AB569: Bill Text

LRB-3550/1

RLR:cjs:pg

2001 - 2002 LEGISLATURE

2001 Assembly BILL 569

October 15, 2001 - Introduced by Representatives Suder, Walker, Owens, Ainsworth, J. Fitzgerald, Freese, Grothman, Gunderson, Gundrum, Huebsch, Jensen, Kreibich, Ladwig, M. Lehman, Loeffelholz, Musser, Nass, Olsen, Petrowski, Pettis, Starzyk and Sykora, cosponsored by Senators Roessler, S. Fitzgerald, Huelsman and Welch. Referred to Committee on Criminal Justice.

AB569,1,6 An Act to renumber 971.15 (1) and 971.15 (2); to amend 302.06, 938.30 (5) (c) (intro.), 971.16 (3) (intro.), 973.08 (1) and 973.09 (2) (b) 1.; and to create 51.20 (19) (am), 51.37 (8m), 302.113 (7m), 302.114 (5) (dm), 971.06 (1) (am), 971.15 (1g) (b), 971.15 (2m), 971.163, 971.165 (2g), 971.165 (3) (am), 973.017, 973.09 (2) (b) 1m. and 973.09 (6) of the statutes; relating to: creating a plea and verdict of guilty but mentally ill in certain criminal cases.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Current law

Under current law, a person is not responsible for criminal conduct if at the time of the conduct the person was suffering from a mental disease or defect that resulted in the person lacking substantial capacity either to appreciate the wrongfulness of his or her conduct or to conform his or her conduct to the requirements of law. To raise this defense, a person who is charged with a crime pleads not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. After a person pleads not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect, the court appoints at least one physician or psychologist to examine the person and to testify at trial concerning the person's ability to appreciate the wrongfulness of his or her conduct or to conform his or her conduct to the requirements of law at the time that the person committed the criminal offense charged. The person may also be examined by a physician, psychologist, or other expert of his or her choice.

At a trial for a person who has pleaded not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect, the judge or jury first determines whether the person is guilty of the offense charged. If the judge or jury finds the person guilty, the judge or jury then determines whether the person is not responsible for his or her criminal conduct due to mental disease or defect. If the judge or jury finds the person not responsible for his or her criminal conduct due to mental disease or defect, the person is not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect and is committed for treatment to the department of health and family services for a period of time not exceeding two-thirds of the maximum combined term of confinement and extended supervision that could be imposed for the crime charged. If the judge or jury finds the person responsible for his or her criminal conduct, the person is convicted of the offense and is sentenced for the offense by the judge.

Also, under current law, any person who has been convicted and sentenced to confinement in a prison or jail may be involuntarily committed for treatment in a state treatment facility if he or she is mentally ill, drug dependent, or developmentally disabled, is a proper subject for treatment, and is in need of treatment that is not available at the prison or jail. Alternatively, the person may be involuntarily committed if he or she is mentally ill, drug dependent, or developmentally disabled, is a proper subject for treatment, and, based on certain specified standards, is dangerous because he or she may harm himself or herself or others. To involuntarily commit for treatment a person who has been convicted and sentenced to confinement, a petition must be filed alleging that the person meets the criteria for involuntary commitment and, after an examination of the person, a hearing must be held before a judge or jury to determine whether the person meets the criteria for involuntary commitment.

What this bill does

This bill provides for a plea and verdict of guilty but mentally ill for persons charged with a homicide offense. Under the bill, a person charged with a homicide offense who pleads not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect may be found guilty but mentally ill after a trial if, after determining that the person is guilty of the homicide offense charged, a judge or jury determines that the person suffered from a mental illness at the time of his or her criminal conduct but the mental illness did not result in the person lacking substantial capacity either to appreciate the wrongfulness of his or her conduct or to conform his or her conduct to the requirements of law.

The bill also provides that a person charged with a homicide offense who pleads not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect may change his or her plea to guilty but mentally ill after being examined by a physician or psychologist as provided under current law. The district attorney must consent to the person changing his or her plea, and the judge must find, after reviewing the examinations of the person and holding a hearing, that the person suffered from a mental illness at the time of his or her criminal conduct.

Under the bill, a person charged with a homicide offense who is found guilty but mentally ill is convicted of the offense and is sentenced for the offense by the judge. If a judge sentences a person who has been found guilty but mentally ill to the custody of the department of corrections (DOC) by sentencing the person to prison or by placing the person on probation, the court must also order DOC to evaluate the person for treatment and provide or arrange for the provision of any necessary treatment. The person may be required to receive treatment as a condition of probation or extended supervision. Finally, a person found guilty but mentally ill and confined in jail or prison may also be committed to a state facility for treatment in the same manner as provided under current law for a person who has been convicted and sentenced to confinement in jail or prison.

For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB569, s. 1 Section 1. 51.20 (19) (am) of the statutes is created to read:

AB569,3,7 51.20 (19) (am) If an individual was found guilty but mentally ill under s. 971.163 or 971.165 and was subsequently involuntarily committed under this section, the department of health and family services or the county department under s. 51.42 or 51.437, whichever is applicable, shall, upon the individual's discharge, prepare a report for the department of corrections that contains all of the following:

AB569,3,8 1. The individual's diagnosis.

AB569,3,10 2. A description of the individual's behavior before and while he or she was in the treatment facility.

AB569,3,12 3. The course of treatment of the individual while he or she was in the treatment facility.

AB569,3,14 4. The prognosis for the remission of symptoms and the potential for recidivism and for presenting a danger to himself or herself or others.

AB569,3,15 5. Recommendations for future treatment.

AB569, s. 2 Section 2. 51.37 (8m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB569,4,5 51.37 (8m) If an individual was found guilty but mentally ill under s. 971.163 or 971.165 and was subsequently transferred to or detained in a state treatment facility under sub. (5), the department of health and family services shall, upon the individual's discharge, prepare a report for the department of corrections that contains all of the following:

AB569,4,6 (a) The individual's diagnosis.

AB569,4,8 (b) A description of the individual's behavior before and while he or she was in the treatment facility.

AB569,4,10 (c) The course of treatment of the individual while he or she was in the treatment facility.

AB569,4,12 (d) The prognosis for the remission of symptoms and the potential for recidivism and for presenting a danger to himself or herself or others.

AB569,4,13 (e) Recommendations for future treatment.

AB569, s. 3 Section 3. 302.06 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB569,4,25 302.06 Delivery of persons to prisons. The sheriff shall deliver to the reception center designated by the department every person convicted in the county and sentenced to the Wisconsin state prisons or to the intensive sanctions program as soon as may be possible after sentence, together with a copy of the judgment of conviction and, if applicable, a copy of any report specified in s. 973.017 (4). The warden or superintendent shall deliver to the sheriff a receipt acknowledging receipt of the person, naming the person, which receipt the sheriff shall file in the office of the clerk who issued the copy of the judgment of conviction. When transporting or delivering the person to any of the Wisconsin state prisons the sheriff shall be accompanied by an adult of the same sex as the person. If the sheriff and the person are of the same sex, this requirement is satisfied and a 3rd person is not required.

AB569, s. 4 Section 4. 302.113 (7m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB569,5,9 302.113 (7m) An inmate who was found guilty but mentally ill under s. 971.163 or 971.165 and who is released on extended supervision under this section is required as a condition of his or her extended supervision to participate in any necessary and appropriate treatment that is recommended by the department of corrections or by the department of health and family services. In determining what treatment, if any, to recommend as a condition of the inmate's extended supervision, the department of corrections shall consider any reports prepared by the department of health and family services under s. 51.20 (19) (am) or 51.37 (8m).

AB569, s. 5 Section 5. 302.114 (5) (dm) of the statutes is created to read:

AB569,5,19 302.114 (5) (dm) If the court grants the petition for release to extended supervision of an inmate who was found guilty but mentally ill under s. 971.163 or 971.165, the court shall require the inmate as a condition of his or her extended supervision to participate in any necessary and appropriate treatment that is recommended by the department of corrections or by the department of health and family services. In determining what treatment, if any, to recommend as a condition of the inmate's extended supervision, the department of corrections shall consider any reports prepared by the department of health and family services under s. 51.20 (19) (am) or 51.37 (8m).

AB569, s. 6 Section 6. 938.30 (5) (c) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB569,5,24 938.30 (5) (c) (intro.) If the court finds that the juvenile was not responsible by reason of mental disease or defect, as described under s. 971.15 (1) and (2) (1g) (a) and (1r), the court shall dismiss the petition with prejudice and shall also do one of the following:

AB569, s. 7 Section 7. 971.06 (1) (am) of the statutes is created to read:

AB569,6,2 971.06 (1) (am) Guilty but mentally ill, if the defendant is charged with a crime under s. 940.01, 940.02, 940.03, 940.05, 940.06, 940.07, 940.08, 940.09, or 940.10.

AB569, s. 8 Section 8. 971.15 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 971.15 (1r).

AB569, s. 9 Section 9. 971.15 (1g) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

AB569,6,7 971.15 (1g) (b) In this section and ss. 971.16 to 971.165, "mental illness" means a substantial disorder of thought, mood or behavior that impairs a person's judgment.

AB569, s. 10 Section 10. 971.15 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 971.15 (1g) (a).

AB569, s. 11 Section 11. 971.15 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB569,6,16 971.15 (2m) A person charged with a crime under s. 940.01, 940.02, 940.03, 940.05, 940.06, 940.07, 940.08, 940.09 or 940.10 may be found guilty but mentally ill if, at the time the person engaged in criminal conduct, he or she was suffering from a mental illness but did not lack substantial capacity either to appreciate the wrongfulness of his or her conduct or to conform his or her conduct to the requirements of law as a result of mental disease or defect. A person who is found guilty but mentally ill is not relieved of criminal responsibility.

AB569, s. 12 Section 12. 971.16 (3) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB569,7,9 971.16 (3) (intro.) Not less than 10 days before trial, or at any other time that the court directs, any physician or psychologist appointed under sub. (2) shall file a report of his or her examination of the defendant with the judge, who shall cause copies to be transmitted to the district attorney and to counsel for the defendant. The Except as provided in ss. 971.163 (2) (a) and (3) and 973.017 (4), the contents of the report shall be confidential until the physician or psychologist has testified or at the completion of the trial. The report shall contain an opinion regarding the ability of the defendant to appreciate the wrongfulness of the defendant's conduct or to conform the defendant's conduct with the requirements of law at the time of the commission of the criminal offense charged and, if sufficient information is available to the physician or psychologist to reach an opinion, his or her opinion on whether the defendant needs medication or treatment and whether the defendant is not competent to refuse medication or treatment. The defendant is not competent to refuse medication or treatment if, because of mental illness, developmental disability, alcoholism or drug dependence, and after the advantages and disadvantages of and alternatives to accepting the particular medication or treatment have been explained to the defendant, one of the following is true: