H.P. 1092 - L.D. 1539
An Act to Require More Timely Court-ordered Psychological Evaluations
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 15 MRSA §101-B, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1989, c. 621, §1, is further amended to read:
1. Court order; permissive. The District Court or the Superior Court having jurisdiction in any criminal case for cause shown may order the defendant examined to determine the defendant's mental condition with reference to the issues of competency, criminal responsibility, abnormal condition of mind and any other issue involving the mental or emotional condition of the defendant. The examination may be conducted by the State Forensic Service or by a psychiatrist or licensed clinical psychologist independent of the State Forensic Service. If additional examinations are ordered, the court shall ensure that at least one examination is conducted by the State Forensic Service. The court in selecting an independent practitioner and the site of any examination shall consider proximity to the court, availability of an examiner or examiners and the necessity for security precautions. No A person may not be presented for examination under this subsection without arrangements for that examination with the State Forensic Service or the independent practitioner being first made by the court, clerk of courts or sheriff. If the defendant is incarcerated, the examination is to be completed within 90 45 days from the date of arrest. The State Forensic Service shall notify the court upon the completion of the examination. The opinion of the examiner or examiners relative to the competence, criminal responsibility, abnormal condition of mind or any other mental or emotional condition of the respondent must be reported without delay to the court following examination, together with copies to counsel for the respondent and counsel for the State.
Effective September 18, 1999, unless otherwise indicated.
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