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Chapter 253B

Section 253B.185

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253B.185 SEXUAL PSYCHOPATHIC PERSONALITY; SEXUALLY DANGEROUS.

Subdivision 1.Commitment generally.

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 144.291 to 144.298; 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.

Notwithstanding any provision of chapter 13 or other state law, a county attorney considering the civil commitment of a person under this section may obtain records and data from the Department of Corrections or any probation or parole agency in this state upon request, without a court order, 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. At the time of the request for the records, the county attorney shall provide notice of the request to the person who is the subject of the records.

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; 609.3455, subdivision 6, 7, or 8; Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 609.108, subdivision 6; or Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 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; commitment proceedings.

(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 and also includes a Department of Corrections facility when the proposed patient is confined in such a facility pursuant to section 253B.045, subdivision 1a.

(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.

Subd. 7.Rights of patients committed under this section.

(a) The commissioner or the commissioner's designee may limit the statutory rights described in paragraph (b) for patients committed to the Minnesota sex offender program under this section or with the commissioner's consent under section 246B.02. The statutory rights described in paragraph (b) may be limited only as necessary to maintain a therapeutic environment or the security of the facility or to protect the safety and well-being of patients, staff, and the public.

(b) The statutory rights that may be limited in accordance with paragraph (a) are those set forth in section 144.651, subdivision 19, personal privacy; section 144.651, subdivision 21, private communications; section 144.651, subdivision 22, retain and use of personal property; section 144.651, subdivision 25, manage personal financial affairs; section 144.651, subdivision 26, meet with visitors and participate in groups; section 253B.03, subdivision 2, correspond with others; and section 253B.03, subdivision 3, receive visitors and make telephone calls. Other statutory rights enumerated by sections 144.651 and 253B.03, or any other law, may be limited as provided in those sections.

Subd. 8.Petition and report required.

(a) Within 120 days of receipt of a preliminary determination from a court under section 609.1351, or a referral from the commissioner of corrections pursuant to section 244.05, subdivision 7, a county attorney shall determine whether good cause under this section exists to file a petition, and if good cause exists, the county attorney or designee shall file the petition with the court.

(b) Failure to meet the requirements of paragraph (a) does not bar filing a petition under subdivision 1 any time the county attorney determines pursuant to subdivision 1 that good cause for such a petition exists.

(c) By February 1 of each year, the commissioner of human services shall annually report to the respective chairs of the divisions or committees of the senate and house of representatives that oversee human services finance regarding compliance with this subdivision.

Subd. 9. Petition for reduction in custody.

(a) This subdivision applies only to committed persons as defined in paragraph (b). The procedures in section 253B.18, subdivision 5a, for victim notification and right to submit a statement under section 253B.18 apply to petitions filed and reductions in custody recommended under this subdivision.

(b) As used in this subdivision:

(1) "committed person" means an individual committed under this section, or under this section and under section 253B.18, as mentally ill and dangerous. It does not include persons committed only as mentally ill and dangerous under section 253B.18; and

(2) "reduction in custody" means transfer out of a secure treatment facility, a provisional discharge, or a discharge from commitment. A reduction in custody is considered to be a commitment proceeding under section 8.01.

(c) A petition for a reduction in custody or an appeal of a revocation of provisional discharge may be filed by either the committed person or by the head of the treatment facility and must be filed with and considered by the special review board. A committed person may not petition the special review board any sooner than six months following either:

(1) the entry of judgment in the district court of the order for commitment issued under section 253B.18, subdivision 3, or upon the exhaustion of all related appeal rights in state court relating to that order, whichever is later; or

(2) any recommendation of the special review board or order of the judicial appeal panel, or upon the exhaustion of all appeal rights in state court, whichever is later. The medical director may petition at any time. The special review board proceedings are not contested cases as defined in chapter 14.

(d) The special review board shall hold a hearing on each petition before issuing a recommendation under paragraph (f). Fourteen days before the hearing, the committing court, the county attorney of the county of commitment, the designated agency, an interested person, the petitioner and the petitioner's counsel, and the committed person and the committed person's counsel must be given written notice by the commissioner of the time and place of the hearing before the special review board. Only those entitled to statutory notice of the hearing or those administratively required to attend may be present at the hearing. The patient may designate interested persons to receive notice by providing the names and addresses to the commissioner at least 21 days before the hearing.

(e) A person or agency receiving notice that submits documentary evidence to the special review board before the hearing must also provide copies to the committed person, the committed person's counsel, the county attorney of the county of commitment, the case manager, and the commissioner. The special review board must consider any statements received from victims under section 253B.18, subdivision 5a.

(f) Within 30 days of the hearing, the special review board shall issue written findings of fact and shall recommend denial or approval of the petition to the judicial appeal panel established under section 253B.19. The commissioner shall forward the recommendation of the special review board to the judicial appeal panel and to every person entitled to statutory notice. No reduction in custody or reversal of a revocation of provisional discharge recommended by the special review board is effective until it has been reviewed by the judicial appeal panel and until 15 days after an order from the judicial appeal panel affirming, modifying, or denying the recommendation.

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