The Island of Jersey is a separate country from the United Kingdom and has its own laws. In the Jersey Mental Health Law, 1969, there is a community treatment order in which the guardian appointed has the powers of a father over a child (under 16). This law was implemented on 1 January 1972 and in this paper we look at the way in which it has been used in the 18 years between 1 January 1972 and 31 August 1990. We are not suggesting that the way in which we have used it has been the right or only way. We are engaged in description not prescription.