2014 IL App (1st) 123090
FOURTH DIVISION
August 21, 2014
No. 1-12-3090
IN THE
APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS FIRST DISTRICT
In Re COMMITMENT OF ENRIQUE RENDON, ) Appeal from the a Sexually Violent Person (The People of the ) Circuit Court of State of Illinois, Petitioner-Appellee, ) Cook County. v. Enrique Rendon, Respondent-Appellant). )
) No. 98 CR 80004 )
) The Honorable ) Michael B. McHale, ) Judge Presiding.
_____________________________________________________________________________
JUSTICE LAVIN delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion. Justices Fitzgerald Smith and Epstein concurred in the judgment and opinion.
OPINION
¶1 Respondent Enrique Rendon was civilly committed as a "sexually violent person" under the Sexually Violent Persons Commitment Act (the Act) (725 ILCS 207/1 et seq. (West 2012)) and subsequently institutionalized in a secure facility. The trial court later conditionally released respondent only to later revoke the release on the State's petition, concluding that the "safety of others," a standard identified in the statute (725 ILCS 207/40(b)(4) (West 2012)), required such revocation. On appeal from the revocation order, respondent contends this undefined statutory standard is unconstitutionally vague.
He alternatively contends the State failed to prove by clear and convincing evidence that his conditional release should be revoked. Finally, he contends the trial court improperly relied on his clinical psychologist's reexamination report at the revocation hearing, thus requiring reversal. For the reasons set forth below, we reverse the judgment of the circuit court and remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
¶2 BACKGROUND
¶3 Respondent, now age 66, has been civilly committed to the control, care, and treatment of the Department of Human Services (DHS) since 2002, when he admitted the allegations in the State's petition and the court accordingly found he was a sexually violent person (SVP) diagnosed with pedophilia (sexually attracted to minor females), substance abuse problems, and later, paraphilia not otherwise specified (sexually attracted to nonconsenting females), frotteurism, and antisocial personality disorder. See 725 ILCS 207/5(f) (West 2012). Respondent's underlying offenses included a 1989 guilty plea conviction and 16.5-year sentence for aggravated criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual abuse, aggravated kidnaping, and kidnaping, which was imposed after respondent kidnaped and assaulted an eight-year-old girl. Respondent served six years and was released on parole. In 1997, respondent violated his parole by repeatedly attempting to lure children into his vehicle and also refused sex offender treatment. It was thereafter that the State sought to have respondent civilly committed under the then newly effective SVP law.
¶4 Following his adjudication as an SVP, respondent was institutionalized in a secure facility under the Act. Following psychological treatment and polygraph examinations, respondent self-reported having committed some 25 sexual offenses against females
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between the ages of 4 and 40. In one instance, respondent admitted climbing into bed next to his daughter's 17-year-old intoxicated girlfriend. Respondent's daughter found him naked from the waist down, and the victim's pants were pulled down. Although respondent was arrested following this offense, charges for the sexual offense apparently were never filed. Respondent also admitted repeatedly raping his own wife. He claimed to have participated in various grooming and stalking behaviors of young girls that culminated with rape or other sexual assaults. In addition, he said he raped two prostitutes after supplying them with drugs and alcohol, then threatened their pimp and had them "working for him" over the next several years, during which time he sexually assaulted them. Respondent used physical force and weapons to coerce sexual compliance. He also admitted to committing some 20,000 frottage offenses where he targeted young women and rubbed against them for sexual gratification. His reevaluation revealed a consistent pattern of deception by respondent.
¶5 Two years after being formally adjudicated an SVP, respondent filed a petition to be conditionally released for reintegration into the community. Respondent was "reexamined" a number of times to determine whether he remained an SVP, i.e. was dangerous because he suffered from a mental disorder making it "substantially probable" that he would engage in acts of sexual violence. See 725 ILCS 207/5(f) (West 2002). According to the reports, reexamination consisted of reviewing his progress in treatment, psychological testing, clinical interviews, and risk analysis. In May 2010, Dr. Edward Smith, a licensed clinical psychologist, filed one such report noting respondent's sexual offense and DHS treatment history. Dr. Smith stated that respondent was participating in treatment, making progress, and had completed a relapse prevention plan, whereby he
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was to use techniques to manage and interrupt deviant sexual arousal. Respondent's most recent penile plethysmorgraph (PPG) test had indicated no deviant sexual arousal, and respondent demonstrated understanding of his cycle and plan. That, together with his decreased risk of reoffense based on respondent's advanced age, led Dr. Smith to recommend that respondent be reintergrated into the community on a "highly structured" conditional release program. Dr. Smith stated that respondent had demonstrated sufficient progress to lower his risk so that he could be safely managed in the community.
¶6 On the heels of this report and following a hearing, the court granted respondent conditional release on June 30, 2010, and he was released into the community on September 14, 2010. As per the statute, the court-approved "conditional release plan" was a detailed agreement between DHS and respondent severely limiting respondent's freedom and movement based on his status as an SVP. Relevant for this appeal, respondent was placed on home confinement. He was also ordered to refrain from contact with minor children absent DHS approval, and to refrain from entering into sexually intimate relationships unless he first gave notification to his conditional release agent. His plan required that respondent participate in sex offender treatment, behavioral monitoring, PPG testing and polygraph examinations. Respondent was to meet regularly with his conditional release agent to discuss "compliance with the conditions of his release and treatment progress" and also comply with other special conditions identified by his conditional release agent and case management team to restrict respondent from "high-risk situations" with "access to potential victims." Tracking the language of the statute, the plan provided that respondent's conditional release would be revoked if he "failed to abide by any condition of his release plan" or if "the safety of others" required
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revocation, at the recommendation of the conditional release agent. See 725 ILCS 207/40(b)(4) (West 2012). Respondent signed and initialed a certificate indicating that he understood the plan and that his conditional release would be revoked if he failed to abide by the stated conditions.
¶7 Respondent was on conditional release for less than a year before the State filed a revocation petition on July 5, 2011. This petition was based on admissions during a polygraph examination taken May 30, 2011, that respondent had masturbated to fantasies of rape more than 20 times while released, a fact which he failed to disclose to his treatment providers until faced with the polygraph. The State also alleged that respondent failed the polygraph examination in that deception was noted when he denied rubbing against anyone for sexual gratification, denied masturbating to fantasies of rape, and denied masturbating to phone sex. The State asserted respondent's deception threatened the safety of others and required revocation of his conditional release. A hearing followed in August. Respondent acknowledged in open court that he had not told his therapist about these fantasies and only disclosed them before his polygraph exam. While the court denied the State's petition, it specifically warned that any further incidents would justify revoking respondent's conditional release.
¶8 In October 2011, apparently in response to respondent's difficulty controlling deviant arousal, he was prescribed Eligard, a prescription medication thought to lessen sexual urges by lowering testosterone levels. A number of court status hearings also followed with the State representing that respondent had either failed or deliberately distorted the results of his polygraph exams and that he was not working with his treatment providers.
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¶9 In June 2012, the State again filed a petition to revoke respondent's conditional release. In making its allegations, the State relied principally on the June 6, 2012, reexamination report filed by clinical psychologist Dr. Smith, which the State attached and incorporated into its petition. The State alleged respondent was having "significant difficulty managing his deviant sexual arousal" and had been "less than forthright with his case management team." In support, the State cited respondent's deviant sexual fantasies "prior to the initiation of Eligard" and respondent's denial of "masturbating to the deviant sexual arousal since the initiation of Eligard." In addition, the State noted respondent's failed polygraph examinations, his intentional interference with the examinations, and his admission that he contemplated having females in his apartment without his conditional release agent's knowledge. The State noted Dr. Smith's opinion that respondent's "lack of disclosure and the presence of secret keeping" suggested defendant's word could not be taken "at face value." Given respondent's "high risk behaviors" and lack of insight into the level of risk, the State urged the trial court to revoke respondent's conditional release to protect "the safety of others" in the community. The State noted that under the Act, conditional release may be revoked on that basis or if respondent violated any condition or rule of conditional release.
¶ 10 An evidentiary hearing was held June 29, 2012. The court noted that the statute was disjunctive; the State had to prove by clear and convincing evidence that a rule or condition was violated or that the safety of others required revocation of conditional release. Licensed clinical social worker Rhonda Meacham testified that she was on respondent's case management team and had been treating him since fall 2010. She met with respondent weekly for 90-minute group therapy sessions and had seen him
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individually for 60-minute sessions since February 2012. In addition, the State noted Meacham's semiannual report, dated October 2011 to March 2012. Meacham testified that respondent's primary issues were managing his deviant sexual arousal and being transparent in therapy so he could pass his polygraph examinations.
¶ 11 Between June 2011 and February 2012, respondent had been unreliable in self- reporting. Meacham testified he had failed his May 2011 polygraph examination and, in particular, apparently failed the question of whether he had "rubbed up against anybody." In September 2011, respondent's PPG test revealed no indication of arousal, but respondent also "engaged in behaviors that could have manipulated the outcome" which could invalidate the test and at the very least showed he was not following instructions. In November 2011, he was said to have distorted the polygraph results by shaking his legs during the test. In February 2012, respondent's polygraph examination was inconclusive on two questions, one regarding whether he masturbated to fantasies of rape, and he failed the question of whether or not he had women in his apartment. Meacham noted that up until February 2012, respondent continued to struggle with "fantasies of force" and would masturbate to thoughts of both force and frottage. Respondent reported he could continue to masturbate to deviant fantasies without increasing his risk of reoffending even though his reevaluation report indicated these types of fantasies preceded sexually violent acts by respondent. On cross-examination, Meacham stated she did not know what might negatively impact the PPG test results. She also stated when a person failed one question on a polygraph test, some examiners considered the entire exam to be failed, while some did not.
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¶ 12 Nonetheless, Meacham also testified that based on respondent's recent polygraph examination from June 25 (the Monday before the hearing), it appeared he had "become more honest since February of 2012 to date." Meacham explained that cognitive therapy – like snapping a rubber band on his wrist when faced with a deviant thought – was proving ineffective for controlling respondent's arousal, so in October 2011, respondent was treated with the drug Eligard, which decreases testosterone levels and helps manage sexual arousal. On cross-examination, she stated she did not know how frequently respondent received the Eligard injections or how many he had received. She also stated that some clients reported immediate responses to the medicine, while it took others some six months to respond. In addition, Meacham believed respondent's fantasies of using force had decreased but she could not determine whether the Eligard had affected respondent's general sexist attitude toward women, i.e., whether a cognitive shift had occurred. She testified that based on respondent's self-report, "there was a pretty sharp decrease in the amount [sic] of fantasies that he was having" and he was not masturbating at all. She testified that while he had made progress, she did not believe it was the same progress "he claims to have made." She also believed "there was a shift taking place" at the time he took the February 2012 polygraph while medicated with Eligard. Notably, respondent's failure to disclose information relating to his masturbation had occurred prior to the Eligard treatment. After the February 2012 polygraph, respondent made more disclosures regarding his issues than before. For example, in response to his February 2012 exam, respondent denied ever having a female in his apartment but reported that he "had a lot of urges to have women in the apartment," which may have contributed to him failing the test. Respondent specifically noted there was a female near
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his building one evening and, while he had strong urges to invite her to his apartment, he never did. On cross-examination, Meacham stated that in the last year, respondent's "sexual behavior" had improved. She stated that since June 2012, respondent was "moving in the right direction" and had been more transparent.
¶ 13 Dr. Smith testified next that he had expertise in evaluating sexually violent persons, specifically as to risk assessment and diagnosis. As part of his employment with DHS, Dr. Smith had completed five annual reviews of respondent, with the last in June 2012, to determine whether respondent's current placement was appropriate to meet his treatment needs. For the evaluation, Dr. Smith conducted a clinical interview with respondent, reviewed his case management and treatment notes for the year, and consulted with both Glazier, respondent's conditional release agent, and Meacham, his treatment provider. Dr. Smith opined that respondent remained an SVP, as defined under the Act, having been diagnosed with pedophilia (sexually attracted to minor females), paraphilia not otherwise specified (sexually attracted to nonconsenting females), frotteurism, substance abuse, and antisocial personality disorder. Respondent still suffered from these mental disorders, which predisposed respondent to engage in future acts of sexual violence, and it was still substantially probable, or much more likely than not, that respondent would reoffend. The actuarial instruments placed respondent in the category of low to "moderate high" range for risk of reoffending, with additional risk factors including antisocial personality disorder, early-onset sex offending, and self- regulations problems.
¶ 14 Dr. Smith testified that even though respondent consistently attended treatment, given his behavior for the 2011-12 evaluation period, respondent could not be safely
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managed in the community. Dr. Smith cited respondent's failed polygraph examinations, admissions of dishonesty to his treatment team, and lack of insight that having or masturbating to deviant sexual fantasies was high-risk behavior. The fact that respondent had passed his most recent polygraph test did not change Dr. Smith's opinion because respondent acknowledged over the course of his review period that he had not been forthcoming with his treatment team about his level of deviant sexual arousal and masturbation to deviant fantasies, or accepted the risk this posed. Dr. Smith noted respondent had admitted that even before leaving on conditional release, he had been masturbating to deviant sexual fantasies without telling his treatment providers and "he had previously not been as honest and open as he would have led people to believe." Respondent also admitted that he had not used intervention methods to interrupt his deviant sexual arousal and "had thoughts about planning" to have women in his apartment without anyone knowing. Dr. Smith noted, many times respondent's disclosures only came after a failed polygraph and asserted respondent was not being forthright in his disclosures. Dr. Smith testified that respondent's Eligard treatments did not change his opinion that respondent could not be safely managed and should no longer be on conditional release because while Eligard was a tool for controlling arousal, it did not necessarily "eliminate it," and could not be used to control respondent's thoughts or cause him to "intervene" when aroused. Dr. Smith similarly did not know how often respondent received the Eligard treatments.
¶ 15 Dr. Smith testified that sexual offending could be conceptualized as a cycle with a number of different steps, and certain behaviors or emotions could lead a person "closer to the point of offending." For respondent, his secret-keeping, deviant arousal,
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masturbation to deviant fantasies, and failure to take responsibility even while in a restricted environment, were steps in the sexual offense cycle moving him "closer and closer" to "high-risk behaviors being evident." Dr. Smith testified respondent would be better managed in a secure facility because respondent's access to individuals who "could be the source of either his thoughts, his fantasies, or his planning behaviors" and potential victims would be limited. On cross-examination, Dr. Smith acknowledged that respondent self-reported that his sexual fantasies had significantly decreased following his Eligard treatments.
¶ 16 In closing, the State argued that the evidence indicated respondent had not followed the conditions of release because he was uncooperative during psychological testing, but then chose to argue the case almost exclusively on the alternative "safety of others" prong.
¶ 17 Following argument, the trial court granted the State's petition to revoke conditional release. Although the court specifically found the State had not shown by clear and convincing evidence that a specific rule in the conditional release agreement had been violated, the court nonetheless found the "safety of others" required respondent's reconfinement. In support, the court pointed to issues that were related to perceived shortcomings in complying with the conditions imposed on his release. This included Meachem's testimony regarding respondent's unreliable self-reporting, his failed polygraph examinations, his failure to follow instructions on the PPG test and the limited effect of Eligard on his deviant sexual thoughts. The court also pointed to Dr. Smith's testimony that respondent could not be safely managed in the community because of respondent's admitted failure to be forthright with his case management team and lack of
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insight regarding the risk his sexually deviant fantasies posed. The court noted Dr. Smith's testimony that respondent had disregarded treatment intervention methods and specifically had thoughts about "how to get females into his apartment without anyone on the case management team knowing about it." The court stated, "[t]he key is that these secrets have only come to light after he has been caught on polygraph examinations," and further noted Dr. Smith's testimony that these behaviors are part of the cycle of sexual offending, with "each step" moving "the person closer and closer to re-offending." The court stated that because respondent was not "moving forward in his treatment" and was "continuing to be deceptive with his case management team," it was appropriate to revoke his conditional release.
¶ 18 On June 29, 2012, the trial court revoked respondent's conditional release, and he was reinstitutionalized at a DHS facility. Respondent filed a motion to reconsider the judgment, which was denied, and this timely appeal followed.
¶ 19 ANALYSIS
¶ 20 Respondent now challenges the revocation of his conditional release. The Act defines an SVP as a person who has been convicted of a sexually violent offense and who is "dangerous" because he "suffers from a mental disorder that makes it substantially probable that the person will engage in acts of sexual violence." (Emphasis added.) 725 ILCS 207/5(f) (West 2012); In re Detention of Stanbridge, 2012 IL 112337, ¶ 48; see also In re Commitment of Curtner, 2012 IL App (4th) 110820, ¶¶ 31, 37 (defining substantially probable as "much more likely than not" (internal quotation marks omitted)). Under the Act, a mental disorder is a "congenital or acquired condition affecting the emotional or volitional capacity that predisposes a person to engage in acts of sexual violence." 725 ILCS 207/5(b), 15 (West 2012); Stanbridge, 2012 IL 112337, ¶ 48. Although the proceedings set forth in the Act are civil in nature (725 ILCS 207/20 (West 2012)), the State still must establish beyond a reasonable doubt that an individual is an SVP; once the State does so, the respondent is committed to the custody of DHS for control, care, and treatment "until such time as the person is no longer a sexually violent person," which could hypothetically only end upon death. 725 ILCS 207/40(a) (West 2012); Stanbridge, 2012 IL 112337, ¶¶ 48, 50.
¶ 21 In this case, respondent was found to be an SVP and was accordingly institutionalized in a secure setting where he received treatment for his mental disorders.
See 725 ILCS 207/50 (West 2012). Consistent with the Act, respondent was thereafter "reexamined" yearly to determine whether he had made "sufficient progress in treatment"
to qualify him for conditional release. See 725 ILCS 207/55 (West 2012); Stanbridge, 2012 IL 112337, ¶ 49. After eight years of institutionalization, and after finding respondent had made sufficient progress in treatment, the court granted respondent conditional release on the recommendation of Dr. Smith.
¶ 22 When a court conditionally releases a respondent, it has concluded not only that the person has made sufficient progress in treatment warranting release, but also that "the person's condition has so changed since the most recent periodic reexamination *** that he *** is no longer a sexually violent person." 1 (Emphasis added.) 725 ILCS 207/55
1 It merits mention that the trial court entered its judgment revoking respondent's conditional release on June 29, 2012, and denied respondent's motion to reconsider on August 31, 2012 (after granting respondent an extension to file that motion). Respondent filed his notice of appeal on September 28, 2012. At the time of the June hearing in this case, section 55(a) of the statute provided that yearly reexaminations were for the purpose of determining whether the "person has made sufficient progress to be conditionally released ***." 725 ILCS 207/55(a) (West 2010). Effective on August 24, 2012, before final judgment was entered in this case, the legislature amended section 55(a), adding that reexaminations are for the purpose of determining whether "(1) the person has made sufficient progress in treatment to be conditionally released and (2) whether the person's condition has so changed
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since the most recent periodic reexamination *** that he *** is no longer a sexually violent person." 725 ILCS
(West 2012); see also People v. Cooper, 132 Ill. 2d 347, 354-55 (1989) (same under the Sexually Dangerous Persons Act); People v. Trainor, 196 Ill. 2d 318, 336-38 (2001) (noting the similarities between the Act and the Sexually Dangerous Persons Act). In other words, to be conditionally released, an SVP must reach a certain point in treatment so that he can be safely managed in the community while still in the custody and control of DHS and while subject to the conditions set by the court and rules of DHS. See 725 ILCS 207/40(b)(4), (b)(5) (West 2012); see also Cooper, 132 Ill. 2d at 355 (noting, a sexually dangerous person maintains that legal status while on conditional release). In relevant part, these conditions require a respondent to attend and fully participate in assessment, treatment, and behavior monitoring, including, but not limited to, medical, psychological or psychiatric treatment specific to sex offending or drug abuse to the extent appropriate and based on subsequent DHS recommendations. 725 ILCS 207/40(b)(5)(F) (West 2012). These conditions also require a respondent to waive any confidentiality so that the court and DHS have access to his assessment and treatment results. 725 ILCS 207/40(b)(5)(G) (West 2012). While on conditional release, a respondent must comply with all other special conditions that DHS may impose restricting him from "high-risk situations" and limiting "access or potential victims." 725 ILCS 207/40(b)(5)(BB) (West 2012). "If the Department [(DHS)] alleges that a released person has violated any condition or rule, or that the safety of others requires that conditional release be revoked, he *** may be taken into custody under the rules of the
207/55(a) (West 2012); Pub. Act 97-1075 (eff. Aug. 24, 2012) (amending 725 ILCS 207/55(a) (West 2010)). We cite the amended statute now because a subsequent amendment to a statute may be an appropriate source for discerning legislative intent, and our review of the statute as a whole, together with its history, reveals the amendment was meant to clarify the statute. See In re Skidmore, 2011 IL App (2d) 100730, ¶ 28; see also In re Commitment of Sandry, 367 Ill. App. 3d 949, 976 (2006) (noting in reference to section 60(d) of the Act (725 ILCS
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207/60(d) (West 2002)) that "[o]f course, what a person is 'making sufficient progress' in is treatment").
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Department [(DHS)]." 725 ILCS 207/40(4) (West 2012). The State maintains the burden of proving with clear and convincing evidence that revocation of conditional release is required. Id. Revocation deprives a respondent not of the absolute liberty to which every citizen is entitled, but only of the conditional liberty properly dependent on respondent's observance of conditional release restrictions. See Morrissey v. Brewer, 408 U.S. 471, 480 (1972).
¶ 23 In this case, less than a year after respondent had been conditionally released, the State alleged respondent was essentially unable to manage his deviant sexual arousal, lacked insight into his high-risk behaviors, and had failed his psychological exams. Consistent with the statute, the State asserted these behaviors threatened the "safety of others" requiring revocation of respondent's conditional release.
¶ 24 On appeal before this court, respondent initially argues that the statutory standard "safety of others" is unconstitutionally vague because the legislature failed to define the phrase and, consequently, the statute fails to give fair warning to individuals regarding its application, resulting in arbitrary enforcement. Although respondent failed to frame this argument in constitutional terms before the trial court, he argues we may now address it under the doctrine of plain error, adopted in criminal cases. The State counters that the doctrine of plain error to which respondent subscribes does not apply in the civil context of this case and, regardless, the statute is not unconstitutionally vague.
¶ 25 Because we choose to dispose of this case on the basis of respondent's alternative argument relating to the quantum of evidence adduced at the hearing, we need not address respondent's claim of constitutional error which he has raised for the first time on appeal. Our supreme court has emphatically stated time and again that a reviewing court
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should avoid constitutional questions where the case may be decided on other grounds. In re Detention of Swope, 213 Ill. 2d 210, 218 (2004); see also In re E.H., 224 Ill. 2d 172, 178 (2006).
¶ 26 Respondent then alternatively contends the State failed to prove by clear and convincing evidence that the "safety of others" required the court to revoke respondent's conditional release. Respondent specifically argues the State presented evidence showing only "mere concerns about [respondent's] progress in sex offender treatment" and showing that he failed to disclose deviant sexual fantasies. Respondent asserts this evidence falls manifestly short of threatening the "safety of others," which is a standard that must "mean more than simply the risk associated with allowing a sexually violent person to remain on conditional release."
¶ 27 The State, in interpreting the meaning of the phrase "safety of others," argues revocation is required under that provision where there is "concern that an SVP is heading towards committing acts of sexual violence." In other words, a respondent need not commit an overt act of sexual violence in order to come within the purview of the phrase.
¶ 28 As respondent correctly observes, the phrase "safety of others" is not specifically defined in the Act. In the absence of a statutory definition, courts will assume that statutory words have their ordinary and popularly understood meanings. People v. Bailey, 167 Ill. 2d 210, 229 (1995). Webster's dictionary defines "safe" to mean "free from harm or risk" and "secure from threat of danger, harm, or loss." Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/safe. We will construe this term in the context of the Act as a whole, while considering the reason and
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necessity for the law, the evils sought to be remedied, and the purpose to be achieved. See Stanbridge, 2012 IL 112337, ¶ 70. In doing so, wish to emphasize that under the Act it is the respondent's mental disorder, which necessarily encompasses a volitional impairment, that makes him dangerous beyond his control, thus presenting a risk or threat of harm to others. See Kansas v. Hendricks, 521 U.S. 346, 358 (1997); People v. Swanson, 335 Ill. App. 3d 117, 122-23 (2002); In re Detention of Hayes, 321 Ill. App. 3d 178, 187-88 (2001). The previous violent acts and pattern of behavior merely serve as evidence of both the mental abnormality and an important indicator of future dangerousness. 725 ILCS 207/5(b), (f) (West 2012); Hendricks, 521 U.S. at 358, 362; Stanbridge, 2012 IL 112337, ¶ 85; see also In re Commitment of Derry, 393 Ill. App. 3d 482, 485 (2009) (an SVP is not committed for past conduct). If conditional release by definition means a respondent is not substantially probable to engage in acts of sexual violence outside the confines of an institution, then the converse means revocation of that release is required where his reoffense is substantially probable. See 725 ILCS 207/55, 60(c) (West 2012); cf. In re Ottinger, 333 Ill. App. 3d 114, 120-21 (2002) (under section 60(c) of the Act, a trial court may grant a full hearing on an application for conditional release when it is not substantially probable respondent will engage in acts of sexual violence if released).
¶ 29 Our review of the case law together with the entire statutory scheme demonstrates that the risk of reoffense and, thus, the threat to the safety of others presents itself when the respondent's mental illness is not properly treated. See Ottinger, 333 Ill. App. 3d at 121-22; see also In re Detention of Lieberman, 379 Ill. App. 3d 585, 599 (2007) (noting, "[t]he Constitution's safeguards of human liberty in the area of mental illness and the law
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are not best enforced through precise, bright-line rules" (internal quotation marks omitted)); In re Commitment of Sandry, 367 Ill. App. 3d 949, 976 (2006) (noting that "an individual's treatment is relevant to the decision as to whether that person is fit to be conditionally released"). Thus, the inquiry in a revocation proceeding relating to the "safety of others" may specifically focus on the respondent's progress, or lack thereof, in treatment. Indeed, the entire purpose of the SVP law anticipates and aims to prevent sexual dangerousness stemming from mental illness, so it would make little sense to tie "safety of others" to overt acts of sexual violence. This conclusion is consistent with that of our sister state, Wisconsin, which has a nearly identical provision in its SVP statute; in interpreting "safety of others" in the context of conditional release, the Wisconsin Supreme Court has held that a trial court need not wait until "overtly dangerous acts have been committed" or ignore indications that certain rule violations can themselves represent a risk to the community. In re Commitment of Burris, 2004 WI 91, ¶¶ 72-74, 273 Wis. 2d 294, 682 N.W.2d 812; see also In re Detention of Hardin, 238 Ill. 2d 33, 46 (2010) (noting the Wisconsin SVP statute is substantially similar to the Illinois SVP statute); Wis. Stat. Ann. § 980.08(8) (West 2014) (current Wisconsin statute).
¶ 30 In this case, the trial court gave all appearances of favorably crediting the testimony of both witnesses for the State – respondent's treatment provider, Meacham, and his psychological evaluator, Dr. Smith, even though their testimony was seemingly at odds regarding the main issue of whether respondent posed a substantially probable danger to the safety of others. The court determined testimony regarding respondent's failed self-reporting, polygraph exams, PPG test, and lack of insight regarding his high- risk deviant fantasies, and plotting, all demonstrated that the State had established by
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clear and convincing evidence that respondent's continued release posed a threat to the safety of others, even though it had already ruled that the State had not proved a specific violation of a single condition by clear and convincing evidence. This would appear to be an incongruous result.
¶ 31 In now reviewing the court's determination, we observe a trial court's ruling, that the State established by clear and convincing evidence that the "safety of others" required revocation of respondent's conditional release, will not be disturbed unless it is against the manifest weight of the evidence, i.e. where the opposite conclusion is clearly the proper result. See In re D.D., 196 Ill. 2d 405, 417 (2001); Sandry, 367 Ill. App. 3d at 978; People v. Robin, 312 Ill. App. 3d 710, 715 (2000). "Clear and convincing evidence is defined as the quantum of proof that leaves no reasonable doubt in the mind of the fact finder as to the veracity of the proposition in question." In re Gloria C., 401 Ill. App. 3d 271, 282 (2010). Notably, it is within the province of the trier of fact, not the mental health professionals, to weigh all the evidence and witness credibility. Gloria C., 401 Ill. App. 3d at 282; Robin, 312 Ill. App. 3d at 715.
¶ 32 Having reviewed the evidence, we conclude the trial court's determination that the State proved by clear and convincing evidence that the "safety of others" required revocation of respondent's conditional release was against the manifest weight of the evidence. Here, while the evidence indicates respondent's lack of compliance with treatment protocol and deviant sexual fantasies posed a threat to the public prior to February 2012, this threat apparently diminished with the initiation of the Eligard drug treatments. Meacham testified that respondent's fantasies of force had declined, he was not masturbating at all, and indicated he was making disclosures about sexual urges and
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resisting the urges. She testified respondent's "sexual behavior" had improved in the last year and that since June 2012, he had been "moving in the right direction." Significantly, while respondent had previously thwarted or failed his polygraph exams, just prior to the evidentiary hearing, he passed the polygraph exam. Meacham testified that Eligard could sometimes take some months to be effective, and the evidence essentially implied that this was just such a case. Although Dr. Smith testified the Eligard treatments could not eliminate arousal or change respondent's cognitive therapy response to arousal, for example, by forcing him to "intervene" when aroused or recognize the risk deviant fantasies posed, we must return to the fact that according to Meacham, respondent was not experiencing arousal on the Eligard treatment. Again, she testified he was in control of his fantasies and disclosing them at the time of the hearing. While the trial court is generally entrusted to resolve contradictions in the evidence, Dr. Smith did not directly contradict Meacham's testimony, as much of his testimony appeared to reference respondent's past conduct and behavior.
¶ 33 From an evidentiary standpoint, respondent's improved behavior and lack of arousal necessarily defeated Dr. Smith's concerns regarding respondent's threat to the safety of others, that were seemingly based on respondent's prior state of being. At most, the record shows by clear and convincing evidence that respondent still maintained disclosure and deception problems at the time of the hearing. In short, this case does not present the quantum of evidence required to clearly and convincingly demonstrate that respondent was at that time a threat to the safety of others.
¶ 34 Nonetheless, we note that our supreme court has held in another SVP case that a trial court's judgment may be affirmed on any grounds which the record supports even if
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those grounds were not argued by the parties. Stanbridge, 2012 IL 112337, ¶ 74. Contrary to the trial court's findings in this case, the evidence indicates that respondent in fact violated the special conditions of his release early on by failing to fully comply with his treatment protocol insofar as he apparently thwarted the polygraph examinations and PPG test, and also admitted he was not intervening when necessary to divert his sexually deviant fantasies. See 725 ILCS 207/40(b)(5)(F) (West 2012). According to his treatment providers, respondent's failure to fully participate in treatment, as required by his conditions of release, and lack of insight regarding his behavior, left respondent more open to "high-risk situations" with potential access to victims. See 725 ILCS 207/40(b)(5)(BB) (West 2012). This raised the question of whether respondent had indeed made sufficient progress in treatment such that he should remain released and was no longer a sexually violent person. See 725 ILCS 207/55 (West 2012). Based on the record's indication that respondent violated a condition of release, the trial court was entitled to make the discretionary decision of determining whether to place respondent in a more secure setting when respondent was not responding to the conditions of treatment set by the treatment providers who work closely with him. See Lieberman, 379 Ill. App. 3d at 608-09 (noting the initial decision regarding where an SVP will do best in treatment, among other factors, is a discretionary one for the trial court). Because the trial court operated under the misapprehension that no condition of release was violated, we conclude remand is necessary. On remand, we would suggest that the State be permitted to amend its petition to more closely identify the specific rules violated. Moreover, we also note that it has been two years since respondent's conditional release was revoked. Should the trial court determine that respondent's violation does not
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warrant revoking his conditional release, the State may file a new revocation petition now if circumstances have arisen warranting such revocation because mental health treatment is not a static process, but a dynamic one. If respondent is not now responding to any treatment, for example, then it seems respondent should not be released to the public.
¶ 35 Lastly, respondent argues that the circuit court improperly relied on Dr. Smith's mental health reevaluation. The trial court noted at the outset of the hearing that it had read this particular report, which also formed the basis of the State's petition to revoke respondent's conditional release. Respondent now essentially argues that the court, in reading the report, relied on evidence outside the record because the report contained graphic details of respondent's prior sex offenses not testified to at trial. Although respondent frames this argument as a violation of his constitutional right to due process, we think this is more appropriately considered as an evidentiary issue.
¶ 36 We observe that the Act rather explicitly provides that "all evaluations conducted pursuant to this Act *** shall be admissible at all proceedings held pursuant to this Act." 725 ILCS 207/30 (West 2012). Moreover, in determining whether conditional release is appropriate, a court is required to consider the respondent's mental disorder, mental history, and present mental condition, all of which necessarily requires a court to review and rely on the respondent's mental health evaluations. See 725 ILCS 207/60(d) (West 2012); see also 725 ILCS 207/40(b)(2) (West 2012). Reading the statutes together, it appears perfectly appropriate for both the trial court and this court to review respondent's mental health evaluation when considering whether revocation of conditional release is warranted. Moreover, here, the State attached the reexamination report to its petition and Dr. Smith referenced the report in his testimony. Respondent in fact cited the report
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during cross-examination of Meacham to show respondent's improved state. Thus, respondent not only failed to object to the implicit entry of the report into evidence, thus forfeiting the issue, but seems to have positively acquiesced in the alleged error. See People v. Enoch, 122 Ill. 2d 176, 186 (1988); see also McMath v. Katholi, 191 Ill. 2d 251, 255 (2000) (a party cannot complain of an error to which he consented). Given the developing area of law presented by the Act, it is important that the parties fully develop arguments below for the benefit of later addressing issues on appeal.
¶ 37 CONCLUSION
¶ 38 Based on the foregoing, we reverse the judgment of the trial court and remand this case for the trial court to make further factual findings regarding the evidence presented at the revocation hearing.
¶ 39 Reversed and remanded.