HealthJuly 18, 2026

recommitment

/ˌriːkəˈmɪtmənt/

Definition

The formal legal process of reviewing a patient's status to determine if their involuntary commitment to a mental health facility needs to be extended.

Etymology

The word is derived from the prefix 're-' (meaning 'again') combined with 'commitment', which comes from the Latin 'committere', meaning 'to join or entrust'. It entered English to describe the act of placing or confining someone into a facility, with the 're-' prefix specifically indicating a follow-up or renewal of that action.

In the news

In this article, recommitment refers to the periodic legal hearings required for patients in state care to ensure they still meet the legal criteria for ongoing treatment. The Fergus County Attorney's office has taken over this process to ensure these mandatory evaluations happen on time.

DPHHS and County sign agreement for mental health recommitments

Read the full article ↗

Lewistown News-Argus

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