Terms Used In Tennessee Code 33-6-422

  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Mental illness: means a psychiatric disorder, alcohol dependence, or drug dependence, but does not include intellectual disability or other developmental disabilities as defined in title 52. See Tennessee Code 33-1-101
  • Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.
  • Serious emotional disturbance: means a condition in a child who currently or at any time during the past year has had a diagnosable mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder of sufficient duration to meet psychiatric diagnostic criteria that results in functional impairment that substantially interferes with or limits the child's role or functioning in family, school, or community activities and includes any mental disorder, regardless of whether it is of biological etiology. See Tennessee Code 33-1-101

If, after the hearing is waived or is completed and the court has completed its consideration of the evidence, including the certificates of the examining professionals, and any other information relevant to the mental condition of the defendant, the court finds probable cause to believe that the defendant is subject to care and treatment under § 33-6-502, and that if involuntary treatment is not continued the defendant’s condition resulting from mental illness or serious emotional disturbance is likely to deteriorate rapidly to the point that the defendant would be again admissible under § 33-6-403, the court may order the defendant held for care and treatment pending a hearing under chapter 6, part 5 of this title, for not more than fifteen (15) days after the probable cause hearing unless a complaint is filed under chapter 6, part 5 of this title, within the fifteen (15) days.