18 U.S.C. § 4241 — Determination of mental competency to

Page 929 TITLE 18—CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE § 4241 1 So in original. Does not conform to section catchline. 2 So in original. Probably should be followed by a period. 1 So in original. Probably should be ‘‘stand trial or to undergo postrelease proceedings’’. they shall be reviewable in accordance with the provi- sions of sections 701 through 706 of title 5, United States Code. (d) Actions of the Commission pursuant to para- graphs (1), (2), and (3) of section 4203(b) shall be consid- ered actions committed to agency discretion for pur- poses of section 701(a)(2) of title 5, United States Code. (Added Pub. L. 94–233, § 2, Mar. 15, 1976, 90 Stat. 231.) CHAPTER 313—OFFENDERS WITH MENTAL DISEASE OR DEFECT Sec. 4241. Determination of mental competency to stand trial or to undergo postrelease pro- ceedings.1 4242. Determination of the existence of insanity at the time of the offense. 4243. Hospitalization of a person found not guilty only by reason of insanity. 4244. Hospitalization of a convicted person suf- fering from mental disease or defect. 4245. Hospitalization of an imprisoned person suf- fering from mental disease or defect. 4246. Hospitalization of a person due for release but suffering from mental disease or defect. 4247. General provisions for chapter. 4248. Civil commitment of a sexually dangerous person 2 Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2006—Pub. L. 109–248, title III, § 302(1), July 27, 2006, 120 Stat. 619, inserted ‘‘or to undergo postrelease pro- ceedings’’ after ‘‘trial’’ in item 4241 and added item 4248. 1984—Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 403(a), Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2057, substituted ‘‘OFFENDERS WITH MENTAL DISEASE OR DEFECT’’ for ‘‘MENTAL DEFECTIVES’’ in chapter heading, ‘‘Determination of mental com- petency to stand trial’’ for ‘‘Examination and transfer to hospital’’ in item 4241, ‘‘Determination of the exist- ence of insanity at the time of the offense’’ for ‘‘Re- transfer upon recovery’’ in item 4242, ‘‘Hospitalization of a person found not guilty only by reason of insanity’’ for ‘‘Delivery to state authorities on expiration of sen- tence’’ in item 4243, ‘‘Hospitalization of a convicted person suffering from mental disease or defect’’ for ‘‘Mental competency after arrest and before trial’’ in item 4244, ‘‘Hospitalization of an imprisoned person suf- fering from mental disease or defect’’ for ‘‘Mental in- competency undisclosed at trial’’ in item 4245, ‘‘Hos- pitalization of a person due for release but suffering from mental disease or defect’’ for ‘‘Procedure upon finding of mental incompetency’’ in item 4246, and ‘‘General provisions for chapter’’ for ‘‘Alternate proce- dure on expiration of sentence’’ in item 4247, and struck out item 4248 ‘‘Termination of custody by release or transfer’’. 1951—Act Oct. 31, 1951, ch. 655, § 33, 65 Stat. 723, in- serted ‘‘on expiration of sentence’’ in item 4243. 1949—Act Sept. 7, 1949, ch. 535, § 2, 63 Stat. 688, added items 4244 to 4248. § 4241. Determination of mental competency to stand trial to undergo postrelease pro- ceedings 1 (a) MOTION TO DETERMINE COMPETENCY OF DE- FENDANT.—At any time after the commencement of a prosecution for an offense and prior to the sentencing of the defendant, or at any time after the commencement of probation or supervised release and prior to the completion of the sen- tence, the defendant or the attorney for the Government may file a motion for a hearing to determine the mental competency of the defend- ant. The court shall grant the motion, or shall order such a hearing on its own motion, if there is reasonable cause to believe that the defendant may presently be suffering from a mental dis- ease or defect rendering him mentally incom- petent to the extent that he is unable to under- stand the nature and consequences of the pro- ceedings against him or to assist properly in his defense. (b) PSYCHIATRIC OR PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMINA- TION AND REPORT.—Prior to the date of the hear- ing, the court may order that a psychiatric or psychological examination of the defendant be conducted, and that a psychiatric or psycho- logical report be filed with the court, pursuant to the provisions of section 4247(b) and (c). (c) HEARING.—The hearing shall be conducted pursuant to the provisions of section 4247(d). (d) DETERMINATION AND DISPOSITION.—If, after the hearing, the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant is presently suffering from a mental disease or defect ren- dering him mentally incompetent to the extent that he is unable to understand the nature and consequences of the proceedings against him or to assist properly in his defense, the court shall commit the defendant to the custody of the At- torney General. The Attorney General shall hos- pitalize the defendant for treatment in a suit- able facility— (1) for such a reasonable period of time, not to exceed four months, as is necessary to de- termine whether there is a substantial prob- ability that in the foreseeable future he will attain the capacity to permit the proceedings to go forward; and (2) for an additional reasonable period of time until— (A) his mental condition is so improved that trial may proceed, if the court finds that there is a substantial probability that within such additional period of time he will attain the capacity to permit the pro- ceedings to go forward; or (B) the pending charges against him are disposed of according to law; whichever is earlier. If, at the end of the time period specified, it is determined that the defendant’s mental condi- tion has not so improved as to permit the pro- ceedings to go forward, the defendant is subject to the provisions of sections 4246 and 4248. (e) DISCHARGE.—When the director of the facil- ity in which a defendant is hospitalized pursu- ant to subsection (d) determines that the de- fendant has recovered to such an extent that he is able to understand the nature and con- sequences of the proceedings against him and to assist properly in his defense, he shall promptly file a certificate to that effect with the clerk of the court that ordered the commitment. The clerk shall send a copy of the certificate to the defendant’s counsel and to the attorney for the Government. The court shall hold a hearing, conducted pursuant to the provisions of section Page 930 TITLE 18—CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE § 4242 4247(d), to determine the competency of the de- fendant. If, after the hearing, the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the defend- ant has recovered to such an extent that he is able to understand the nature and consequences of the proceedings against him and to assist properly in his defense, the court shall order his immediate discharge from the facility in which he is hospitalized and shall set the date for trial or other proceedings. Upon discharge, the de- fendant is subject to the provisions of chapters 207 and 227. (f) ADMISSIBILITY OF FINDING OF COMPETENCY.— A finding by the court that the defendant is mentally competent to stand trial shall not prejudice the defendant in raising the issue of his insanity as a defense to the offense charged, and shall not be admissible as evidence in a trial for the offense charged. (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 855; Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 403(a), Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2057; Pub. L. 109–248, title III, § 302(2), July 27, 2006, 120 Stat. 619.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 876 (May 13, 1930, ch. 254, § 6, 46 Stat. 271). Changes were made in phraseology and surplusage omitted. Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2006—Pub. L. 109–248, § 302(2)(A), inserted ‘‘to undergo postrelease proceedings’’ after ‘‘trial’’ in section catch- line. Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 109–248, § 302(2)(B), inserted ‘‘or at any time after the commencement of probation or su- pervised release and prior to the completion of the sen- tence,’’ after ‘‘sentencing of the defendant,’’. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 109–248, § 302(2)(C), substituted ‘‘proceedings to go forward’’ for ‘‘trial to proceed’’ wherever appearing and ‘‘sections 4246 and 4248’’ for ‘‘section 4246’’ in concluding provisions. Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 109–248, § 302(2)(D), inserted ‘‘or other proceedings’’ after ‘‘trial’’ and substituted ‘‘chap- ters 207 and 227’’ for ‘‘chapter 207’’. 1984—Pub. L. 98–473 amended section generally, sub- stituting ‘‘Determination of mental competency to stand trial’’ for ‘‘Examination and transfer to hospital’’ in section catchline, and substituting provisions relat- ing to motion, report, hearing, etc., for determination of competency of defendant, for provisions relating to boards of examiners for examination of inmates of Fed- eral penal and correctional institutions and transfer of such inmates to hospitals. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries SHORT TITLE OF 1984 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 401, Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2057, provided that: ‘‘This chapter [chapter IV (§§ 401–406) of title II of Pub. L. 98–473, enacting section 20 of this title and amending this chapter, section 3006A of this title, and rule 12.2 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Proce- dure and rule 704 of the Federal Rules of Evidence set out in the Appendix to this title] may be sited [cited] as the ‘Insanity Defense Reform Act of 1984’.’’ § 4242. Determination of the existence of insanity at the time of the offense (a) MOTION FOR PRETRIAL PSYCHIATRIC OR PSY- CHOLOGICAL EXAMINATION.—Upon the filing of a notice, as provided in Rule 12.2 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, that the defendant intends to rely on the defense of insanity, the court, upon motion of the attorney for the Gov- ernment, shall order that a psychiatric or psy- chological examination of the defendant be con- ducted, and that a psychiatric or psychological report be filed with the court, pursuant to the provisions of section 4247(b) and (c). (b) SPECIAL VERDICT.—If the issue of insanity is raised by notice as provided in Rule 12.2 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure on motion of the defendant or of the attorney for the Gov- ernment, or on the court’s own motion, the jury shall be instructed to find, or, in the event of a nonjury trial, the court shall find the defend- ant— (1) guilty; (2) not guilty; or (3) not guilty only by reason of insanity. (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 855; Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 403(a), Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2059.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 877 (May 13, 1930, ch. 254, § 7, 46 Stat. 272). Minor change was made in phraseology. Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 1984—Pub. L. 98–473 amended section generally, sub- stituting ‘‘Determination of the existence of insanity at the time of the offense’’ for ‘‘Retransfer upon recov- ery’’ in section catchline, and substituting provisions relating to motion for pretrial psychiatric or psycho- logical examination, and special verdict, for provisions relating to retransfer to a penal or correctional institu- tion upon recovery of an inmate of the United States hospital for defective delinquents. § 4243. Hospitalization of a person found not guilty only by reason of insanity (a) DETERMINATION OF PRESENT MENTAL CONDI- TION OF ACQUITTED PERSON.—If a person is found not guilty only by reason of insanity at the time of the offense charged, he shall be committed to a suitable facility until such time as he is eligi- ble for release pursuant to subsection (e). (b) PSYCHIATRIC OR PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMINA- TION AND REPORT.—Prior to the date of the hear- ing, pursuant to subsection (c), the court shall order that a psychiatric or psychological exam- ination of the defendant be conducted, and that a psychiatric or psychological report be filed with the court, pursuant to the provisions of section 4247(b) and (c). (c) HEARING.—A hearing shall be conducted pursuant to the provisions of section 4247(d) and shall take place not later than forty days fol- lowing the special verdict. (d) BURDEN OF PROOF.—In a hearing pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, a person found not guilty only by reason of insanity of an of- fense involving bodily injury to, or serious dam- age to the property of, another person, or in- volving a substantial risk of such injury or dam- age, has the burden of proving by clear and con- vincing evidence that his release would not cre- ate a substantial risk of bodily injury to another person or serious damage of property of another due to a present mental disease or defect. With respect to any other offense, the person has the