CLEARWATER, Fla., Dec. 28, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Florida Chapter of The Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), a group established by the Church of Scientology in 1969, announced that due to the overwhelming number of complaints about unjust Baker Acting of children in 2017, CCHR is re-launching their campaign in 2018 to protect children from unnecessary involuntary psychiatric examination.

The Florida chapter of CCHR applauded state lawmakers earlier this year when the Baker Act was amended to decrease the time a child can be detained for involuntary psychiatric examination from 72 to 12 hours.  The Baker Act, however, continues to allow a child to be taken into custody and transported by law enforcement to a psychiatric facility without parental knowledge or consent.

The original intent of the Baker Act, named after Maxine Baker, the sponsoring State Representative from Miami, was to ensure patient rights and prevent abuse.  But the 2017 Annual Report of Baker Act Data* revealed that an alarming 32,000 children were Baker Acted in 2016.

“In our opinion and based on existing law, a parent should be brought into the process before something as traumatic as a Baker Act is initiated on a child,” stated Diane Stein, President of CCHR Florida. “This is not being done and we believe this is a violation of the rights of the parent and the child.”

Since the launch of the campaign, CCHR Florida has educated some 160,000 families on their rights under the mental health law. Anyone living in Florida who is interested in protecting children from abusive Baker Acting may obtain more information on this campaign by contacting CCHR at 727-442-8820 or visiting the center at 109 N. Fort Harrison Ave in Clearwater, Florida.

About CCHR: Initially established by the Church of Scientology and renowned psychiatrist Dr. Thomas Szasz in 1969, CCHR’s mission is to eradicate abuses committed under the guise of mental health and enact patient and consumer protections. It was L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, who brought the terror of psychiatric imprisonment to the notice of the world.  In March 1969, he said, “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.’”  For more information please visit www.cchrflorida.org

*The Baker Act The Florida Mental Health Act Fiscal Year 2015/2016 Annual Report, Released March 2017 – Prepared for the Florida Department of Children and Families by the Baker Act Reporting Center - http://www.usf.edu/cbcs/baker-act/documents/annual_report.pdf 

Media Contact:
Diane Stein
President, CCHR Florida
727-442-8820
diane@cchrflorida.org 
www.cchrflorida.org