What Is the Marchman Act?

Experienced attorney Lloyd Sokolow earned a dual JD/PhD in psychology and law from the University of Buffalo. Leveraging his background in psychology and the treatment of substance use disorders, Lloyd Sokolow specializes in practice areas such as DUI convictions and other drug-related charges. As the principal of a Florida-based law firm, he is knowledgeable in state-specific statutes, such as the Marchman Act.

The Marchman Act was passed in 1993 and enables family members to petition for court-ordered addiction treatment on behalf of their loved ones. The person in question doesn’t need to have committed a crime. A Marchman petition may be filed if the person has demonstrated that they are a danger to themselves or others and do not have the ability to make sound decisions.

Parents and guardians may file on behalf of minors, while relatives, spouses, or people with direct knowledge of a person’s addiction may petition for someone above the age of 18. Once the petition is filed, it will be analyzed by a judge, who may reject it or order action. If the petition is approved, the person indicated on the petition may be assessed and placed in an involuntary rehabilitation program.

APA Reiterates Position on Link Between Video Games and Violence

With more than four decades of experience in the fields of law and psychology, Lloyd Sokolow is a principal at a Delray Beach-based law firm he established in 2005. In addition, Lloyd Sokolow is a member of the American Psychological Association (APA), which advocates for improved working conditions and patient care in the profession.

The organization, which also publishes educational materials and new research, reiterated its stance on the link between violent video games and violence in real life, arguing that there is insufficient evidence to support such a claim. The APA notes that it established a task force in 2015 to research the area, this being done in response to repeated accusations by policymakers and others.

APA president Sandra L. Shullman, PhD, stated that there can be many complex factors that could contribute to violence, suggesting that blaming one, such as video games, may take attention away from other factors, such as a person’s prior history of aggression.

However, the APA notes that it will continue to study the effect of video games on children, while also working with game designers to create games with appropriate parental controls.