2014 Oklahoma Statutes
Title 22. Criminal Procedure
§22-1161. Acts of insane person not punishable - Acquittal on ground of insanity - Discharge procedure – Forensic Review Board.

A. 1. An act committed by a person in a state of insanity cannot be punished as a public offense, nor can the person be tried, sentenced to punishment, or punished for a public offense while such person is insane.

2. When in any criminal action by indictment or information, the defense of insanity is raised, but the defendant is not acquitted on the ground that the defendant was insane at the time of the commission of the crime charged, an issue concerning such defense may be raised on appeal. If the appellate court finds relief is required, the appellate court shall not have authority to modify the judgment or sentence, but will only have the authority to order a new trial or order resentencing without recommendations to sentencing.

3. When in any criminal action by indictment or information the defense of insanity is interposed either singly or in conjunction with some other defense, the jury shall state in the verdict, if it is one of acquittal, whether or not the defendant is acquitted on the ground of insanity. When the defendant is acquitted on the ground that the defendant was insane at the time of the commission of the crime charged, the person shall not be discharged from custody until the court has made a determination that the person is not presently dangerous to the public peace and safety because the person is a person requiring treatment as defined in Section 1-103 of Title 43A of the Oklahoma Statutes.

B. 1. To assist the court in its determination, the court shall immediately issue an order for the person to be examined by the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services at a facility the Department has designated to examine and treat forensic individuals. Upon the issuance of the order, the sheriff shall deliver the person to the designated facility.

2. Within forty-five (45) days of the court entering such an order, a hearing shall be conducted by the court to ascertain whether the person is presently dangerous to the public peace or safety because the person is a person requiring treatment as defined in Section 1-103 of Title 43A of the Oklahoma Statutes or, if not, is in need of continued supervision as a result of unresolved symptoms of mental illness or a history of treatment noncompliance. During the required period of hospitalization the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services shall have the person examined by two qualified psychiatrists or one such psychiatrist and one qualified clinical psychologist whose training and experience enable the professional to form expert opinions regarding mental illness, competency, dangerousness and criminal responsibility.

C. 1. Each examiner shall, within thirty-five (35) days of hospitalization, individually prepare and submit to the court, the district attorney and the person’s trial counsel a report of the person’s psychiatric examination findings and an evaluation concerning whether the person is presently dangerous to the public peace or safety.

2. If the court is dissatisfied with the reports or if a disagreement on the issue of mental illness and dangerousness exists between the two examiners, the court may designate one or more additional examiners and have them submit their findings and evaluations as specified in paragraph 1 of this subsection.

3.a.Within ten (10) days after the reports are filed, the court must conduct a hearing to determine the person’s present condition as to the issue of whether:

(1)the person is presently dangerous to the public peace or safety because the person is a person requiring treatment as defined in Section 1-103 of Title 43A of the Oklahoma Statutes, or

(2)if not believed to be presently dangerous to the public peace or safety, the person is in need of continued supervision as a result of unresolved symptoms of mental illness or a history of treatment noncompliance.

b.The district attorney must establish the foregoing by a preponderance of the evidence. At this hearing the person shall have the assistance of counsel and may present independent evidence.

D. 1. If the court finds that the person is not presently dangerous to the public peace or safety because the person is a person requiring treatment as defined in Section 1-103 of Title 43A of the Oklahoma Statutes and is not in need of continued supervision as a result of unresolved symptoms of mental illness or a history of treatment noncompliance, it shall immediately discharge the person from hospitalization.

2. If the court finds that the person is presently dangerous to the public peace and safety, it shall commit the person to the custody of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. The person shall then be subject to discharge pursuant to the procedure set forth in Title 43A of the Oklahoma Statutes.

a.During the period of hospitalization, the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services may administer or cause to be administered to the person such psychiatric, medical or other therapeutic treatment as in its judgment should be administered.

b.The person shall be subject to discharge or conditional release pursuant to the procedures set forth in this section.

E. If at any time the court finds the person is not presently dangerous to the public peace or safety because the person is a person requiring treatment pursuant to the provisions of Section 1-103 of Title 43A of the Oklahoma Statutes, but is in need of continued supervision as a result of unresolved symptoms of mental illness or a history of treatment noncompliance, the court may:

1. Discharge the person pursuant to the procedure set forth in Title 43A of the Oklahoma Statutes;

2. Discharge the person, and upon the court’s or the district attorney’s motion commence civil involuntary commitment proceedings against the person pursuant to the provisions of Title 43A of the Oklahoma Statutes; or

3. Order conditional release, as set forth in subsection F of this section.

F. There is hereby created a Forensic Review Board to be composed of seven (7) members appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Board members shall serve for a term of five (5) years except that for members first appointed to the Board: one shall serve for a term ending December 31, 2008, two shall serve for a term ending December 31, 2009, two shall serve a term ending December 31, 2010, and two shall serve for a term ending December 31, 2011.

1. The Board shall be composed of:

a.four licensed mental health professionals with experience in treating mental illness, at least one of whom is licensed as a Doctor of Medicine, a Doctor of Osteopathy, or a licensed clinical psychologist and shall be appointed from a list of seven names submitted to the Governor by the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services,

b.one member who shall be an attorney licensed to practice in this state and shall be appointed from a list of not less than three names submitted to the Governor by the Board of Governors of the Oklahoma Bar Association,

c.one member who shall be a retired judge licensed to practice in this state and shall be appointed from a list of not less than three names submitted to the Governor by the Judicial Nominating Committee, and

d.one at-large member.

The attorney and retired judge members of the Board shall be prohibited from representing in the courts of this state persons charged with felony offenses while serving on the Board.

2. The Board shall meet as necessary to determine which individuals confined with the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services are eligible for therapeutic visits, conditional release or discharge and whether the Board wishes to make such a recommendation to the court of the county where the individual was found not guilty by reason of insanity.

a.Forensic Review Board meetings shall not be considered subject to the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act and are not open to the public. Other than the Forensic Review Board members, only the following individuals shall be permitted to attend Board meetings:

(1)the individual the Board is considering for therapeutic visits, conditional release or discharge, his or her treatment advocate, and members of his or her treatment team,

(2)the Commissioner of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services or designee,

(3)the Advocate General for the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services or designee,

(4)the General Counsel for the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services or designee, and

(5)any other persons the Board and Commissioner of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services wish to be present.

b.The Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services shall provide administrative staff to the Board to take minutes of meetings and prepare necessary documents and correspondence for the Board to comply with its duties as set forth in this section. The Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services shall also transport the individuals being reviewed to and from the Board meeting site.

c.The Board shall promulgate rules concerning the granting and structure of therapeutic visits, conditional releases and discharge.

d.For purposes of this subsection, “therapeutic visit” means a scheduled time period off campus which provides for progressive tests of the consumer’s ability to maintain and demonstrate coping skills.

3. The Forensic Review Board shall submit any recommendation for therapeutic visit, conditional release or discharge to the court and district attorney of the county where the person was found not guilty by reason of insanity, the person’s trial counsel, the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and the person at least fourteen (14) days prior to the scheduled visit.

a.The district attorney may file an objection to a recommendation for a therapeutic visit within ten (10) days of receipt of the notice.

b.If an objection is filed, the therapeutic visit is stayed until a hearing is held. The court shall hold a hearing not less than ten (10) days following an objection to determine whether the therapeutic visit is necessary for treatment, and if necessary, the nature and extent of the visit.

4. During the period of hospitalization the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services shall submit an annual report on the status of the person to the court, the district attorney and the patient advocate general of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.

G. Upon motion by the district attorney or upon a recommendation for conditional release or discharge by the Forensic Review Board, the court shall conduct a hearing to ascertain if the person is presently dangerous and a person requiring treatment as defined in Section 1-103 of Title 43A of the Oklahoma Statutes. This hearing shall be conducted under the same procedure as the first hearing and must occur not less than ten (10) days following the motion or request by the Forensic Review Board.

1. If the court determines that the person continues to be presently dangerous to the public peace and safety because the person is a person requiring treatment as defined in Section 1-103 of Title 43A of the Oklahoma Statutes, it shall order the return of the person to the hospital for additional treatment.

2. If the court determines that the person is not dangerous subject to certain conditions, the court may conditionally release the person subject to the following:

a.the Forensic Review Board has made a recommendation for conditional release, including a written plan for outpatient treatment and a list of recommendations for the court to place as conditions on the release,

b.in its order of conditional release, the court shall specify conditions of release and shall direct the appropriate agencies or persons to submit annual reports regarding the person’s compliance with the conditions of release and progress in treatment,

c.the person must agree, in writing, that during the period the person is granted conditional release and is subject to the provisions thereof, there shall be free transmission of all pertinent information, including clinical information regarding the person, among the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, the appropriate community mental health centers and the appropriate district attorneys, law enforcement and court personnel,

d.the court’s order placing the person on conditional release shall include notice that the person’s conditional release may be revoked upon good cause. The person placed on conditional release shall remain under the supervision of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services until the committing court enters a final discharge order. The Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services shall assess the person placed on conditional release annually and shall have the authority to recommend discharge of the person to the Board,

e.any agency or individual involved in providing treatment with regard to the person’s conditional release plan may prepare and file an affidavit under oath if the agency or individual believes that the person has failed to comply with the conditions of release or that such person has progressed to the point that inpatient care is appropriate.

(1)Any peace officer who receives such an affidavit shall take the person into protective custody and return the person to the forensic unit of the state hospital.

(2)A hearing shall be conducted within three (3) days, excluding holidays and weekends, after the person is returned to the forensic unit of the state hospital to determine if the person has violated the conditions of release, or if full-time hospitalization is the least restrictive alternative consistent with the person’s needs and the need for public safety. Notice of the hearing shall be issued, at least twenty-four (24) hours before the hearing, to the hospital superintendent, the person, trial counsel for the person, and the patient advocate general of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. If the person requires hospitalization because of a violation of the conditions of release or because of progression to the point that inpatient care is appropriate, the court may then modify the conditions of release.

3. If the court determines that the person is not presently dangerous to the public peace or safety because the person is not a person requiring treatment, it shall order that the person be discharged from the custody of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.

R.L. 1910, § 6049. Amended by Laws 1935, p. 19, § 1, emerg. eff. May 8, 1935; Laws 1975, c. 92, § 1; Laws 1983, c. 94, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 1983; Laws 1990, c. 51, § 16, emerg. eff. April 9, 1990; Laws 2000, c. 421, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2000; Laws 2004, c. 188, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2004; Laws 2007, c. 358, § 8, eff. July 1, 2007; Laws 2008, c. 39, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2008.