Subchapter IV. Criminally Mentally Ill
TITLE 16
Health and Safety
Mental Health
CHAPTER 51. THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES
Subchapter IV. Criminally Mentally Ill
§ 5151. Establishment of department for criminally mentally ill.
The Department shall establish at the Delaware Psychiatric Center a department for criminally mentally ill adults regardless of their mental capacity. The term "criminally mentally ill" as used herein shall be defined as any incarcerated individual, charged with or convicted of any criminal offense under this Code who also meets the definition set forth at § 5001(6) of this title. The department shall be established on the present grounds of the Psychiatric Center.
Code 1935, c. 76; 46 Del. Laws, c. 190, § 1; 16 Del. C. 1953, § 5151; 49 Del. Laws, c. 57, § 1; 54 Del. Laws, c. 279, § 3; 55 Del. Laws, c. 212; 70 Del. Laws, c. 550, § 1; 76 Del. Laws, c. 322, §§ 7, 8.;
§ 5152. Commitment by courts.
(a) All criminally mentally ill adults shall be admitted to the department for the criminally mentally ill at the Delaware Psychiatric Center for evaluation and/or treatment when committed by any court of this State having jurisdiction over the persons committed.
(b) All criminally inclined juveniles amenable to the processes of Family Court shall be committed to treatment programs for criminally inclined juveniles established by the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families when committed by any court of this State having jurisdiction over the persons committed.
(c) Jurisdiction to order and review commitments under this subchapter is conferred upon any court:
(1) Which presides over any active matter in which the criminally mentally individual is a defendant or respondent; or
(2) Which entered the most recent sentencing order regarding the criminally mentally ill individual.
Code 1935, c. 76; 46 Del. Laws, c. 190, § 2; 16 Del. C. 1953, § 5152; 49 Del. Laws, c. 57, § 1; 66 Del. Laws, c. 424, § 10; 70 Del. Laws, c. 550, § 1; 76 Del. Laws, c. 322, §§ 9-12.;
§ 5153. Commitment from other institutions.
The governing authorities of any institution of this State, including but not limited to those facilities maintained by the Department of Correction, to which an adult or juvenile who is nonamenable to the processes of Family Court who classifies for admission under the terms of this subchapter already has been committed may request an order to temporarily remove an inmate of the institution to the department for criminally mentally ill at the Delaware Psychiatric Center or other authorized institutions for suitable for nonamenable juveniles as follows:
(1) By petition to any court of competent jurisdiction in the State; or
(2) In the case of any individual within the custody of the Department of Correction, by certification of the Commissioner of Correction, Bureau Chief of Prisons, Bureau Chief of Community Correction, or Director of Healthcare Services, that:
a. The inmate or offender is currently suffering from a mental disease or condition which requires such person to be observed and treated at a mental hospital for the person's own welfare and which both:
1. Renders such person unable to make responsible decisions with respect to the person's health; and
2. Poses a real and present threat, based upon manifest indications, that such person is likely to commit or suffer serious harm to that person's own self or others or to property if not given immediate hospital care and treatment;
b. The inmate or offender is currently recommended by correctional medical staff for immediate or emergent psychiatric care or stabilization;
c. That the Department of Correction cannot provide the level of care required to treat the inmate or offender; and
d. The inmate or offender has received all of the process due to the inmate or offender under the Department of Correction policies and/or procedures.
(3) Upon receipt of any inmate or offender into the department for the criminally mentally ill by the process stated herein, the inmate or offender shall be treated as a provisional admittee and may only be housed at the location designated for the housing of the criminally mentally ill. The Department of Health and Social Services shall proceed under Chapter 50 of this title with respect to any decision to commit offenders transferred from the Department of Correction on an emergency basis.
Code 1935, c. 76; 46 Del. Laws, c. 190, § 3; 16 Del. C. 1953, § 5153; 49 Del. Laws, c. 57, § 1; 57 Del. Laws, c. 591, § 25; 66 Del. Laws, c. 424, § 10; 70 Del. Laws, c. 550, § 1; 76 Del. Laws, c. 322, § 13.;
§ 5154. Liability for cost of maintenance and care.
The expenses of the removal of a criminally mentally ill adult or a criminally inclined juvenile and of the adult's or juvenile's admission to a hospital under this subchapter, and the charges and expense for the maintenance and care at such hospital shall be paid by the institution which had charge of such case. Where such persons are committed by the proper courts otherwise than from an institution of the State, the State Treasurer shall pay such hospital for such removal, admission, maintenance and care. If any such criminally mentally ill adult or criminally inclined juvenile has any real or personal estate, the Department of Health and Social Services or the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families shall have, for the expenses and charges incurred, the same remedy as is provided in § 5127 of this title.
Code 1935, c. 76; 46 Del. Laws, c. 190, § 4; 16 Del. C. 1953, § 5154; 49 Del. Laws, c. 57, § 1; 55 Del. Laws, c. 85, § 35B; 57 Del. Laws, c. 228, § 7; 66 Del. Laws, c. 424, § 10; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.;