"Illinois, like each state has its own rules governing when there can be a legal intervention to get treatment for a person with a severe mental illness. Illinois rules apply to someone who needs treatment but is unable to seek it voluntarily. Illinois mental health laws outline what steps must be followed and what standards must be met before someone can be ordered into treatment in the hospital or in the community. Illinois is one of forty four states that allow court-ordered treatment in the community, often called “assisted outpatient treatment” or “outpatient commitment.” Illinois is also among half of the states whose treatment standard is based on a person’s “need for treatment” and not just on the person’s likelihood of being dangerous to self or others. The following summary can be helpful for a family member trying to get court-ordered treatment for a loved one.

For both inpatient and outpatient care, a person must demonstrate a (1) Reasonable expectation of danger to self/others, (2) unable to provide for basic physical needs so as to guard against serious harm without the assistance of others, or (3) unable to understand his or her need for treatment and who, if not treated, is reasonably expected to suffer or continue to suffer mental deterioration or emotional deterioration, or both, to the point that the person is reasonably expected to engage in dangerous conduct."

[link to www.treatmentadvocacycenter.org]