LD 1321
pg. 9
Page 8 of 17 An Act To Establish a Process for the Civil Commitment of Certain Sexual Offend... Page 10 of 17
Download Bill Text
LR 37
Item 1

 
released to a less restrictive alternative or unconditionally
discharged, the commissioner shall authorize the person to petition
the court for conditional release to a less restrictive alternative
or unconditional discharge as follows.

 
A.__The petition must be served upon the court and the
prosecuting attorney.

 
B.__The court, upon receipt of the petition for conditional
release to a less restrictive alternative or unconditional
discharge, shall order a hearing within 45 days.

 
C.__The prosecuting attorney shall represent the State and
may have the petitioner examined by an expert or
professional person of the prosecuting attorney's choice.

 
D.__The hearing must be before a jury if requested by either
the petitioner or the prosecuting attorney.

 
E.__The burden of proof is on the prosecuting attorney to
show beyond a reasonable doubt that the petitioner's mental
abnormality or personality disorder remains such that it is
not safe to discharge the petitioner and that, if
conditionally released to a less restrictive alternative or
unconditionally discharged, the petitioner is likely to
engage in predatory acts of sexual violence.

 
2.__Petition by committed person.__The committed person may
petition the court for conditional release to a less restrictive
alternative or unconditional release without the commissioner's
approval.

 
A.__The commissioner shall provide the committed person with
written annual notice of the person's right to petition the
court for conditional release to a less restrictive
alternative or unconditional discharge over the
commissioner's objection.__The notice must contain a waiver
of rights.

 
B.__The commissioner shall forward the notice and waiver
form to the court with the annual report.__If the person
does not affirmatively waive the right to petition, the
court shall set a preliminary hearing to determine whether
facts exist that warrant a hearing on whether the person's
condition has changed so that it is safe for the person to
be conditionally released to a less restrictive alternative
or to be unconditionally released.

 
C.__The committed person has the right to have an attorney
represent the person at the preliminary hearing required in


Page 8 of 17 Top of Page Page 10 of 17