Civil commitment allows the state to involuntarily confine an individual for mental health treatment when they pose a danger to themselves or others. Unlike criminal incarceration, civil commitment is a civil legal proceeding and requires proof by clear and convincing evidence. The process is governed by state law and must satisfy due process requirements. Civil commitment has historically been used separately from the criminal justice system, but laws like Colorado's SB26-149 create new pathways to commit defendants whose criminal charges are dismissed due to incompetency, bridging the gap between criminal and civil mental health law.