New Hampshire § 135-E:5 Persons Found Incompetent to Stand Trial

New Hampshire Statutes

§ 135-E:5 — Persons Found Incompetent to Stand Trial

New Hampshire § 135-E:5

Title XPUBLIC HEALTH

Ch. 135-EINVOLUNTARY CIVIL COMMITMENT OF SEXUALLY VIOLENT PREDATORS

This text of New Hampshire § 135-E:5 (Persons Found Incompetent to Stand Trial) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New Hampshire primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 135-E:5 (2026).

Text

I.If the county attorney or attorney general seeks to civilly commit a person charged with a sexually violent offense and found incompetent to stand trial, the court shall order the person to remain in custody for a reasonable period of time, not to exceed 90 days, for proceedings pursuant to this section.

II.The court shall first hear evidence and determine whether the person did commit the act or acts charged. The hearing on this issue shall comply with all the procedures specified in this section. After hearing evidence on this issue, the court shall make specific findings on whether the person did commit the act or acts charged beyond a reasonable doubt. In determining whether the state has met its burden, the court shall consider the extent to which the person's incompetence or deve

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I. If the county attorney or attorney general seeks to civilly commit a person charged with a sexually violent offense and found incompetent to stand trial, the court shall order the person to remain in custody for a reasonable period of time, not to exceed 90 days, for proceedings pursuant to this section.
II. The court shall first hear evidence and determine whether the person did commit the act or acts charged. The hearing on this issue shall comply with all the procedures specified in this section. After hearing evidence on this issue, the court shall make specific findings on whether the person did commit the act or acts charged beyond a reasonable doubt. In determining whether the state has met its burden, the court shall consider the extent to which the person's incompetence or developmental disability affected the outcome of the hearing, including the person's ability to assist his or her counsel by recounting the facts, identifying witnesses, testifying in his or her own defense, or providing other relevant information or assistance to counsel or the court. If the person's incompetence substantially interferes with the person's ability to assist his or her counsel, the court shall not find the person committed the act or acts charged unless the court can conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that the acts occurred, and that the strength of the state's case, including physical evidence, eyewitness testimony, and corroborating evidence, is such that the person's limitations could not have had a substantial impact on the proceedings. If, after the conclusion of the hearing, the court finds, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the person did commit the act or acts charged, the court shall enter a final order, appealable to the supreme court on that issue. If the person appeals, the person shall be held in an appropriate secure facility. If the person does not appeal or if the appeal is unsuccessful, the court shall proceed as specified in this section.
III. Within 90 days after the court finds that the person committed the act or acts charged or after appeal, the multidisciplinary team shall conduct an evaluation pursuant to the procedures outlined in RSA 135-E:3 to determine whether the person meets the definition of a sexually violent predator and the department of health and human services shall provide to the county attorney or attorney general a written report of the multidisciplinary team's findings as to whether the person meets the definition of a sexually violent predator.