Escaping from a State Hospital

What are the statue of limitations on a warrant for a patient who escapes from a state run mental hospital?

What type of warrant is issued for the patients arrest(Arrest, Bench, etc)?

Can the patient be criminally charged for Escape?

I'm betting that the answers to all those questions vary (just like it all varies for criminals) depending on who the inmate is, why he or she was in there in the first place and for how long.

However, I just read a few articles about such escapes in several parts of the country. Extensive manhunts ensued and, so far, some were recaptured and some were still at large.

I don't know about criminally charged but since such incarceration is generally open ended I'm guessing that an escape guarantees the inmate a longer stay under more rigorous security.

More details would help get better comments.

The applicable state law and the circumstances matter. However, if a criminal arrest warrant is issued, typically those never expire.

He was committed under Section 304 of the Mental Health Procedures Act by the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas. Every 6 months, he has a status update and they keep re-committing him under that Statue at each and every hearing.

JmBd:

He was committed under Section 304 of the Mental Health Procedures Act by the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas. Every 6 months, he has a status update and they keep re-committing him under that Statue at each and every hearing.

Might not be anything wrong with that.

The statute allows for additional periods of court-ordered involuntary treatment.

You can find the full statute at the following link by looking for 50 PS Mental Health, Chapter 15 Mental Health Procedures, Article III Involuntary Examination and Treatment:

http://government.westlaw.com/linkedslice/default.asp?SP=pac-1000

Why was he committed?

What did he do?

Is he planning an escape?

He was in Bucks County Prison and was paroled to Norristown State Hospital's Forensics Unit. After his parole ended, he was moved to a less-secure building on the property.

I don't know why they still have him institutionalized, but he keeps being re-committed every time he attends his 6 month update hearing.

He is planning an escape. Last time he escaped, he was brought back to the hospital by the PA State Police.

JmBd:

He is planning an escape. Last time he escaped, he was brought back to the hospital by the PA State Police.

Then escaping again is an incredibly bad idea because they'll just catch him and bring him back.

The escape itself is likely to be used as evidence of mental impairment that'll result in another extension.

A better plan might be for him to hire a lawyer to represent him.