2023 Oregon Revised Statutes
Volume : 04 - Criminal Procedure, Crimes
Chapter 161 - General Provisions
Section 161.372 - Involuntary administration of medication for fitness to proceed; hearing; court order; confidentiality.

(1) If, at any point while the defendant is in the custody of the superintendent of the state mental hospital after commitment under ORS 161.370, the superintendent determines that medication is the recommended treatment in order to allow the defendant to gain or regain fitness to proceed, the defendant is refusing to take the recommended medication and the defendant cannot be involuntarily medicated without a court order, the superintendent shall submit a report of the determination to the court.

(2) The report described in subsection (1) of this section shall include:

(a) Information regarding the benefits and side effects of each recommended medication;

(b) Information concerning the defendant’s refusal to take the recommended medication; and

(c) The likelihood that the medication will allow the defendant to gain or regain fitness to proceed.

(3)(a) Based upon the report described in subsection (1) of this section, the prosecuting attorney may file a motion requesting that the court authorize the involuntary administration of medication to the defendant. The prosecuting attorney shall provide a copy of the motion to the defendant.

(b) The court shall hold a hearing on the motion if either the prosecuting attorney or the defendant requests a hearing. At the hearing, the court shall determine whether to issue an order authorizing the involuntary administration of medication to the defendant.

(c) In order to enter an order authorizing the involuntary administration of medication to the defendant, the court must find that:

(A) Involuntary medication of the defendant is not otherwise authorized by law;

(B) There are important state interests at stake in the prosecution of the defendant;

(C) The recommended medication will significantly further the important state interests because:

(i) It is substantially likely that the medication will render the defendant fit to proceed; and

(ii) It is substantially unlikely that the medication will cause side effects that will impair the fairness of the criminal proceeding;

(D) Involuntary administration of medication is necessary to further the important state interests because there are no alternative, less intrusive treatments that would produce the same result as the medication; and

(E) Administration of the medication is medically appropriate because it is in the defendant’s best medical interest in light of the defendant’s medical condition.

(d) A court order authorizing the involuntary administration of medication to a defendant under this section must specify:

(A) The specific medication or type of medications permitted to be administered to the defendant;

(B) The maximum dosage that may be administered; and

(C) The duration of time that the state mental hospital may involuntarily medicate the defendant before reporting back to the court on the defendant’s mental condition and progress toward gaining or regaining fitness to proceed. The duration of time shall not exceed the maximum period of the defendant’s commitment to the state mental hospital, or 180 calendar days, whichever is shorter.

(4)(a) Reports, motions and orders concerning the involuntary medication of a defendant under this section are confidential and may be made available only:

(A) To the court, prosecuting attorney, defense attorney, agent of the prosecuting or defense attorney, defendant, community mental health program director or designee, state mental hospital and any facility in which the defendant is housed; or

(B) As ordered by a court.

(b) Any facility in which a defendant is housed may not use a report or document described in paragraph (a) of this subsection to support a disciplinary action against the defendant.

(c) Nothing in this subsection prohibits the prosecuting attorney, defense attorney or agent of the prosecuting or defense attorney from discussing the contents of a report or document described in paragraph (a) of this subsection with witnesses or victims as otherwise permitted by law. [2019 c.318 §4; 2021 c.395 §8]