Section 253B.185 Sexual Psychopathic Personality; Sexually Dangerous
253B.185 SEXUAL PSYCHOPATHIC PERSONALITY; SEXUALLY DANGEROUS.
Subdivision 1.Commitment generally.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the provisions of this chapter pertaining to persons who are mentally ill and dangerous to the public apply with like force and effect to persons who are alleged or found to be sexually dangerous persons or persons with a sexual psychopathic personality. For purposes of this section, "sexual psychopathic personality" includes any individual committed as a "psychopathic personality" under Minnesota Statutes 1992, section 526.10.
(b) Before commitment proceedings are instituted, the facts shall first be submitted to the county attorney, who, if satisfied that good cause exists, will prepare the petition. The county attorney may request a prepetition screening report. The petition is to be executed by a person having knowledge of the facts and filed with the district court of the county of financial responsibility or the county where the patient is present. If the patient is in the custody of the commissioner of corrections, the petition may be filed in the county where the conviction for which the person is incarcerated was entered.
(c) Upon the filing of a petition alleging that a proposed patient is a sexually dangerous person or is a person with a sexual psychopathic personality, the court shall hear the petition as provided in section 253B.18.
(d) In commitments under this section, the court shall commit the patient to a secure treatment facility unless the patient establishes by clear and convincing evidence that a less restrictive treatment program is available that is consistent with the patient's treatment needs and the requirements of public safety.
(e) After a final determination that a patient is a sexually dangerous person or sexual psychopathic personality, the court shall order commitment for an indeterminate period of time and the patient shall be transferred, provisionally discharged, or discharged, only as provided in this section.
Subd. 1a.Temporary confinement.
During any hearing held under this section, or pending emergency revocation of a provisional discharge, the court may order the patient or proposed patient temporarily confined in a jail or lockup but only if:
(1) there is no other feasible place of confinement for the patient within a reasonable distance;
(2) the confinement is for less than 24 hours or, if during a hearing, less than 24 hours prior to commencement and after conclusion of the hearing; and
(3) there are protections in place, including segregation of the patient, to ensure the safety of the patient.
Subd. 1b.County attorney access to data.
Notwithstanding sections 144.291 to 144.298; 245.467, subdivision 6; 245.4876, subdivision 7; 260B.171; 260B.235, subdivision 8; 260C.171; and 609.749, subdivision 6, or any provision of chapter 13 or other state law, prior to filing a petition for commitment as a sexual psychopathic personality or as a sexually dangerous person, and upon notice to the proposed patient, the county attorney or the county attorney's designee may move the court for an order granting access to any records or data, to the extent it relates to the proposed patient, for the purpose of determining whether good cause exists to file a petition and, if a petition is filed, to support the allegations set forth in the petition.
The court may grant the motion if: (1) the Department of Corrections refers the case for commitment as a sexual psychopathic personality or a sexually dangerous person; or (2) upon a showing that the requested category of data or records may be relevant to the determination by the county attorney or designee. The court shall decide a motion under this subdivision within 48 hours after a hearing on the motion. Notice to the proposed patient need not be given upon a showing that such notice may result in harm or harassment of interested persons or potential witnesses.
Notwithstanding any provision of chapter 13 or other state law, a county attorney considering the civil commitment of a person under this section may obtain records and data from the Department of Corrections or any probation or parole agency in this state upon request, without a court order, for the purpose of determining whether good cause exists to file a petition and, if a petition is filed, to support the allegations set forth in the petition. At the time of the request for the records, the county attorney shall provide notice of the request to the person who is the subject of the records.
Data collected pursuant to this subdivision shall retain their original status and, if not public, are inadmissible in any court proceeding unrelated to civil commitment, unless otherwise permitted.
Subd. 2.Transfer to correctional facility.
(a) If a person has been committed under this section and later is committed to the custody of the commissioner of corrections for any reason, including but not limited to, being sentenced for a crime or revocation of the person's supervised release or conditional release under section 244.05; 609.3455, subdivision 6, 7, or 8; Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 609.108, subdivision 6; or Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 609.109, subdivision 7, the person shall be transferred to a facility designated by the commissioner of corrections without regard to the procedures provided in subdivision 11.
(b) If a person is committed under this section after a commitment to the commissioner of corrections, the person shall first serve the sentence in a facility designated by the commissioner of corrections. After the person has served the sentence, the person shall be transferred to a treatment program designated by the commissioner of human services.
Subd. 3.Not to constitute defense.
The existence in any person of a condition of a sexual psychopathic personality or the fact that a person is a sexually dangerous person shall not in any case constitute a defense to a charge of crime, nor relieve such person from liability to be tried upon a criminal charge.
Subd. 4.Statewide judicial panel; commitment proceedings.
(a) The Supreme Court may establish a panel of district judges with statewide authority to preside over commitment proceedings of sexual psychopathic personalities and sexually dangerous persons. Only one judge of the panel is required to preside over a particular commitment proceeding. Panel members shall serve for one-year terms. One of the judges shall be designated as the chief judge of the panel, and is vested with the power to designate the presiding judge in a particular case, to set the proper venue for the proceedings, and to otherwise supervise and direct the operation of the panel. The chief judge shall designate one of the other judges to act as chief judge whenever the chief judge is unable to act.
(b) If the Supreme Court creates the judicial panel authorized by this section, all petitions for civil commitment brought under subdivision 1 shall be filed with the supreme court instead of with the district court in the county where the proposed patient is present, notwithstanding any provision of subdivision 1 to the contrary. Otherwise, all of the other applicable procedures contained in this chapter apply to commitment proceedings conducted by a judge on the panel.
Subd. 5.Financial responsibility.
(a) For purposes of this subdivision, "state facility" has the meaning given in section 246.50 and also includes a Department of Corrections facility when the proposed patient is confined in such a facility pursuant to section 253B.045, subdivision 1a.
(b) Notwithstanding sections 246.54, 253B.045, and any other law to the contrary, when a petition is filed for commitment under this section pursuant to the notice required in section 244.05, subdivision 7, the state and county are each responsible for 50 percent of the cost of the person's confinement at a state facility or county jail, prior to commitment.
(c) The county shall submit an invoice to the state court administrator for reimbursement of the state's share of the cost of confinement.
(d) Notwithstanding paragraph (b), the state's responsibility for reimbursement is limited to the amount appropriated for this purpose.
Subd. 6.
[Repealed by amendment, 2010 c 300 s 26]
Subd. 7.Rights of patients committed under this section.
(a) The commissioner or the commissioner's designee may limit the statutory rights described in paragraph (b) for patients committed to the Minnesota sex offender program under this section or with the commissioner's consent under section 246B.02. The statutory rights described in paragraph (b) may be limited only as necessary to maintain a therapeutic environment or the security of the facility or to protect the safety and well-being of patients, staff, and the public.
(b) The statutory rights that may be limited in accordance with paragraph (a) are those set forth in section 144.651, subdivision 19, personal privacy; section 144.651, subdivision 21, private communications; section 144.651, subdivision 22, retain and use of personal property; section 144.651, subdivision 25, manage personal financial affairs; section 144.651, subdivision 26, meet with visitors and participate in groups; section 253B.03, subdivision 2, correspond with others; and section 253B.03, subdivision 3, receive visitors and make telephone calls. Other statutory rights enumerated by sections 144.651 and 253B.03, or any other law, may be limited as provided in those sections.
Subd. 8.Petition and report required.
(a) Within 120 days of receipt of a preliminary determination from a court under section 609.1351, or a referral from the commissioner of corrections pursuant to section 244.05, subdivision 7, a county attorney shall determine whether good cause under this section exists to file a petition, and if good cause exists, the county attorney or designee shall file the petition with the court.
(b) Failure to meet the requirements of paragraph (a) does not bar filing a petition under subdivision 1 any time the county attorney determines pursuant to subdivision 1 that good cause for such a petition exists.
Subd. 9.Petition for reduction in custody.
(a) This subdivision applies only to committed persons as defined in paragraph (b). The procedures in subdivision 10 for victim notification and right to submit a statement apply to petitions filed and reductions in custody recommended under this subdivision.
(b) As used in this subdivision:
(1) "committed person" means an individual committed under this section, or under this section and under section 253B.18, as mentally ill and dangerous. It does not include persons committed only as mentally ill and dangerous under section 253B.18; and
(2) "reduction in custody" means transfer out of a secure treatment facility, a provisional discharge, or a discharge from commitment. A reduction in custody is considered to be a commitment proceeding under section 8.01.
(c) A petition for a reduction in custody or an appeal of a revocation of provisional discharge may be filed by either the committed person or by the head of the treatment facility and must be filed with and considered by a panel of the special review board authorized under section 253B.18, subdivision 4c. A committed person may not petition the special review board any sooner than six months following either:
(1) the entry of judgment in the district court of the order for commitment issued under section 253B.18, subdivision 3, or upon the exhaustion of all related appeal rights in state court relating to that order, whichever is later; or
(2) any recommendation of the special review board or order of the judicial appeal panel, or upon the exhaustion of all appeal rights in state court, whichever is later. The head of the treatment facility may petition at any time. The special review board proceedings are not contested cases as defined in chapter 14.
(d) The special review board shall hold a hearing on each petition before issuing a recommendation under paragraph (f). Fourteen days before the hearing, the committing court, the county attorney of the county of commitment, the designated agency, an interested person, the petitioner and the petitioner's counsel, and the committed person and the committed person's counsel must be given written notice by the commissioner of the time and place of the hearing before the special review board. Only those entitled to statutory notice of the hearing or those administratively required to attend may be present at the hearing. The patient may designate interested persons to receive notice by providing the names and addresses to the commissioner at least 21 days before the hearing.
(e) A person or agency receiving notice that submits documentary evidence to the special review board before the hearing must also provide copies to the committed person, the committed person's counsel, the county attorney of the county of commitment, the case manager, and the commissioner. The special review board must consider any statements received from victims under subdivision 10.
(f) Within 30 days of the hearing, the special review board shall issue written findings of fact and shall recommend denial or approval of the petition to the judicial appeal panel established under section 253B.19. The commissioner shall forward the recommendation of the special review board to the judicial appeal panel and to every person entitled to statutory notice. No reduction in custody or reversal of a revocation of provisional discharge recommended by the special review board is effective until it has been reviewed by the judicial appeal panel and until 15 days after an order from the judicial appeal panel affirming, modifying, or denying the recommendation.
Subd. 10.Victim notification of petition and release; right to submit statement.
(a) As used in this subdivision:
(1) "crime" has the meaning given to "violent crime" in section 609.1095, and includes criminal sexual conduct in the fifth degree and offenses within the definition of "crime against the person" in section 253B.02, subdivision 4a, and also includes offenses listed in section 253B.02, subdivision 7a, paragraph (b), regardless of whether they are sexually motivated;
(2) "victim" means a person who has incurred loss or harm as a result of a crime, the behavior for which forms the basis for a commitment under this section or section 253B.18; and
(3) "convicted" and "conviction" have the meanings given in section 609.02, subdivision 5, and also include juvenile court adjudications, findings under Minnesota Rules of Criminal Procedure, rule 20.02, that the elements of a crime have been proved, and findings in commitment cases under this section or section 253B.18, that an act or acts constituting a crime occurred.
(b) A county attorney who files a petition to commit a person under this section shall make a reasonable effort to provide prompt notice of filing the petition to any victim of a crime for which the person was convicted. In addition, the county attorney shall make a reasonable effort to promptly notify the victim of the resolution of the petition.
(c) Before provisionally discharging, discharging, granting pass-eligible status, approving a pass plan, or otherwise permanently or temporarily releasing a person committed under this section from a treatment facility, the head of the treatment facility shall make a reasonable effort to notify any victim of a crime for which the person was convicted that the person may be discharged or released and that the victim has a right to submit a written statement regarding decisions of the head of the treatment facility or designee, or special review board, with respect to the person. To the extent possible, the notice must be provided at least 14 days before any special review board hearing or before a determination on a pass plan. Notwithstanding section 611A.06, subdivision 4, the commissioner shall provide the judicial appeal panel with victim information in order to comply with the provisions of this section. The judicial appeal panel shall ensure that the data on victims remains private as provided for in section 611A.06, subdivision 4.
(d) This subdivision applies only to victims who have requested notification by contacting, in writing, the county attorney in the county where the conviction for the crime occurred or where the civil commitment was filed or, following commitment, the head of the treatment facility. A county attorney who receives a request for notification under this paragraph shall promptly forward the request to the commissioner of human services.
(e) Rights under this subdivision are in addition to rights available to a victim under chapter 611A. This provision does not give a victim all the rights of a "notified person" or a person "entitled to statutory notice" under subdivision 12 or 13 or section 253B.18, subdivision 4a, 4b, or 5.
Subd. 11.Transfer.
(a) A patient who is committed as a sexually dangerous person or sexual psychopathic personality shall not be transferred out of a secure treatment facility unless it appears to the satisfaction of the judicial appeal panel, after a hearing and recommendation by a majority of the special review board, that the transfer is appropriate. Transfer may be to other treatment programs under the commissioner's control.
(b) The following factors must be considered in determining whether a transfer is appropriate:
(1) the person's clinical progress and present treatment needs;
(2) the need for security to accomplish continuing treatment;
(3) the need for continued institutionalization;
(4) which facility can best meet the person's needs; and
(5) whether transfer can be accomplished with a reasonable degree of safety for the public.
Subd. 12.Provisional discharge.
A patient who is committed as a sexual psychopathic personality or sexually dangerous person shall not be provisionally discharged unless it appears to the satisfaction of the judicial appeal panel, after a hearing and a recommendation by a majority of the special review board, that the patient is capable of making an acceptable adjustment to open society.
The following factors are to be considered in determining whether a provisional discharge shall be recommended:
(1) whether the patient's course of treatment and present mental status indicate there is no longer a need for treatment and supervision in the patient's current treatment setting; and
(2) whether the conditions of the provisional discharge plan will provide a reasonable degree of protection to the public and will enable the patient to adjust successfully to the community.
Subd. 13.Provisional discharge plan.
A provisional discharge plan shall be developed, implemented, and monitored by the head of the treatment facility or designee in conjunction with the patient and other appropriate persons. The head of the treatment facility or designee shall, at least quarterly, review the plan with the patient and submit a written report to the designated agency concerning the patient's status and compliance with each term of the plan.
Subd. 14.Provisional discharge; review.
A provisional discharge pursuant to this section shall not automatically terminate. A full discharge shall occur only as provided in subdivision 18. The commissioner shall notify the patient that the terms of a provisional discharge continue unless the patient requests and is granted a change in the conditions of provisional discharge or unless the patient petitions the special review board for a full discharge and the discharge is granted by the judicial appeal panel.
Subd. 15.Provisional discharge; revocation.
(a) The head of the treatment facility may revoke a provisional discharge if either of the following grounds exist:
(1) the patient has departed from the conditions of the provisional discharge plan; or
(2) the patient is exhibiting behavior which may be dangerous to self or others.
(b) The head of the treatment facility may revoke the provisional discharge and, either orally or in writing, order that the patient be immediately returned to the treatment facility. A report documenting reasons for revocation shall be issued by the head of the treatment facility within seven days after the patient is returned to the treatment facility. Advance notice to the patient of the revocation is not required.
(c) The patient must be provided a copy of the revocation report and informed, orally and in writing, of the rights of a patient under this section. The revocation report shall be served upon the patient, the patient's counsel, and the designated agency. The report shall outline the specific reasons for the revocation, including but not limited to the specific facts upon which the revocation recommendation is based.
(d) An individual who is revoked from provisional discharge must successfully re-petition the special review board and judicial appeal panel prior to being placed back on provisional discharge.
Subd. 16.Return of absent patient.
If the patient is absent without authorization, the head of the treatment facility or designee may request a peace officer to return the patient to the treatment facility. The head of the treatment facility shall inform the committing court of the revocation or absence, and the court shall direct a peace officer in the county where the patient is located to return the patient to the treatment facility or to another treatment facility. The expense of returning the patient to a treatment facility shall be paid by the commissioner unless paid by the patient or other persons on the patient's behalf.
Subd. 17.Appeal.
Any patient aggrieved by a revocation decision or any interested person may petition the special review board within seven days, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, after receipt of the revocation report for a review of the revocation. The matter shall be scheduled within 30 days. The special review board shall review the circumstances leading to the revocation and shall recommend to the judicial appeal panel whether or not the revocation shall be upheld. The special review board may also recommend a new provisional discharge at the time of the revocation hearing.
Subd. 18.Discharge.
A patient who is committed as a sexual psychopathic personality or sexually dangerous person shall not be discharged unless it appears to the satisfaction of the judicial appeal panel, after a hearing and recommendation by a majority of the special review board, that the patient is capable of making an acceptable adjustment to open society, is no longer dangerous to the public, and is no longer in need of inpatient treatment and supervision.
In determining whether a discharge shall be recommended, the special review board and judicial appeal panel shall consider whether specific conditions exist to provide a reasonable degree of protection to the public and to assist the patient in adjusting to the community. If the desired conditions do not exist, the discharge shall not be granted.
Subd. 19.Aftercare services.
The Minnesota sex offender program shall provide the supervision, aftercare, and case management services for a person under commitment as sexual psychopathic personalities and sexually dangerous persons discharged after July 1, 1999. The designated agency shall assist with client eligibility for public welfare benefits and will provide those services that are currently available exclusively through county government.
Prior to the date of discharge or provisional discharge of any patient committed as a sexual psychopathic personality or sexually dangerous person, the head of the treatment facility or designee shall establish a continuing plan of aftercare services for the patient, including a plan for medical and behavioral health services, financial sustainability, housing, social supports, or other assistance the patient needs. The Minnesota sex offender program shall provide case management services and shall assist the patient in finding employment, suitable shelter, and adequate medical and behavioral health services and otherwise assist in the patient's readjustment to the community.
History:
1Sp1994 c 1 art 1 s 4; 1997 c 217 art 1 s 100; 1998 c 313 s 22; 1999 c 118 s 6; 1999 c 216 art 6 s 6; 1999 c 245 art 5 s 15; 2000 c 359 s 1; 2000 c 480 s 1; 2002 c 221 s 37; 2004 c 288 art 3 s 18; 2007 c 13 art 3 s 37; 2007 c 147 art 8 s 14; art 10 s 15; art 11 s 9; 2008 c 299 s 13,14; 2008 c 326 art 2 s 10-12; 2010 c 300 s 26; 2010 c 357 s 9; 2010 c 385 s 7