State v. Richard Z.

55 Misc. 3d 1066, 49 N.Y.S.3d 278
CourtNew York Supreme Court
DecidedMarch 9, 2017
StatusPublished

This text of 55 Misc. 3d 1066 (State v. Richard Z.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Richard Z., 55 Misc. 3d 1066, 49 N.Y.S.3d 278 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 2017).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

James C. Tormey, J.

By way of background, on August 13, 2015 this court found that the respondent, Richard Z., was not presently receiving “meaningful treatment” while at the Central New York Psychiatric Center (hereinafter referred to as CNYPC). The court further found that Richard Z.’s expert, Dr. Kostavdakis, provided credible testimony, and part of that testimony was that, if the court placed Richard Z. on strict and intensive supervision and treatment (hereinafter referred to as SIST) pursuant to Mental Hygiene Law, article 10, § 10.01 (c), Richard Z. would need access to appropriate treatment to address his individual needs, which may include chemical therapy. Dr. Kostavdakis recommended various conditions for a release on SIST, as discussed further in this order. As part of the conditions, Dr. Kostavdakis urged the court to consider the possibility of medication to help Richard Z. manage his sexual urges. According to Dr. Kostavda-kis, part of that monitoring would be to track Richard Z.’s response and potential side effects to medication. Additionally, Dr. Kostavdakis recommended (1) GPS monitoring, (2) in-person reporting, (3) random/supervised urine analysis screens, (4) ongoing involvement in structured cognitive behavioral treatment for sexual offenders, once weekly, with monthly reports sent to the Department of Parole, (5) limited and/or supervised contact with family, and (6) limited and supervised contact with females, along with the other 85 or so standard conditions of SIST release.

Since 2011, and during the course of this case, Richard Z. has requested chemical therapy, which would substantially reduce his sexual urges, and has proved in scientific tests1 to assist in the reduction of recidivism to less than 3%. He has, however, been denied such treatment by the Office of Mental Health because of alleged potential side effects concerning bone density and a perceived lack of “informed consent.”

[1068]*1068After taking testimony, this court appointed the world-renowned expert, Dr. John Bradford,2 to render expert advice to the court for a program of “meaningful treatment” for Richard Z. as a condition of SIST. Dr. Bradford then provided an evaluation report to this court after a review of Richard Z.’s history and medical records, and a five-hour personal interview with Richard Z., which this court believes was appropriate and necessary in order to diagnose and treat Richard Z. In doing so, Dr. Bradford has made various recommendations to this court for treatment, indicating that the treatment he has recommended “would likely place Richard Z. at a low risk for future sexual offense recidivism and violent recidivism to the point that he could be released to the community on strict supervision.” This recommendation includes a regimen of chemical therapy, specifically Lupron Acetate.

Dr. Bradford has rendered expert advice to the court for a program of meaningful treatment of Richard Z. as a condition of SIST. Dr. Bradford indicated that Richard Z., by virtue of age, has a reduced risk of sexual offense recidivism. He has completed programs for sexual offenders in a correctional facility as well as the CNYPC. From a diagnostic standpoint, utilizing the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry Guidelines, it is Dr. Bradford’s opinion that Richard Z. should be treated as part of a prerelease program with a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist, specifically Lupron (Leu-prolide Acetate). Dr. Bradford indicated that Richard Z. has agreed to engage in antiandrogen treatment. He explained the use of that treatment to Richard Z. and how it would result in pharmacological castration, and the potential side effects which are treatable. Dr. Bradford recommended that this, in addition to strict conditions of supervision, would most likely place Richard Z. as a low risk for future sexual offense recidivism and violent recidivism to the point that he could be released on strict community supervision. Dr. Bradford was clear that Richard Z.’s release should be conditioned on treatment with a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist, specifically [1069]*1069Lupron, in doses recommended by his report. Dr. Bradford also indicated that the release on SIST should include the usual requirements of restricted community living, including curfew, refraining from the abuse of alcohol and non-prescription drugs, and any other supervision requirements the court sees fit, including GPS monitoring.

Based upon the testimony and the reports of both expert doctors in this case, Dr. Kostavdakis and Dr. Bradford, it is clear to this court that meaningful treatment includes treatment with medication (chemical therapy) in order to facilitate the safe release of the respondent, Richard Z., on SIST pursuant to Mental Hygiene Law, article 10, § 10.01 (c). It is clear that meaningful treatment for SIST would include medication, as set forth in Dr. Bradford’s report, in the form of Lupron, and that Richard Z. should be entitled to receive that medication if he chooses to do so, and be released on SIST.

The court’s position has not changed nor has it altered since the beginning of this process under Mental Hygiene Law article 10. If treatment is available for these individuals that can help the individuals become safe in the community and productive outside of the psychiatric institution, then that medication should be made available to the individuals for release. This is consistent with the clear legislative intent and the plain reading of Mental Hygiene Law, article 10, § 10.01 (a), (c) which provide “offenders [shall] have access to proper treatment” including “an integrated approach that is based on evolving scientific understanding, flexible enough . . . and sufficient to provide meaningful treatment,” and which, in Richard Z.’s case, is consistent with the recommendations of the sex offender experts, Dr. Bradford and Dr. Kostavdakis, in regard to the use of chemical therapy treatment for Richard Z.

This court ordered all parties to appear, in order to formulate a release under SIST, which will include terms and conditions that Richard Z. can understand, acknowledge and give an informed allocution prior to his release under SIST; the conditions shall include medication necessary in order to assist him in treatment for his mental abnormality on a SIST program as recommended by the two experts in this case. The parties appeared on December 8, 2016. On that date, this court was under the belief, through Office of Mental Health records and reports received from the New York State Attorney General’s Office, and provided to counsel for Richard Z., that Richard Z. was being presented to formulate a release under SIST. This [1070]*1070would include an acknowledgment by Richard Z. that he understood and agreed to his release under strict and intensive supervision and treatment under the conditions, which would include his treatment with an antiandrogen medication, namely Depot Lupron, which is necessary to assist him in treatment for his mental abnormality under a SIST program, and would render him “safe” to be released into the community.

According to exhibits that were previously presented to the court, the issue surrounding the ability of Richard Z. to be prescribed Lupron, the expert-recommended antiandrogen drug to assist Richard Z. in controlling his sexual urges, centers around the effect that the drug may have on his bone density.

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Related

§ 2805
New York PBH § 2805

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
55 Misc. 3d 1066, 49 N.Y.S.3d 278, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-richard-z-nysupct-2017.