danger to themselves or others?

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Budget-Bake6277 t1_j6j5gev wrote

Yes, the state website states the following:

Section 36C. (a) A court that orders the commitment of a person pursuant to sections 7, 8 or 18 or subsection (e) of section 12 or subsection (b) of section 15 or subsection (b) or (c) of section 16, shall transmit the person's name and nonclinical, identifying information, including the person's social security number and date of birth to the department of criminal justice information services. The court shall notify the person that such person is prohibited from being issued a firearm identification card pursuant to section 129B of chapter 140 or a license to carry pursuant to sections 131 and 131F of said chapter 140 unless a petition for relief is subsequently granted pursuant to subsection (b).

(b) After 5 years from the date of commitment, a person committed pursuant to sections 7, 8 or 18 or subsection (e) of section 12 or subsection (b) of section 15 or subsection (b) or (c) of section 16 may file a petition for relief with the court that ordered the commitment requesting the court to restore the person's ability to possess a firearm Source:https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXVII/Chapter123/Section36C

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Hoosac_Love t1_j6jl2tw wrote

Did the person in question get notified in writing that they had forfitted there gun right.In theory ,although I understand government communication is not always accurate but if one looses there gun right they supposed to be notified.

Example if one is convicted of a felony or domestic violence ,the judge should say at sentence or plea bargain that gun rights have been forfitted.And that also should be indicated in post conviction paperwork that every convict is given by right.

Unless there was a communication failure (which happens) your friend aught to already know if there gun rights have been forfitted.

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downwardspiralstairs t1_j6kroox wrote

The registry is the police chief calls the Massachusetts department of mental health and asks if the person has ever been in a metal hospital in the state. If they have not been in an instate hospital then it won't show up.

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Maronita2020 t1_j6lrjih wrote

That is not exactly true. I know of an individual who was psychiatrically hospitalized at the Bridgewater State Hospital. She now has a CORI for the time she received treatment there although she had never committed a crime, but simply was for psychiatric treatment. In my opinion she shouldn't have a CORI since she never committed a crime, but it is there nonetheless.

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downwardspiralstairs t1_j6m31t2 wrote

They have it on their CORI because it was either a court ordered hold or they went to court to get released. Not everyone who goes into a mental hospital gets a CORI record, CORI stands for criminal offender records information so they had to be in court at some point to have criminal court records about it.

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Maronita2020 t1_j6mqx06 wrote

I know what CORI stands for. Commitments are NOT supposed to show up on CORI's even if ordered there by the courts (if not there for having committed a crime.)

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