New Jersey's recent Appeals Court ruling on the conditional release of patients from State psychiatric hospitals is significant. The new ruling requires a screening process to find the patient a danger to themselves or others before they are involuntary committed to the hospital. This process is required even if the client has violated the terms of discharge (e.g., stops taking medication).

The Court noted that the current law violated the clients' rights by forcing them into treatment against their will, which they are then required to pay for. Additionally, the Court ruled that it is illegal to deprive patients of their liberty without certifying whether they met the requirements for commitment. For more information, see the legal document.