When it comes to associate problematic behaviours with the world of mental health to legitimize a security, therapeutic or social intervention, two psychiatric-legal devices are available in Quebec: the law P-38 (hospital guard and psychiatric evaluation) and the judicial authorization of care (involuntary treatment). This article explores and documents descriptively the little known universe of judicial authorizations of care (AJS) through the analysis of 230 files of people who have been subjected to it in 2009 in Montreal. The AJS allows to treat a person against their will through an order of a judge due to the existence of an alleged danger to the person or others and their inability to evidence informed consent. How does this device work? Who are the people affected? What is their social environment? What kind of mental health problems do they suffer from and what kind of treatment are they obligated to follow? What ethical issues raised by the use of such device? These are the questions this article attempts to answer.