§ 135-E:3 — Notice to County Attorney or Attorney General; Multidisciplinary Teams Established

New Hampshire § 135-E:3

• Jurisdiction: New Hampshire
• Title X: PUBLIC HEALTH
• Ch. 135-E: INVOLUNTARY CIVIL COMMITMENT OF SEXUALLY VIOLENT PREDATORS

Text

I. The commissioner of the department of health and human services, or designee, shall establish a multidisciplinary team or teams, each of which shall include, but is not limited to, 2 licensed psychiatrists or psychologists or one licensed psychiatrist and one licensed psychologist each of whom has specialized training or experience in the area of treatment and diagnosis of sex offenders. The attorney general shall serve as legal counsel to the multidisciplinary team. The purpose of the team shall be to evaluate whether persons convicted of a sexually violent offense who are eligible for release from total confinement meet the definition of a sexually violent predator.
II. When a person who has committed a sexually violent offense is to be released from total confinement in New Hampshire, the agency with jurisdiction over the person shall give written notice to the person and the county attorney of the county where that person was last convicted of a sexually violent offense, or attorney general if the case was prosecuted by the attorney general. If the person is in custody on an out-of-state or federal sexually violent offense, the agency with jurisdiction shall give written notice to the person and the county attorney of the county where the person plans to reside upon release or, if no residence in this state is planned, the county attorney in the county where the facility from which the person to be released is located or to the attorney general if the person has been convicted of murder. Except as provided in RSA 135-E:4, the written notice shall be given at least 9 months prior to the potential release except that in the case of persons who are totally confined for a period of less than 9 months, written notice shall be given as soon as practicable.
III. Within 45 days of receipt of such notice, if there is an articulable basis to believe that the person is likely to engage in acts of sexual violence, either the county attorney, attorney general, or the agency with jurisdiction may request that the multidisciplinary team assess and evaluate the person to determine whether the person is a sexually violent predator. If the county attorney, attorney general, or the agency with jurisdiction over the person to be assessed requests an assessment by the multidisciplinary team, the court shall appoint legal counsel to represent the person before any interview or personal examination of the person is conducted by the multidisciplinary team. The person to be assessed shall bear the cost of legal services associated with any proceedings under this section. If the person to be assessed is unable to pay for counsel, the court shall appoint counsel pursuant to RSA 604-A:2.
IV. If a request to assess and evaluate a person is made pursuant to paragraph III, the agency with jurisdiction shall provide the multidisciplinary team with the following information:
(a) The person's name, identifying characteristics, anticipated future residence, the type of supervision the person will receive in the community, if any, and the person's offense history;
(b) The person's criminal history, including police reports, victim statements, pre-sentence investigation reports, post-sentence investigation reports, if available, and any other documents containing facts of the person's criminal incidents;
(c) Mental health, mental status, and medical records, including all clinical records and notes concerning the person;
(d) Documentation of institutional adjustment and any treatment received; and
(e) If the person was returned to custody after a period of supervision, documentation of adjustment during supervision and any treatment received.
V. (a) The multidisciplinary team shall assess and evaluate each person referred to the team. The assessment and evaluation shall include a review of the person's institutional history and treatment record, if any, the person's criminal background, and any other factor that is relevant to the determination of whether such person is a sexually violent predator.
(b) Before concluding the evaluation, the multidisciplinary team shall offer the person being evaluated a personal interview. If the person agrees to participate in a personal interview, at least one member of the team who is a licensed psychiatrist or psychologist shall conduct the interview. If the person refuses to fully participate in a personal interview, the multidisciplinary team may proceed with its recommendation without a personal interview of the person.
(c) Within 4 months after receiving the request for an assessment and evaluation, the department of health and human services shall provide to the county attorney or attorney general, and to the attorney representing the person, a written report of the multidisciplinary team's findings as to whether the person meets the definition of a sexually violent predator.
VI. Records, reports, and proceedings of the multidisciplinary team shall be confidential and shall be exempt from the provisions of RSA 91-A, except as provided in RSA 135-E:15.

Legislative History

2006, 327:21. 2007, 337:3, 10. 2009, 306:10, 11. 2010, 247:14; 287:3-6. 2011, 244:4, eff. July 13, 2011. 2021, 48:1, eff. May 25, 2021.