commitment Hear it!

commitment definition - legal

n

  1. A promise, vow, or agreement to do something.
  2. An order, especially one from a court, directing that a person be taken to and placed in the care or custody of a hospital, mental health facility, prison, or similar institution.
civil commitment
The commitment of a person to a hospital, mental health facility, or similar institution upon a civil courtÂ’s finding that the person is ill, incompetent, addicted to drugs, or in some similar circumstances and is a danger to himself or others.
diagnostic commitment
  1. The incarceration of a person while it is determined whether she is competent to participate in the preparation and presentation at trial of a defense in a criminal action.
  2. The incarceration of a person after she has been convicted of a crime while an appropriate sentence is determined.
mandatory commitment
The automatic commitment of a person found not guilty of a crime by reason of insanity to a hospital, mental health facility, or similar institution. Required under federal law when dealing with a person charged with a federal crime, but not required by law in most states.
mortgage commitment
See mortgage.
voluntary commitment
The commitment of a person to a hospital, mental health facility, or similar institution at the request or with the consent of the individual.

Webster's New World Law Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.