In re Application for an Order to Extend an Order of Conditions Pursuant to CPL 330.20 in Relation to Andrew H.

33 Misc. 3d 414
CourtNew York County Courts
DecidedAugust 29, 2011
StatusPublished

This text of 33 Misc. 3d 414 (In re Application for an Order to Extend an Order of Conditions Pursuant to CPL 330.20 in Relation to Andrew H.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York County Courts primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re Application for an Order to Extend an Order of Conditions Pursuant to CPL 330.20 in Relation to Andrew H., 33 Misc. 3d 414 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 2011).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

Jerome J. Richards, J.

Petitioner seeks an order pursuant to CPL 330.20 (1) (o) extending for an additional five years the previous order of conditions of supervised release of respondent. The petition was filed on April 6, 2011, and is supported by an application and notice on official Form Q-l, a proposed order to extend an order of conditions on official Form N-l, clinical documentation including a physician’s affidavit, and an affidavit of service upon respondent, all submitted with a cover letter dated March 23, 2011 to the Division of Forensic Services in the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH). This case arose from the fact that respondent was found not responsible for criminal charges due to mental illness, and consequently he was remanded by the Bombay Town Court on January 1, 1995 to the custody of the Commissioner of Mental Health for confinement pursuant to CPL 330.20 (2) or (6). On May 16, 2001 St. Lawrence County Court entered an order of conditions pursuant to CPL 330.20 (6) and/or (7). That order of conditions was extended by further order of St. Lawrence County Court on April 24, 2006, to expire on April 24, 2011. Respondent’s current status is that of an outpatient of the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center, through which he participates in a structured family care program.

Petitioner asserts that respondent no longer has a dangerous mental disorder but is in need of continued supervision and treatment pursuant to an order of conditions. Petitioner further avers that the issuance of such an order is consistent with the public safety and welfare of the community and of the defendant.

After discussion between counsel, on May 5, 2011 the Assistant Attorney General submitted a revised proposed order of conditions. The revisions were described as adding detail from the historical record concerning respondent’s dangerousness, [416]*416and further providing what petitioner characterizes as more detailed mechanisms to assure compliance with the recommended treatment program.

The parties continue to disagree as to whether or not the extension order may or should contain the following provision:

“ORDERED that should the defendant fail to appear or comply with a psychiatric examination, as detailed above, the Commissioner, upon written communication from the Clinical Director of the OMH monitoring facility indicating that in his/her professional judgment the defendant’s current psychiatric condition or behavior evidences an emergence of risk likely to jeopardize the defendant’s or the public’s safety, shall apply to the court for a Temporary Confinement Order for the purpose of conducting an effective psychiatric examination in a secure facility.”

This language appears as the penultimate paragraph of the revised proposed order of conditions.

Respondent’s attorney also objects to the request for a five-year extension of the order, since the hospital forensic committee originally requested a three-year extension, although the Office of Mental Health has, as the petitioner, requested a five-year extension.

With respect to the temporary confinement order provision, respondent’s attorney notes that another judge of this court declined to include such a provision in a similar but unrelated case,2 finding that although such a provision might possibly be authorized by CPL 330.20 (1) (o), the requested language did not adequately address what is meant by noncompliance, or indicate to whom the authority to make such a determination is granted. Moreover, that judge wrote, the scope of the temporary confinement order provision is not defined, and other statutory remedies are available under existing law.

In a supplemental affirmation dated June 30, 2011, respondent’s attorney states the view that (1) the temporary confinement provision is unconstitutional and that (2) the temporary confinement provision is not authorized by CPL 330.20. Counsel further asserts that this very issue is raised directly on appeal in two cases now pending in the Appellate Division, Second [417]*417Judicial Department, in Allen B. (case No. 2011-03471), and Robert T. (case No. 2011-03469). Insofar as this court can determine, those cases have not yet been decided.

Respondent’s attorney’s supplemental affirmation makes additional comments and requests, seeking to define more broadly the geographical area within which respondent would be free to travel without prior permission from the treatment team, and eliminating provisions which counsel feels are more appropriate to an assisted outpatient treatment order under Mental Hygiene Law § 9.60 (Kendra’s Law).

With respect to the temporary confinement provision, respondent’s counsel notes that the existing remedy within CPL 330.20 for a rehospitalization of a released but not discharged patient is a recommitment petition, as provided in CPL 330.20 (14). That procedure is detailed and requires a formal petition, service on the patient, notice, counsel, and a hearing. (See Matter of Henry L., 172 Misc 2d 981 [Franklin County Ct 1997].) The legal issue in a recommitment hearing is whether defendant presently suffers from a dangerous mental disorder (CPL 330.20 [14]). Until the court makes a finding of such a disorder, after a hearing, involuntary detention of the released patient is not permitted under the CPL 330.20 provisions except in the narrow situation where he or she fails to appear for the recommitment hearing. In that narrow circumstance the court is authorized to issue a warrant to bring respondent before the court. (See Matter of Oliver C. v Weissman, 203 AD2d 458 [2d Dept 1994].)

Respondent’s counsel further argues that the temporary confinement order provision would violate respondent’s due process liberty interest because CPL 330.20 (14) does not authorize such an order. As counsel notes, in Foucha v Louisiana (504 US 71, 80 [1992]), the Supreme Court reiterated its earlier language in Jones v United States (463 US 354, 361 [1983]) and Addington v Texas (441 US 418, 425 [1979]), that “commitment for any purpose constitutes a significant deprivation of liberty that requires due process protection.”

Respondent further argues that although CPL 330.20 (12) permits the court to tailor appropriate conditions in its order, it may not do so in a way which exceeds the grant of authority in the CPL 330.20 scheme. (See Matter of Oliver C. v Weissman, supra.) By analogy, respondent cites to Matter of State of New York v Mack (28 Misc 3d 180, 192 [Sup Ct, Bronx County 2010]), which in turn cites Matter of State of New York v Bernard D. (61 [418]*418AD3d 567 [1st Dept 2009]). That case held that since Mental Hygiene Law article 10 did not specifically authorize the State to videotape psychiatric examinations of sexual offenders, it did not have the discretion to do so. Mack also cited McKinney’s Consolidated Laws of NY, Book 1, Statutes § 314, which states that a statute restraining personal liberty is strictly construed. (Matter of Baker, 29 How Prac 485 [Sup Ct, NY County 1865].)

Under CPL 330.20 (12) an order of conditions shall contain any conditions that the court determines to be reasonably necessary or appropriate. These may include required periodic visits to a specified outpatient facility (see People v Stone, 73 NY2d 296, 299 [1989] [restrictions on a defendant’s alcohol consumption or place of residence];

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Related

Addington v. Texas
441 U.S. 418 (Supreme Court, 1979)
Jones v. United States
463 U.S. 354 (Supreme Court, 1983)
Foucha v. Louisiana
504 U.S. 71 (Supreme Court, 1992)
Matter of Oswald N.
661 N.E.2d 679 (New York Court of Appeals, 1995)
Matter of Jill ZZ.
629 N.E.2d 1040 (New York Court of Appeals, 1994)
Matter of Torsney (Mental Hygiene)
394 N.E.2d 262 (New York Court of Appeals, 1979)
People v. Stone
536 N.E.2d 1137 (New York Court of Appeals, 1989)
In re Albert F.
5 A.D.3d 5 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 2004)
State v. Bernard D.
61 A.D.3d 567 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 2009)
In re Zamichow
176 A.D.2d 807 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 1991)
Oliver C. v. Weissman
203 A.D.2d 458 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 1994)
State v. Mack
28 Misc. 3d 180 (New York Supreme Court, 2010)
In re Tucker
145 Misc. 2d 1011 (New York Supreme Court, 1989)
In re Henry L.
172 Misc. 2d 981 (New York County Courts, 1997)

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Bluebook (online)
33 Misc. 3d 414, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-application-for-an-order-to-extend-an-order-of-conditions-pursuant-to-nycountyct-2011.