FAQ: How do I find state law or statutes about a specific topic in the library? For example, I’m trying to find New Hampshire statutes regarding “mental illness.”

Shapiro Library offers one legal database where you may conduct a state statute search on a specific topic: Nexis Uni. You may find this database by clicking on the A-Z Database List link from the library homepage and clicking on the All Subjects drop-down menu above the alphabet and selecting Law from the list. 

Below are instructions to do a state statute search within Nexis Uni, which offers an annotated version of the statute which includes notes, history, amendments, secondary sources (cases that cite the statute) and cross references.

1. On the Nexis Uni homepage click on Criminal Justice which is under Discover Topics.
2. Click State under Which Jurisdiction?
3. Enter the state (e.g. New Hampshire) and the search terms (e.g. Mental Illness).
4. Click Find.

   

5. You should now have a list of statutes and legislation from the state concerning the search terms.

Another option you might want to consider is searching the State of New Hampshire Revised Statutes Online directly.  Please note that only the full text of the statute will be provided (not annotated). This may be the best option for those students that simply need to view the entire statute all in one place (LexisNexis breaks it up into sections) and do not require additional information about the statute. 

1. Click the Search link located under the Full-Text Searching heading.
2. In the Search Text: box you may type in “mental health” (quotes included) and click the Search button. 
3. This will bring you to a results list of all of the statutes that mention this phrase.  Click on the hyperlink to view the actual statute in its entirety.

The Legal Information Institute at Cornell University Law School provides a listing by jurisdiction if you need access to laws for another state.  Once you click on the state you are interested in, it will bring you to a page of links to access that state’s constitution, statutes, bills, and legislature directly.

If you still are not able to find the state statute you need after trying these steps, please contact the Reference Desk through chat or by email at ask@snhu.libanswers.com and we can help you brainstorm keywords or offer additional suggestions.

More Information

• Anatomy of a Statute
• What are Statutes?   

Check out these Research Guides for more help finding legal information:

• Justice Studies
• Business Law
• Criminal Justice