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253B.185 Procedures for commitment of persons with sexual psychopathic personalities and sexually dangerous persons.

Subdivision 1. General. 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. 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 committing court of the county in which the patient has a settlement or 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. 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. 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.

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 144.335; 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.

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, 609.108, subdivision 6, or 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 section 253B.18.

(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; sexual psychopathic personality and sexually dangerous persons commitments. (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.

(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. Aftercare and case management. The state, in collaboration with the designated agency, is responsible for arranging and funding the aftercare and case management services for persons under commitment as sexual psychopathic personalities and sexually dangerous persons discharged after July 1, 1999.

HIST: 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

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Revisor of Statutes