BILL ANALYSIS Ó SENATE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY Senator Loni Hancock, Chair A 2013-2014 Regular Session B 2 1 8 AB 2186 (Lowenthal) 6 As Amended April 21, 2014 Hearing date: June 10, 2014 Penal Code JM:mc PERSONS INCOMPETENT TO STAND TRIAL OR FACE JUDGMENT HISTORY Source: Department of State Hospitals Prior Legislation: AB 1907 (Lowenthal) - Ch. 814, Stats. 2012 366 (Allen) - Ch. 654, Stats. 2011 SB 1794 (Perata) - Ch. 486, Stats. 2004 Support: California Association of Psychiatric Technicians; Judicial Council of California; Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department; California State Sheriffs' Association; Taxpayers for Improving Public Safety Opposition:None known Assembly Floor Vote: Ayes 74 - Noes 0 KEY ISSUES SHOULD A COURT ORDER FOR INVOLUNTARY ADMINISTRATION OF ANTIPSYCHOTIC MEDICATION TO AN INCOMPETENT DEFENDANT, AS PRESCRIBED BY THE TREATING PSYCHIATRIST, BE VALID AT ANY FACILITY WHERE THE DEFENDANT IS HOUSED? (More) AB 2186 (Lowenthal) PageB (CONTINUED) SHOULD A DISTRICT ATTORNEY, COUNTY COUNSEL OR REPRESENTATIVE OF THE FACILITY OF COMMITMENT BE AUTHORIZED TO SEEK AN ORDER FOR INVOLUNTARY MEDICATION OF AN INCOMPETENT DEFENDANT, AND SHOULD THE ORDER BE SUBJECT TO RENEWAL WITHIN 60 DAYS OF EXPIRATION? WHERE AN ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE HAS UPHELD THE TREATING PSYCHIATRIST'S CERTIFICATION THAT GROUNDS EXIST FOR INVOLUNTARY MEDICATION OF AN INCOMPETENT DEFENDANT FOR 21 DAYS, SHOULD THE COURT HAVE AUTHORITY TO EXTEND THE AUTHORIZATION AND GRANT A CONTINUANCE OF 14 DAYS FOR A FULL HEARING IF GOOD CAUSE IS SHOWN OR THE PARTIES STIPULATE? PURPOSE The purpose of this bill is to 1) direct the court, when considering an order for involuntary medication of a defendant found to be incompetent to stand trial or face punishment, to consider the experts' reports on competency, per se; 2) provide that a court order for involuntary administration of antipsychotic medication is valid in any facility in which the incompetent defendant is housed for purposes of return to competence and resumption of criminal proceedings, if the medication is prescribed by the treating psychiatrist; 3) provide that where an administrative law judge (ALJ) confirms a certification by the treating psychiatrist that an incompetent defendant can be involuntarily medicated for 21 days, the court can continue the ALJ's order for 14 days, pending a full court hearing on the medication issue; and 4) provide that the prosecutor, county counsel or facility where the defendant is committed can seek a court order for involuntary medication of an incompetent defendant and seek renewal of the order within 60 days of expiration. (More) AB 2186 (Lowenthal) PageC Existing law states that a person cannot be tried or adjudged to punishment while he or she is mentally incompetent (IST - incompetent to stand trial). (Pen. Code § 1367, subd. (a).) Existing law provides that a defendant is incompetent to stand trial where he or she has a mental disorder or developmental disability that renders him or her unable to understand the nature of the criminal proceedings or assist counsel in his or her defense. (Pen. Code § 1367, subd. (a).) Existing law states that if the court has a doubt as to whether or not a defendant is IST, the court shall state that doubt on the record and shall seek defense counsel's opinion as to the defendant's competence. (Pen. Code § 1368, subd. (a).) Existing law provides the following hearing procedures to determine whether the defendant is mentally competent or not: The court shall appoint a psychiatrist or psychologist to examine the defendant. If the defendant is not seeking a finding of mental incompetence, the court shall appoint two psychiatrists or psychologists. The examining expert shall evaluate the nature of the defendant's mental disorder; his or her ability to understand the proceedings or assist counsel in the conduct of a defense; and whether or not treatment with medications is medically appropriate and likely to restore the defendant to competency. The counsel for the defendant shall offer evidence in support of the allegation of mental incompetence. The prosecution shall present its case regarding the issue of the defendant's present mental competence. Each party may present rebutting testimony, unless the court, for good reason in furtherance of justice, also permits other evidence in support of the original contention. (Pen. Code § 1369.) Existing law states that if the defendant is found mentally competent, the criminal process shall resume. (Pen. Code § 1370, subd. (a)(1)(A).) (More) AB 2186 (Lowenthal) PageD Existing law states that if the defendant is found IST, the matter shall be suspended until the person becomes mentally competent. (Pen. Code § 1370, subd. (a)(1)(B).) Existing law states that an incompetent defendant charged with a violent felony (Pen. Code § 667.5, subd. (c)) may not be delivered to a state hospital or treatment entity that does not have a secured perimeter or a locked and controlled treatment facility. The court must determine that public safety will be protected. (Pen. Code § 1370, subd. (a)(1)(D).) Existing law states that prior to committing an IST defendant for treatment, the court shall determine whether the defendant consents to the administration of antipsychotic medications. (Pen. Code § 1370, subd. (a)(2)(B).) If the defendant consents, the commitment order shall confirm that medication may be given to the defendant. If the defendant does not consent to the administration of medication, the court shall hear and determine whether any of the following is true: o The defendant lacks capacity to make decisions regarding medication, the defendant's mental disorder requires treatment with medication, and, if the defendant's mental disorder is not so treated, it is probable that serious harm to the physical or mental health of the patient will result. Probability of serious harm is shown by evidence that the defendant is presently suffering adverse effects to his or her physical or mental health, or has previously suffered these effects as a result of a mental disorder and his or her condition is substantially deteriorating; o The defendant is a danger to others, in that he or she has inflicted, attempted to inflict, or made a serious threat of inflicting substantial physical injury on another while in custody, or the defendant had inflicted, attempted to inflict, or made a serious threat of inflicting such harm on another, for which the (More) AB 2186 (Lowenthal) PageE defendant was taken into custody, and he or she presents, as a result of mental disorder or mental defect, a demonstrated danger of inflicting such harm on others. Demonstrated danger may be based on the defendant's present mental condition, including a consideration of behavior within six years of the time the defendant attempted to inflict, inflicted, or threatened to inflict substantial physical harm on another, and other relevant evidence; o The defendant has been charged with a serious crime against a person or property; involuntary administration of anti-psychotic medication is substantially likely to render the defendant competent; the medication is unlikely to have side effects that interfere with the defendant's ability to understand the criminal proceedings or to assist counsel in the conduct of a defense; less intrusive treatments are unlikely to have substantially the same results; and anti-psychotic medication is in the patient's best medical interest in light of his or her medical condition. (Pen. Code § 1370, subd. (a)(2)(B)(ii)(I)-(III).); or, o If the court finds any of these grounds to be true, the court shall authorize the treatment facility to involuntarily administer anti-psychotic medication to the defendant when and as prescribed by the defendant's treating psychiatrist. (Pen. Code § 1370, subd. (a)(2)(B)(iii).) Existing law includes detailed procedures for review of orders for involuntary antipsychotic medication and to determine whether a person committed as IST without a medication order should be medicated. (Pen. Code § 1370, subd. (a)- (h).) Existing law provides that where an IST in treatment withdraws consent for administration of antipsychotic medication, or if involuntary medication was not ordered upon commitment, and the treating psychiatrist believes that grounds for involuntary medication exist, the following shall occur: The treating psychiatrist may issue a certificate for (More) AB 2186 (Lowenthal) PageF administration of medication for up to 21 days, until a hearing before a court can be held. The IST defendant shall have the right to a medication review hearing before an administrative law judge (ALJ) within 72 hours. If the ALJ agrees that grounds for involuntary administration of medication exist, the involuntary medication may continue until a court hearing on the issue can be held. If the ALJ finds that grounds for involuntary administration of medication have not been established, medication may not be involuntarily administered until a court decides the issue. (Pen. Code § 1370, subd. (a)(2)(C)-(D).) Existing law provides that if the ALJ upholds the certification by the treating psychiatrist for involuntary medication of the defendant for 21 days, the psychiatrist shall file with the court a copy of the certification and a petition for an order authorizing involuntary medications: The court shall provide notice to the prosecutor and counsel for the defendant of the pending hearing. The court shall hold the hearing within 18 days of the issuance of the certification and determine if a formal order for involuntary medication should be made. The court shall issue its decision within three calendar days, but no later than the expiration of the 21-day certification period. (Pen. Code § 1370, subd. (a)(2)(D).) This bill requires the court, when determining if grounds exist for ordering involuntary administration of antipsychotic medication to an IST defendant, to consider the reports prepared by the psychiatrist or psychologist who examined the defendant for mental competency purposes, per se, if those reports are applicable to the involuntary medication issue. This bill provides that an order for involuntary medication shall remain valid at any facility housing the defendant for purposes of return to competency and resumption of criminal (More) AB 2186 (Lowenthal) PageG proceedings, if the medication is prescribed by the defendant's treating psychiatrist. This bill provides that if an administrative law judge upholds the 21-day certification by the treating psychiatrist that antipsychotic medication has become medically necessary and appropriate while the defendant is being treated, the court may extend the certification and continue the hearing for no more than 14 days, upon a showing of good cause or the stipulation of the parties. This bill allows the district attorney, county counsel, or representative of any facility where a defendant found incompetent to stand trial is committed to petition the court for an order, reviewable as specified, to administer involuntary medication pursuant to specified criteria. This bill requires the court to review the order to administer involuntary medication at the time of the review of the initial competency report by the medical director of the treatment facility and at review of the six-month progress reports. This bill allows the district attorney, county counsel, or representative of any facility where a defendant found incompetent to stand trial is committed, within 60 days before the expiration of the one-year involuntary medication order, to petition the committing court for a renewal of the order, subject to the specified conditions and requirements. The petition shall include the basis for involuntary medication, as specified, and requires notice of the petition to be provided to the defendant, the defendant's attorney, and the district attorney. The court shall hear and determine if the defendant continues to meet the required criteria for involuntary medication and that the hearing be conducted before the expiration of the current order. (More) AB 2186 (Lowenthal) PageH RECEIVERSHIP/OVERCROWDING CRISIS AGGRAVATION For the last several years, severe overcrowding in California's prisons has been the focus of evolving and expensive litigation relating to conditions of confinement. On May 23, 2011, the United States Supreme Court ordered California to reduce its prison population to 137.5 percent of design capacity within two years from the date of its ruling, subject to the right of the state to seek modifications in appropriate circumstances. Beginning in early 2007, Senate leadership initiated a policy to hold legislative proposals which could further aggravate the prison overcrowding crisis through new or expanded felony prosecutions. Under the resulting policy, known as "ROCA" (which stands for "Receivership/ Overcrowding Crisis Aggravation"), the Committee held measures that created a new felony, expanded the scope or penalty of an existing felony, or otherwise increased the application of a felony in a manner which could exacerbate the prison overcrowding crisis. Under these principles, ROCA was applied as a content-neutral, provisional measure necessary to ensure that the Legislature did not erode progress towards reducing prison overcrowding by passing legislation, which would increase the prison population. In January of 2013, just over a year after the enactment of the historic Public Safety Realignment Act of 2011, the State of California filed court documents seeking to vacate or modify the federal court order requiring the state to reduce its prison population to 137.5 percent of design capacity. The State submitted that the, ". . . population in the State's 33 prisons has been reduced by over 24,000 inmates since October 2011 when public safety realignment went into effect, by more than 36,000 inmates compared to the 2008 population . . . , and by nearly 42,000 inmates since 2006 . . . ." Plaintiffs opposed the state's motion, arguing that, "California prisons, which currently average 150% of capacity, and reach as high as 185% of capacity at one prison, continue to deliver health care that is (More) AB 2186 (Lowenthal) PageI constitutionally deficient." In an order dated January 29, 2013, the federal court granted the state a six-month extension to achieve the 137.5 % inmate population cap by December 31, 2013. The Three-Judge Court then ordered, on April 11, 2013, the state of California to "immediately take all steps necessary to comply with this Court's . . . Order . . . requiring defendants to reduce overall prison population to 137.5% design capacity by December 31, 2013." On September 16, 2013, the State asked the Court to extend that deadline to December 31, 2016. In response, the Court extended the deadline first to January 27, 2014, and then February 24, 2014, and ordered the parties to enter into a meet-and-confer process to "explore how defendants can comply with this Court's June 20, 2013, Order, including means and dates by which such compliance can be expedited or accomplished and how this Court can ensure a durable solution to the prison crowding problem." The parties were not able to reach an agreement during the meet-and-confer process. As a result, the Court ordered briefing on the State's requested extension and, on February 10, 2014, issued an order extending the deadline to reduce the in-state adult institution population to 137.5% design capacity to February 28, 2016. The order requires the state to meet the following interim and final population reduction benchmarks: 143% of design bed capacity by June 30, 2014; 141.5% of design bed capacity by February 28, 2015; and, 137.5% of design bed capacity by February 28, 2016. If a benchmark is missed the Compliance Officer (a position created by the February 10, 2016 order) can order the release of inmates to bring the State into compliance with that benchmark. In a status report to the Court dated May 15, 2014, the state reported that as of May 14, 2014, 116,428 inmates were housed in the State's 34 adult institutions, which amounts to 140.8% of design bed capacity, and 8,650 inmates were housed in (More) AB 2186 (Lowenthal) PageJ out-of-state facilities. The ongoing prison overcrowding litigation indicates that prison capacity and related issues concerning conditions of confinement remain unresolved. While real gains in reducing the prison population have been made, even greater reductions may be required to meet the orders of the federal court. Therefore, the Committee's consideration of ROCA bills -bills that may impact the prison population - will be informed by the following questions: Whether a measure erodes realignment and impacts the prison population; Whether a measure addresses a crime which is directly dangerous to the physical safety of others for which there is no other reasonably appropriate sanction; Whether a bill corrects a constitutional infirmity or legislative drafting error; Whether a measure proposes penalties which are proportionate, and cannot be achieved through any other reasonably appropriate remedy; and, Whether a bill addresses a major area of public safety or criminal activity for which there is no other reasonable, appropriate remedy. COMMENTS 1. Need for this Bill According to the author: Under current law, when a defendant's competency to stand trial is in doubt, he or she is evaluated by a court-appointed mental health expert and a hearing is held on the issue. If the defendant is found incompetent to stand trial (IST), he or she is typically transferred to a state hospital for treatment to restore competency. (More) AB 2186 (Lowenthal) PageK IST defendants are usually held in the county jail pending the transfer to a state hospital. While the Department of State Hospitals (DSH) has increased treatment capacity, the demand is greater than the supply of beds, with a waiting list of between 300 to 350 defendants. The wait for admission can vary from a couple of weeks to six months. To address the shortage of treatment beds, DSH has initiated projects for treatment of mentally-ill offenders and IST defendants in county jails, streamlined programs and better aligned reporting requirements. One barrier to lasting competency is the disconnect between a state hospital and county jail systems. Currently, an order for involuntary medication is only valid at a DSH facility and becomes invalid upon return of the defendant to county jail following the restoration of competency. The defendant may not receive any medication unless local authorities seek a new order from the superior court. Court congestion can delay new treatment orders or extension of existing orders. Any gap in medication can result in the defendant decompensating to the point of incompetency once again, necessitating DSH recommitment. Delays in treatment put the defendant's mental health at risk and result in unnecessary costs to the state for additional DSH treatment. In addition, reporting requirements for the defendant's progress and involuntary treatment orders often result in overlapping reporting timelines. Existing law currently requires a report and review of the involuntary treatment orders six months after the order was first issued. Progress reports for a defendant's competency restoration are also on a six-month timeline. However, because the two timetables for the two different reports are not synched, reports can be made within days or weeks of each other when they could be aligned. This bill aligns the reports, providing the court with a (More) AB 2186 (Lowenthal) PageL complete analysis. 2. Basic Constitutional Issues in Mental Health Commitments Commitment to a mental hospital involves a "massive curtailment of liberty" and creates severe social stigma. As such, due process is required and proof must be by clear and convincing evidence. (Humphrey v. Cady (1972) 405 U.S. 504, 509; Addington v. Texas (1978) 441 U.S. 418, 425-433.) However, "consistent with 'substantive' due process ? the state may involuntarily commit persons who, as the result of mental impairment, are unable to care for themselves or are dangerous to others. Under these circumstances, the state's interest in providing treatment and protecting the public prevails over the individual's interest in being free from compulsory confinement." (Hubbart v. Superior Court (1999) 19 Cal.4th 1138, 1151, citing Addington and other cases.) 3. Prohibition on Trial or Punishment of Incompetent Persons - Principles and Issues The principles underlying the law concerning IST defendants are different from, but related to, the due process interests at stake in involuntary mental health treatment, per se. A person is IST if a mental disorder renders him or her incapable of understanding the charges or assisting in his or her defense. (Pen. Code § 1367, subd. (a).) Convicting or adjudging to punishment a person who is IST violates due process and must be reversed or vacated. (Drope v. Missouri (1975) 420 U.S. 160, 179-183; Pate v. Robinson (1966) 383 U.S. 375, 383-386.) Proceeding or findings in any critical portion of a criminal case are invalid if the defendant was incompetent, including preliminary hearing and imposition of sentence. (People v. Humphrey (1975) 45 Cal.App.3d 32, 36, 38 People v. Duncan (2000) 78 Cal.App.4th 765, 772.) 4. United States Supreme Court Decision Setting Constitutional Requirements in Cases of Involuntary Administration of Anti-psychotic Medication to Prison Inmates (More) AB 2186 (Lowenthal) PageM In Washington v. Harper (1990) 494 U.S. 210, the U.S. Supreme Court held that involuntary administration of anti-psychotic medication to a prison inmate must be consistent with Fourteenth Amendment due process, including the following: 1) If a psychiatrist determines that the inmate needs anti-psychotic medication, but the inmate does not consent, the state may involuntary medicate the inmate only if he or she has a mental disorder, and is gravely disabled or poses a danger to self or others; 2) the inmate is entitled to a hearing before a committee of health professionals not involved in his or her treatment to determine if the required ground for involuntary medication exists; 3) the inmate is entitled to an explanation of why the medication is necessary; and 4) the inmate is entitled to present evidence and cross-examine staff witnesses and the assistance of a knowledgeable lay advisor who has not been involved in the inmate's case. (Ibid.) Fourth, there must be periodic review of the order. (Id., at pp. 215-216.) 5. Sell v. United States - 2003 United States Supreme Court Case on Involuntary Medication of IST Defendants Sell concerned Charles Sell, a dentist with a history of mental illness. Sell was charged with insurance fraud, found to be competent and released on bail. Bail was revoked when Sell threatened a witness. When he was charged with attempted murder, Sell moved for reconsideration of the finding that he was competent and was found IST. After two months he refused anti-psychotic medication and hospital staff sought judicial authorization to medicate him. It appears that Sell, unlike many mentally ill defendants, had capacity to make medical decisions. The court found that Sell was not currently dangerous and could not be involuntarily medicated on that basis. SB 1794 (Perata) Ch. 486, Stats. 2004 adapted the Sell standards to the California IST law. Involuntary administration of anti-psychotic medication to IST defendants is allowed if one of the following is shown: (More) AB 2186 (Lowenthal) PageN The defendant is a danger to self or others. The defendant is gravely disabled. The defendant faces trial for a serious offense against a person or property. (Pen. Code. § 1370, subd. (a)(2)(B)(ii)(I)-(III).) (More) For each of these grounds, the court must also find that the medication is necessary and appropriate and that less intrusive means or treatment are not effective. Where the medication is given to render a person competent for trial on a serious offense, the court must find that the medication is unlikely to have side effects that would interfere with the defendant's ability to understand the criminal proceedings and assist counsel. (Pen. Code § 1370, subd. (a)(2)(B)(ii)(III).) 6. Related Pending Bills: SB 1412 (Nielsen) and AB 2625 (Achadjian) There are currently two other related bills that make significant changes to the law governing persons who are incompetent to stand trial or adjudged to punishment. These include AB 2526 (Achadjian) and SB 1412 (Nielsen). SB 1412 is pending in the Assembly and AB 2526 is set for hearing on June 10, 2014, in this Committee with this bill. SB 1412 is sponsored by the California District Attorneys Association, which consulted with the Judicial Council to craft and amend the bill. SB 1412 applies IST laws to cases involving persons on supervision under realignment, including those on mandatory supervision after serving the custody portion of a split sentence, former prison inmates on post release community supervision, and parolees supervised by state parole agents, but subject to revocation of parole by courts. The bill also formally extends IST laws to persons on probation, many of whom have been convicted of a crime but not yet adjudged to punishment because the sentencing court stayed imposition of judgment and sentence. There are thousands of persons on these forms of supervision, but there is no law that specifically governs IST procedures for them. However, subjecting an incompetent person on supervision to a revocation hearing and imposing penalties for a violation of the conditions of release violates the federal constitution. AB 2625 concerns IST defendants in treatment who are not likely to regain competence. The bill requires that an IST defendant (More) AB 2186 (Lowenthal) PageP be returned from the treating facility to the committing court within 10 days of a receipt by the court of a report concluding that he or she is not likely to regain competence in the time authorized by statute. The bill also requires the treatment facility director to notify the sheriff that the defendant needs transportation to court and notify the prosecutor and defense counsel of the report. Finally, AB 2625 requires that an IST defendant be returned to court no later than 90 days prior to expiration of the time authorized for treatment. It appears that the bill is largely intended to increase capacity in DSH facilities and eliminate the unnecessary cost of futile treatment. The bill would also likely expedite the consideration by the court of the need for establishing a conservatorship for an IST defendant who is gravely disabled or a danger to self or others. 7. Suggested Amendment to Provision Concerning Administration of Medication by Treating Psychiatrist in any Facility in which the Defendant is Housed Under existing law, an involuntary medication order is valid only at the facility where the incompetent defendant has been committed for treatment. Thus, it is understood that the order is invalid upon the defendant's return to the county of commitment for resumption of criminal proceedings, where he or she will typically be housed in the jail. A major goal of this bill is to provide that the medication order shall remain in effect when the defendant is returned to court. Where medication is stopped abruptly, the defendant can suffer difficult withdrawal symptoms. He or she may also decompensate, reversing the progress made in treatment over months or even years. The entire process may need to be redone. Medication may not be fully effective in a second round of treatment. The bill provides that the court's medication order shall remain in effect when the medication is prescribed by the defendant's treating psychiatrist at any facility where the defendant is housed for "purposes of this section."<1> That can be interpreted as meaning only commitment for treatment, including --------------------------- <1> Penal Code Section 1370. AB 2186 (Lowenthal) PageQ involuntary administration of medication where specified grounds are established. Arguably, once a defendant has been returned to the county of commitment for resumption of criminal proceedings, the defendant is no longer being treated for restoration of competence. The defendant is being held for trial or sentencing. Section 1372 specifically concerns the court process that applies where the defendant is returned to competence. Other relevant sections and provisions may apply. It is suggested that the phrase for "purposes of this section" be amended to state "for purposes of this chapter." The chapter includes the entire IST process, including evaluation, trial, commitment, treatment, transfer from one facility to another and return to court. SHOULD THE BILL BE AMENDED TO PROVIDE THAT AN INVOLUNTARY MEDICATION ORDER SHALL REMAIN IN EFFECT WHERE THE MEDICATION IS PRESCRIBED BY HIS OR HER TREATING PSYCHIATRIST AT ANY FACILITY WHERE THE DEFENDANT IS HELD FOR "PURPOSES OF THIS CHAPTER?" ***************