2016 Colorado Revised Statutes
Title 16 - Criminal Proceedings
Code of Criminal Procedure
Article 8.5 - Competency to Proceed
§ 16-8.5-101. Definitions

As used in this article, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) "Competency evaluation" includes both court-ordered competency evaluations and second evaluations.

(2) "Competency evaluator" means a licensed physician who is a psychiatrist or a licensed psychologist, each of whom is trained in forensic competency assessments, or a psychiatrist who is in forensic training and practicing under the supervision of a psychiatrist with expertise in forensic psychiatry, or a psychologist who is in forensic training and is practicing under the supervision of a licensed psychologist with expertise in forensic psychology.

(3) "Competency hearing" means a hearing to determine whether a defendant is competent to proceed.

(4) "Competent to proceed" means that the defendant does not have a mental disability or developmental disability that prevents the defendant from having sufficient present ability to consult with the defendant's lawyer with a reasonable degree of rational understanding in order to assist in the defense or prevents the defendant from having a rational and factual understanding of the criminal proceedings.

(5) "Court-ordered competency evaluation" means a court-ordered examination of a defendant either before, during, or after trial, directed to developing information relevant to a determination of the defendant's competency to proceed at a particular stage of the criminal proceeding, that is performed by a competency evaluator and includes evaluations concerning restoration to competency.

(6) "Court-ordered report" means a report of an evaluation, conducted by or under the direction of the department, that is the statutory obligation of the department to prepare when requested to do so by the court.

(7) "Criminal proceedings" means trial, sentencing, execution, and any pretrial matter that is not susceptible of fair determination without the personal participation of the defendant.

(8) "Department" means the department of human services.

(9) "Developmental disability" means a disability that has manifested before the person reaches twenty-two years of age, that constitutes a substantial disability to the affected individual, and is attributable to mental retardation or other neurological conditions when such conditions result in impairment of general intellectual functioning or adaptive behavior similar to that of a person with mental retardation. Unless otherwise specifically stated, the federal definition of "developmental disability", 42 U.S.C. sec. 15001 et seq., shall not apply.

(10) "Executive director" means the executive director of the department of human services.

(11) "Incompetent to proceed" means that, as a result of a mental disability or developmental disability, the defendant does not have sufficient present ability to consult with the defendant's lawyer with a reasonable degree of rational understanding in order to assist in the defense, or that, as a result of a mental disability or developmental disability, the defendant does not have a rational and factual understanding of the criminal proceedings.

(12) "Mental disability" means a substantial disorder of thought, mood, perception, or cognitive ability that results in marked functional disability, significantly interfering with adaptive behavior. "Mental disability" does not include acute intoxication from alcohol or other substances, or any condition manifested only by antisocial behavior, or any substance abuse impairment resulting from recent use or withdrawal. However, substance abuse that results in a long-term, substantial disorder of thought, mood, or cognitive ability may constitute a mental disability.

(13) "Restoration hearing" means a hearing to determine whether a defendant who has previously been determined to be incompetent to proceed has become competent to proceed.

(14) "Second evaluation" means an evaluation requested by the court, the district attorney, or the defendant that is performed by a competency evaluator and that is not performed by or under the direction of, or paid for by, the department.