(1) When the defendant’s fitness to proceed is drawn in question, the issue shall be determined by the court. If neither the prosecuting attorney nor counsel for the defendant contests the finding of the report filed by a psychiatrist or psychologist under ORS 161.365, the court may make the determination on the basis of such report. If the finding is contested, the court shall hold a hearing on the issue. If the report is received in evidence upon such hearing, the party who contests the finding thereof shall have the right to summon and to cross-examine any psychiatrist or psychologist who submitted the report and to offer evidence upon the issue. Other evidence regarding the defendant’s fitness to proceed may be introduced by either party.
(2) If the court determines that the defendant lacks fitness to proceed, the proceeding against the defendant shall be suspended, except as provided in subsection (12) of this section, and the court shall commit the defendant to the custody of the superintendent of a state mental hospital designated by the Department of Human Services if the defendant is at least 18 years of age, or to the custody of the director of a secure intensive community inpatient facility designated by the Department of Human Services if the defendant is under 18 years of age, or shall release the defendant on supervision for as long as such unfitness shall endure. The court may release the defendant on supervision if it determines that care other than commitment for incapacity to stand trial would better serve the defendant and the community. It may place conditions which it deems appropriate on the release, including the requirement that the defendant regularly report to the Department of Human Services or a community mental health and developmental disabilities program for examination to determine if the defendant has regained capacity to stand trial. When the court, on its own motion or upon the application of the superintendent of the hospital or director of the secure intensive community inpatient facility in which the defendant is committed, a person examining the defendant as a condition of release on supervision, or either party, determines, after a hearing, if a hearing is requested, that the defendant has regained fitness to proceed, the proceeding shall be resumed. If, however, the court is of the view that so much time has elapsed since the commitment or release of the defendant on supervision that it would be unjust to resume the criminal proceeding, the court on motion of either party may dismiss the charge and may order the defendant to be discharged or cause a proceeding to be commenced forthwith under ORS 426.070 to 426.170 or 427.235 to 427.290.
(3) The superintendent of a state hospital or director of a secure intensive community inpatient facility shall cause the defendant to be evaluated within 60 days from the defendant’s delivery into the superintendent’s or director’s custody, for the purpose of determining whether there is a substantial probability that, in the foreseeable future, the defendant will have the capacity to stand trial.
(4) In addition, the superintendent or director shall:
(a) Immediately notify the committing court if the defendant, at any time, gains or regains the capacity to stand trial or will never have the capacity to stand trial.
(b) Within 90 days of the defendant’s delivery into the superintendent’s or director’s custody, notify the committing court that:
(A) The defendant has the present capacity to stand trial;
(B) There is no substantial probability that, in the foreseeable future, the defendant will gain or regain the capacity to stand trial; or
(C) There is a substantial probability that, in the foreseeable future, the defendant will gain or regain the capacity to stand trial. If such a probability exists, the superintendent or director shall give the court an estimate of the time in which the defendant, with appropriate treatment, is expected to gain or regain capacity.
(5) If the superintendent or director determines that there is a substantial probability that, in the foreseeable future, the defendant will gain or regain the capacity to stand trial, unless the court otherwise orders, the defendant shall remain in the superintendent’s or director’s custody where the defendant shall receive treatment designed for the purpose of enabling the defendant to gain or regain capacity. In keeping with the notice requirement under subsection (4)(b) of this section, the superintendent or director shall, for the duration of the defendant’s period of commitment, submit a progress report to the committing court, concerning the defendant’s capacity or incapacity, at least once every 180 days as measured from the date of the defendant’s delivery into the superintendent’s or director’s custody.
(6) A defendant who remains committed under subsection (5) of this section shall be discharged within a period of time that is reasonable for making a determination concerning whether or not, and when, the defendant may gain or regain capacity. However, regardless of the number of charges with which the defendant is accused, in no event shall the defendant be committed for longer than whichever of the following, measured from the defendant’s initial custody date, is shorter:
(a) Three years; or
(b) A period of time equal to the maximum sentence the court could have imposed if the defendant had been convicted.
(7) The superintendent or director shall notify the committing court of the defendant’s impending discharge 30 days before the date on which the superintendent or director is required to discharge the defendant under subsection (6) of this section.
(8) When the committing court receives a notice from the superintendent or director under either subsection (4) or (7) of this section concerning the defendant’s progress or lack thereof, the committing court shall determine after a hearing, if a hearing is requested, whether the defendant presently has the capacity to stand trial.
(9) If under subsection (8) of this section the court determines that the defendant lacks the capacity to stand trial, the court shall further determine whether there is a substantial probability that the defendant, in the foreseeable future, will gain or regain the capacity to stand trial and whether the defendant is entitled to discharge under subsection (6) of this section. If the court determines that there is no substantial probability that the defendant, in the foreseeable future, will gain or regain the capacity to stand trial or that the defendant is entitled to discharge under subsection (6) of this section, the court shall dismiss, without prejudice, all charges against the defendant and:
(a) Order that the defendant be discharged; or
(b) Initiate commitment proceedings under ORS 426.070 or 427.235 to 427.290.
(10) All notices required under this section shall be filed with the clerk of the court and delivered to both the district attorney and the counsel for the defendant.
(11) If the defendant regains fitness to proceed, the term of any sentence received by the defendant for conviction of the crime charged shall be reduced by the amount of time the defendant was committed under this section to the custody of a state mental hospital, or to the custody of a secure intensive community inpatient facility, designated by the Department of Human Services.
(12) The fact that the defendant is unfit to proceed does not preclude any objection through counsel and without the personal participation of the defendant on the grounds that the indictment is insufficient, that the statute of limitations has run, that double jeopardy principles apply or upon any other ground at the discretion of the court which the court deems susceptible of fair determination prior to trial. [1971 c.743 §52; 1975 c.380 §5; 1993 c.238 §3; 1999 c.931 §§1,2; 2005 c.685 §6]
Section: Previous 161.341 161.345 161.346 161.350 161.351 161.360 161.365 161.370 161.375 161.380 161.385 161.387 161.390 161.395 161.397 NextLast modified: August 7, 2008