971.17(2)(a)(a) The court shall enter an initial commitment order under this section pursuant to a hearing held as soon as practicable after the judgment of not guilty by reason of mental disease or mental defect is entered. If the court lacks sufficient information to make the determination required by sub. (3) immediately after trial, it may adjourn the hearing and order the department of health services to conduct a predisposition investigation using the procedure in s. 972.15 or a supplementary mental examination or both, to assist the court in framing the commitment order.

971.17(2)(b)(b) If a supplementary mental examination is ordered under par. (a), the court may appoint one or more examiners having the specialized knowledge determined by the court to be appropriate to examine and report upon the condition of the person. In lieu thereof, the court may commit the person to an appropriate mental health facility for the period specified in par. (c), which shall count as days spent in custody under s. 973.155.

971.17(2)(c)(c) An examiner shall complete an inpatient examination under par. (b) and file the report within 15 days after the examination is ordered unless, for good cause, the examiner cannot complete the examination and requests an extension. In that case, the court may allow one 15-day extension of the examination period. An examiner shall complete an outpatient examination and file the report of examination within 15 days after the examination is ordered.

971.17(2)(d)(d) If the court orders an inpatient examination under par. (b), it shall arrange for the transportation of the person to the examining facility within a reasonable time after the examination is ordered and for the person to be returned to the jail or court within a reasonable time after the examination has been completed.

971.17(2)(e)(e) The examiner appointed under par. (b) shall personally observe and examine the person. The examiner or facility shall have access to the person’s past or present treatment records, as defined in s. 51.30 (1) (b), and patient health care records, as provided under s. 146.82 (2) (c). If the examiner believes that the person is appropriate for conditional release, the examiner shall report on the type of treatment and services that the person may need while in the community on conditional release.

971.17(2)(f)(f) The costs of an examination ordered under par. (a) shall be paid by the county upon the order of the court as part of the costs of the action.

971.17(2)(g)(g) Within 10 days after the examiner’s report is filed under par. (c), the court shall hold a hearing to determine whether commitment shall take the form of institutional care or conditional release.

971.17(3)(a)(a) An order for commitment under this section shall specify either institutional care or conditional release. The court shall order institutional care if it finds by clear and convincing evidence that conditional release of the person would pose a significant risk of bodily harm to himself or herself or to others or of serious property damage. If the court does not make this finding, it shall order conditional release. In determining whether commitment shall be for institutional care or conditional release, the court may consider, without limitation because of enumeration, the nature and circumstances of the crime, the person’s mental history and present mental condition, where the person will live, how the person will support himself or herself, what arrangements are available to ensure that the person has access to and will take necessary medication, and what arrangements are possible for treatment beyond medication.

971.17(3)(b)(b) If the state proves by clear and convincing evidence that the person is not competent to refuse medication or treatment for the person’s mental condition, under the standard specified in s. 971.16 (3), the court shall issue, as part of the commitment order, an order that the person is not competent to refuse medication or treatment for the person’s mental condition and that whoever administers the medication or treatment to the person shall observe appropriate medical standards.

971.17(3)(c)(c) If the court order specifies institutional care, the department of health services shall place the person in an institution under s. 51.37 (3) that the department considers appropriate in light of the rehabilitative services required by the person and the protection of public safety. If the person is not subject to a court order determining the person to be not competent to refuse medication or treatment for the person’s mental condition and if the institution in which the person is placed determines that the person should be subject to such a court order, the institution may file with the court, with notice to the person and his or her counsel and the district attorney, a motion for a hearing, under the standard specified in s. 971.16 (3), on whether the person is not competent to refuse medication or treatment. A report on which the motion is based shall accompany the motion and notice of motion and shall include a statement signed by a licensed physician that asserts that the person needs medication or treatment and that the person is not competent to refuse medication or treatment, based on an examination of the person by a licensed physician. Within 10 days after a motion is filed under this paragraph, the court shall determine the person’s competency to refuse medication or treatment for the person’s mental condition. At the request of the person, his or her counsel or the district attorney, the hearing may be postponed, but in no case may the postponed hearing be held more than 20 days after a motion is filed under this paragraph. If the district attorney, the person and his or her counsel waive their respective opportunities to present other evidence on the issue, the court shall determine the person’s competency to refuse medication or treatment on the basis of the report accompanying the motion. In the absence of these waivers, the court shall hold an evidentiary hearing on the issue. If the state proves by evidence that is clear and convincing that the person is not competent to refuse medication or treatment, under the standard specified in s. 971.16 (3), the court shall order that the person is not competent to refuse medication or treatment for the person’s mental condition and that whoever administers the medication or treatment to the person shall observe appropriate medical standards.

971.17(3)(d)(d) If the court finds that the person is appropriate for conditional release, the court shall notify the department of health services. The department of health services and the county department under s. 51.42 in the county of residence of the person shall prepare a plan that identifies the treatment and services, if any, that the person will receive in the community. The plan shall address the person’s need, if any, for supervision, medication, community support services, residential services, vocational services, and alcohol or other drug abuse treatment. The department of health services may contract with a county department, under s. 51.42 (3) (aw) 1. d., with another public agency or with a private agency to provide the treatment and services identified in the plan. The plan shall specify who will be responsible for providing the treatment and services identified in the plan. The plan shall be presented to the court for its approval within 21 days after the court finding that the person is appropriate for conditional release, unless the county department, department of health services and person to be released request additional time to develop the plan. If the county department of the person’s county of residence declines to prepare a plan, the department of health services may arrange for another county to prepare the plan if that county agrees to prepare the plan and if the individual will be living in that county.

971.17(3)(e)(e) An order for conditional release places the person in the custody and control of the department of health services. A conditionally released person is subject to the conditions set by the court and to the rules of the department of health services. Before a person is conditionally released by the court under this subsection, the court shall so notify the municipal police department and county sheriff for the area where the person will be residing. The notification requirement under this paragraph does not apply if a municipal department or county sheriff submits to the court a written statement waiving the right to be notified. If the department of health services alleges that a released person has violated any condition or rule, or that the safety of the person or others requires that conditional release be revoked, he or she may be taken into custody under the rules of the department. The department of health services shall submit a statement showing probable cause of the detention and a petition to revoke the order for conditional release to the committing court and the regional office of the state public defender responsible for handling cases in the county where the committing court is located within 72 hours after the detention, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays. The court shall hear the petition within 30 days, unless the hearing or time deadline is waived by the detained person. Pending the revocation hearing, the department of health services may detain the person in a jail or in a hospital, center or facility specified by s. 51.15 (2) (d). The state has the burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that any rule or condition of release has been violated, or that the safety of the person or others requires that conditional release be revoked. If the court determines after hearing that any rule or condition of release has been violated, or that the safety of the person or others requires that conditional release be revoked, it may revoke the order for conditional release and order that the released person be placed in an appropriate institution under s. 51.37 (3) until the expiration of the commitment or until again conditionally released under this section.

971.17(4)(a)(a) Any person who is committed for institutional care may petition the committing court to modify its order by authorizing conditional release if at least 6 months have elapsed since the initial commitment order was entered, the most recent release petition was denied or the most recent order for conditional release was revoked. The director of the facility at which the person is placed may file a petition under this paragraph on the person’s behalf at any time.

971.17(4)(b)(b) If the person files a timely petition without counsel, the court shall serve a copy of the petition on the district attorney and, subject to sub. (7) (b), refer the matter to the state public defender for determination of indigency and appointment of counsel under s. 977.05 (4) (j). If the person petitions through counsel, his or her attorney shall serve the district attorney.

971.17(4)(c)(c) Within 20 days after receipt of the petition, the court shall appoint one or more examiners having the specialized knowledge determined by the court to be appropriate, who shall examine the person and furnish a written report of the examination to the court within 30 days after appointment. The examiners shall have reasonable access to the person for purposes of examination and to the person’s past and present treatment records, as defined in s. 51.30 (1) (b), and patient health care records, as provided under s. 146.82 (2) (c). If any such examiner believes that the person is appropriate for conditional release, the examiner shall report on the type of treatment and services that the person may need while in the community on conditional release.

971.17(4)(d)(d) The court, without a jury, shall hear the petition within 30 days after the report of the court-appointed examiner is filed with the court, unless the petitioner waives this time limit. Expenses of proceedings under this subsection shall be paid as provided under s. 51.20 (18). The court shall grant the petition unless it finds by clear and convincing evidence that the person would pose a significant risk of bodily harm to himself or herself or to others or of serious property damage if conditionally released. In making this determination, the court may consider, without limitation because of enumeration, the nature and circumstances of the crime, the person’s mental history and present mental condition, where the person will live, how the person will support himself or herself, what arrangements are available to ensure that the person has access to and will take necessary medication, and what arrangements are possible for treatment beyond medication.

971.17(4)(e)1.1. If the court finds that the person is appropriate for conditional release, the court shall notify the department of health services. Subject to subd. 2. and 3., the department of health services and the county department under s. 51.42 in the county of residence of the person shall prepare a plan that identifies the treatment and services, if any, that the person will receive in the community. The plan shall address the person’s need, if any, for supervision, medication, community support services, residential services, vocational services, and alcohol or other drug abuse treatment. The department of health services may contract with a county department, under s. 51.42 (3) (aw) 1. d., with another public agency or with a private agency to provide the treatment and services identified in the plan. The plan shall specify who will be responsible for providing the treatment and services identified in the plan. The plan shall be presented to the court for its approval within 60 days after the court finding that the person is appropriate for conditional release, unless the county department, department of health services and person to be released request additional time to develop the plan.