Identity area
Type of entity
Corporate body
Authorized form of name
Insanity Commission
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
April 28, 1909-1939
History
Act 149, Session Laws of Hawaii 1909 , was approved on April 28, 1909 and went into effect on July l, 1909. It provided for the examination, detention, custody and care of insane persons; and for the appointment of Commissioners to examine such persons, and defined their duties; it also repealed Sections 11.16, lll.7, 1118 and lll.9 of the Revised Laws of Hawaii. Previously, judges from all courts had the power of commitment and discharge upon satisfactory complaint or after acquittal of crime by reason of insanity. The physician of the asylum also had the power to discharge if
friends would accept the care of the person. The new law provided that complaints must be submitted in writing and detention was limited to forty-eight hours without examination. Magistrates and circuit judges must submit written certification before commitment. Appeal to the Commissioners could be made within a fifteen-day period. Commissioners (two physicians and one other) were nominated by/with the consent of the Senate for four years. They were to hear cases, investigate and determine sanity or insanity; hear cases from the asylum; visit and inspect the asylum and report semi-annually to the Governor. The substance of the evidence was to be forwarded to the Secretary of Hawai'i for filing. The power formally given to the judge to commit after indictment for crime and without further hearing was retained, but no commitment or discharge was permitted otherwise. The Commission was active until 1939 when Act 254-A placed the Territorial Insane Asylum under a newly created Department of Institutions.
Places
Territory of Hawai'i
Legal status
Functions, occupations and activities
To hear cases, investigate and determine sanity or insanity; hear cases from the asylum; visit and inspect the asylum and report semi-annually to the Governor.
Mandates/sources of authority
Act 149, Session Laws of Hawaii 1909