(1) Whenever the court has reason to doubt the defendant’s fitness to proceed by reason of incapacity as defined in ORS 161.360, the court may call to its assistance in reaching its decision any witness and may appoint a psychiatrist or psychologist to examine the defendant and advise the court.
(2) If the court determines the assistance of a psychiatrist or psychologist would be helpful, the court may order the defendant to be committed for the purpose of an examination for a period not exceeding 30 days to a state mental hospital designated by the Department of Human Services if the defendant is at least 18 years of age, or to a secure intensive community inpatient facility designated by the Department of Human Services if the defendant is under 18 years of age. The report of each examination shall include, but is not necessarily limited to, the following:
(a) A description of the nature of the examination;
(b) A statement of the mental condition of the defendant; and
(c) If the defendant suffers from a mental disease or defect, an opinion as to whether the defendant is incapacitated within the definition set out in ORS 161.360.
(3) Except when the defendant and the court both request to the contrary, the report may not contain any findings or conclusions as to whether the defendant as a result of mental disease or defect was subject to the provisions of ORS 161.295 or 161.300 at the time of the criminal act charged.
(4) If the examination by the psychiatrist or psychologist cannot be conducted by reason of the unwillingness of the defendant to participate therein, the report shall so state and shall include, if possible, an opinion as to whether such unwillingness of the defendant was the result of mental disease or defect affecting capacity to proceed.
(5) The report of the examination shall be filed in triplicate with the clerk of the court, who shall cause copies to be delivered to the district attorney and to counsel for defendant.
(6) When upon motion of the court or a financially eligible defendant, the court has ordered a psychiatric or psychological examination of the defendant, a county or justice court shall order the county to pay, and a circuit court shall order the public defense services executive director to pay from funds available for the purpose:
(a) A reasonable fee if the examination of the defendant is conducted by a psychiatrist or psychologist in private practice; and
(b) All costs including transportation of the defendant if the examination is conducted by a psychiatrist or psychologist in the employ of the Department of Human Services or a community mental health and developmental disabilities program established under ORS 430.610 to 430.670.
(7) When such an examination is ordered at the request or with the acquiescence of a defendant who is determined not to be financially eligible, the examination shall be performed at the defendant’s expense. When such an examination is ordered at the request of the prosecution, the county shall pay for the expense of the examination. [1971 c.743 §51; 1975 c.380 §4; 1981 s.s. c.3 §131; 1983 c.800 §11; 1987 c.803 §18; 1993 c.238 §2; 2001 c.962 §90; 2005 c.685 §5]
Section: Previous 161.340 161.341 161.345 161.346 161.350 161.351 161.360 161.365 161.370 161.375 161.380 161.385 161.387 161.390 161.395 NextLast modified: August 7, 2008