Ivc

I work at crisis center and we have started taking involuntary committed patients and I am being told since we no security if a patient becomes violent to just open the door and let them out into the streets. Is this even legal?

It certainly seems questionable. I did clinicals in a state hospital in Texas that would allow patients to "escape" instead of chasing them, but it wasn't in response to violent acts- at least, not specifically. The police were then called and took over.

I don't think I'd care to work where you're working- legal or not.

It depends on your state. In my current state mental health holds can be placed by law enforcement, certain licensed mental health workers (psychologists, LPCs, LCSWs, et cetera), physicians, NPs, and certain trained RNs; EMS and ED nurses can keep patients from leaving/transport to the hospital in anticipation of being placed on a hold. If we allowed a patient to leave who was on a hold it would be considered an elopement and is a state reportable event.

In other states holds are only placed by law enforcement or psychiatrists and stopping a patient from leaving who isn't on a hold would be illegal. These states also tend to only have designated hospitals that can take patients on mental health holds.