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This is always a tricky one, especially dealing with the addiction population, who typically have legal issues. Well from what I’ve learned in my experience is that pts can not be arrested while admitted into in-patient programs as long as they’re in the building because it is a “safe haven.” However, once the patients went outside or off facility property, for whatever reason (smoking, group outings, outside N.A./AA meetings, outside appointments, etc), the police were permitted  to arrest them. ​I’ve seen it in person, and it seems like a really cruel and unethical thing to do. I mean the pt is there seeking help and treatment and you have police camped outside the facility just waiting for the pt to come out so they can take them to jail. It just seems like the police can be doing better things with their time, especially in a town with such high crime rates (Paterson, NJ). I don’t understand why there isn’t more public outrage concerning this topic. I think these incidents would not be happening if there was more public knowledge on the validity of addiction being a psychiatric and neurological illness.