The Arc of Western Wayne County: Serving people with disabilities

The Take Charge Helpline

Your rights regarding personal property

You have the right to wear your own clothes and keep your own things and to inspect your personal property at reasonable times.  You have the right to have a receipt given to you and a person you designate for your property held by the facility.  This property must be returned to you when you are discharged unless it is something illegal.

You have the right to have a reasonable amount of space to store your personal belongings and to not have your belongings searched unless this is part of your plan of service or unless there is a good reason.  You also have the right to watch if your belongings are searched and to have the reason for the search written in your record.

Your plan of service may further limit this right for the following reasons:

• to protect property you may have brought with you from theft, loss or destruction.  If you want to keep your property even though it may not be safe you must sign a waiver which releases the facility from responsibility;
• to prevent you from physically hurting yourself or others; and
• you or your legal representative should be told the reason for the limitation and the date it expires.

If you have questions about your rights regarding personal property, contact the Office of Recipient Rights at the Detroit Wayne County Community Mental Health Agency at 313-833-2500 or The Arc of Western Wayne County at 734-729-9100.

Phone code: 1433