2014 Oklahoma Statutes
Title 22. Criminal Procedure
§22-1175.3. Hearing - Date - Evidence - Orders - Examination of accused - Instructions to physician.

A. Upon filing of an application for determination of competency, the court shall set a hearing date, which shall be as soon as practicable, but at least one (1) day after service of notice as provided by Section 1175.2 of this title.

B. The court shall hold a hearing on the date provided. At the hearing, the court shall examine the application for determination of competency to determine if it alleges facts sufficient to raise a doubt as to the competency of the person. Any additional evidence tending to create a doubt as to the competency of the person may be presented at this hearing.

C. If the court finds there is no doubt as to the competency of the person, it shall order the criminal proceedings to resume.

D. 1. a.If the court finds there is a doubt as to the competency of the person, it shall order the person to be examined by the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.

b.In addition, the Developmental Disabilities Services Division of the Department of Human Services shall receive written notice from the district attorney who filed the criminal petition, and be authorized by order of the court to have a psychologist or other appropriate clinician participate with professionals assigned by any other public or private agency in any competency evaluation wherein mental retardation or other developmental disability may be involved. The psychologist or clinician employed, by contract or otherwise, by the Department of Human Services may issue a separate opinion and recommendation to the court.

2. The person shall be examined by a qualified forensic examiner on an outpatient basis prior to referral for any necessary inpatient evaluation, as ordered by the court. The outpatient examination may be conducted in the community, the jail or detention facility where the person is held.

3. If the court determines that the person whose competency is in question may be dangerous as defined in Section 1175.1 of this title, it shall order the person retained in a secure facility until the completion of the competency hearing provided in Section 1175.4 of this title. If the court determines the person may be dangerous as defined in Section 1175.1 of this title because the individual is a person requiring treatment as defined in Section 1-103 of Title 43A of the Oklahoma Statutes, it may commit the person to the custody of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services or any other state agency or private facility for the examination required by subsection D of this section. The person shall be required to undergo examination for a period of time sufficient for the qualified forensic examiner(s) to reach a conclusion as to competency, and the court shall impose a reasonable time limitation for such period of examination.

E. The qualified forensic examiner(s) shall receive instructions that they shall examine the patient to determine:

1. If the person is able to appreciate the nature of the charges made against such person;

2. If the person is able to consult with the lawyer and rationally assist in the preparation of the defense of such person;

3. If the person is unable to appreciate the nature of the charges or to consult and rationally assist in the preparation of the defense, whether the person can attain competency within a reasonable period of time as defined in Section 1175.1 of this title if provided with a course of treatment, therapy or training;

4. If the person is a person requiring treatment as defined by Section 1-103 of Title 43A of the Oklahoma Statutes;

5. If the person is incompetent because the person is mentally retarded as defined in Section 1408 of Title 10 of the Oklahoma Statutes;

6. If the answers to questions 4 and 5 are no, why the defendant is incompetent; and

7. If the person were released, whether such person would presently be dangerous as defined in Section 1175.1 of this title.

F. Upon completion of the competency evaluation, the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services shall notify the court of its findings and the person shall be returned to the court in the customary manner within five (5) business days. If the person is not returned within that time, the county in which the proceedings are to be held shall pay the costs of maintaining the person at the institution or facility for the period of time the person remains at the institution or facility in excess of the five-day period.

Added by Laws 1980, c. 336, § 3, emerg. eff. June 25, 1980. Amended by Laws 1990, c. 51, § 17, emerg. eff. April 9, 1990; Laws 1993, c. 323, § 1, emerg. eff. June 7, 1993; Laws 1997, c. 407, § 5, eff. Nov. 1, 1997; Laws 2000, c. 421, § 3, eff. Nov. 1, 2000; Laws 2004, c. 106, § 3, eff. April 1, 2005.