Attorney Carmen Miller to Deliver Seminar on Mental Health Law

The [Citizens Commission on Human Rights](CCHR), a non-profit mental health watchdog dedicated to the eradication of abuses committed under the guise of mental health, is hosting a seminar next month to educate citizens on their rights and how they can protect themselves and their loved ones from the abusive use of this law.

The mental health law in Florida, commonly known as the [Baker Act](https://www.cchrflorida.org/question-and-answers-about-the-florida-involuntary-commitment-law-the-baker-act/), allows for individuals to be taken into custody and sent for an involuntary psychiatric examination. This law applies to people of all ages including children. Last year there were more than 199,000 involuntary psychiatric examinations with those 17 and under accounting for more than 32,000 of these initiations according to the Baker Act Reporting Center. [1] In response to the increasing number of Baker Acts, CCHR is hosting a seminar delivered by attorney Carmen Miller who, as a former Assistant Public Defender in the Thirteenth Circuit in Tampa, has a great deal of experience on the mental health law. Now in the private sector, Ms. Miller specializes in cases of those who have been Baker Acted.

The seminar is being held in the headquarters for the Florida chapter of CCHR located at 109 N. Fort Harrison Drive in downtown Clearwater on December 12th at 6pm. There is no cost to attend the seminar. Having recently received the CCHR Humanitarian Award for her work in the fight to protect individuals from fraudulent [involuntary psychiatric examinations](https://www.cchrflorida.org/question-and-answers-about-the-florida-involuntary-commitment-law-the-baker-act/), Ms. Miller will educate those in attendance on the specific criteria that must be followed for a Baker Act to be legally implemented. Failure to follow these criteria is an abusive use of the mental health law.

In order to help stop fraudulent Baker Acts it is vital that people know their rights, said the president of CCHR Florida, Diane Stein. Knowledge is power and having an attorney such as Ms. Miller educate people on the law helps protect them from being detained unjustly.

While the original stated intention of the Baker Act was to protect the rights of citizens sent for involuntary psychiatric examination, it has become a source of great abuse. To learn more about the Baker Act or to reserve a seat please call 727-442-8820.

About CCHR: Initially established by the Church of Scientology and renowned psychiatrist Dr. Thomas Szasz in 1969, CCHRs mission is to eradicate abuses committed under the guise of mental health and enact patient and consumer protections. L. Ron Hubbard, founder of Scientology, first brought psychiatric imprisonment to wide public notice: Thousands and thousands are seized without process of law, every week, over the free world tortured, castrated, killed. All in the name of mental health, he wrote in March 1969. For more information visit [www.cchrflorida.org](http://www.cchrflorida.org/)

Sources:

[1] Baker Act Reporting Center http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/programs/samh/publications/The%20Baker%20Act%20-%20FL%20MH%20Act%20-%20FY%2016-17%20Annual%20Report%20-%20Released%20June%202018.pdf

Company :-Citizens Commission on Human Rights of Florida

User :- Diane Stein

Email :-publicaffairs@cchrflorida.org

Phone :-+1--+1--+1-

Mobile:- -

Url :- http://www.cchrflorida.org/