About Us
Overview
The Baker Act Reporting Center is located in the Department of Mental Health Law & Policy, de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, College of Behavioral and Community Sciences at the University of South Florida.
The Baker Act Reporting Center has analyzed statewide involuntary (Baker Act) examination data for almost two decades. The Center also has been collecting petitions, treatment plans, and orders for involuntary placement/services from County Clerks of Court since 2018 and Marchman Act-related documents since 2024. The Center receives this data on behalf of the Florida Department of Children and Families.
As of July 2023, designated Baker Act receiving facilities must enter involuntary examination data into the DCF Baker Act Data Collection System (BADCS). Providers can find additional information about this process on DCF's website. The Center uses data entered into the BADCS and from documents received from Clerks of Court to produce statutorily mandated reports.
The primary purpose of this website is to provide technical assistance to Baker Act receiving facilities, Clerks of Court, and disseminate results of analyses of the Baker Act data.
Given the number of inquiries received at the Baker Act Reporting Center from people seeking assistance, a secondary purpose of this website is to provide information to address the most common types of inquires.