Case Name: In the Matter of the Personal Restraint of Alan Meirhofer, Petitioner. In the Matter of the Detention of Alan Meirhofer
Court: Washington Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Washington
Decision Date: 2015-02-12
Citations: 182 Wash. 2d 632
Docket Number: No. 89251-2
Parties: In the Matter of the Personal Restraint of Alan Meirhofer, Petitioner. In the Matter of the Detention of Alan Meirhofer.
Judges: Madsen, C.J.; Johnson, Owens, and Fairhurst, JJ.; and Kulik, J. Pro Tem., concur.
Reporter: Washington Reports
Volume: 182
Pages: 632–664

Head Matter:
[No. 89251-2.
En Banc.]
Argued May 8, 2014.
Decided February 12, 2015.
In the Matter of the Personal Restraint of Alan Meirhofer, Petitioner. In the Matter of the Detention of Alan Meirhofer.
Lila J. Silverstein (of Washington Appellate Project), for petitioner.
Robert W. Ferguson, Attorney General, and Trida Boerger, Sarah Sappington, and Mary Robnett, Assistants, for respondent.

Opinion:
González, J.
¶1 Alan Meirhofer was civilly committed under the sexually violent predator (SVP) act, chapter 71.09 RCW, in 2000. He now seeks a full evidentiary proceeding on whether he still meets the statutory and constitutional criteria for SVP commitment. Before holding such a full evidentiary proceeding, the SVP act directs trial courts to hold an initial show cause hearing to determine whether the State has presented prima facie evidence that continued commitment is justified or the detainee has presented prima facie evidence that his or her condition has "so changed" as to warrant a new evidentiary proceeding. The trial court found the State had made its showing and Meirhofer had not. We affirm.
Background
¶2 In the late 1980s, Meirhofer was charged with several counts of brutally raping children, along with charges of burglary and kidnapping. In re Det. of Meirhofer, noted at 109 Wn. App. 1057, 2001 WL 1643535, at *1, 2001 Wash. App. LEXIS 2794, at *1. Meirhofer was implicated in several more child rapes. Pers. Restraint Pet. (PRP), App. B at 4-8. He pleaded guilty to several charges, apparently in return for the State dropping others. In re Det. of Meirhofer, 2001 WL 1643535, at *1, 2001 Wash. App. LEXIS 2794, at *2-4. As Meirhofer finished serving his criminal sentence, the State brought SVP commitment proceedings against him under the SVP act, chapter 71.09 RCW. This act authorizes the State to civilly commit those who "suffer [ ] from a mental abnormality[ ] or personality disorder[ ] which makes the person likely to engage in predatory acts of sexual violence if not confined in a secure facility." RCW 71.09.020(18). At the civil commitment trial, the State submitted evidence that Meirhofer suffered from pedophilia; paraphilia not otherwise specified (NOS), nonconsent; a personality disorder with antisocial features; and alcohol and amphetamine dependence, and that he had a high risk of reoffending. Mot. for Discr. Review (MDR) (June 15, 2012), App. B at 20, 15. In 2000, a jury found beyond a reasonable doubt that Meirhofer was a sexually violent predator and the trial court ordered him civilly committed to the Special Commitment Center. In re Det. of Meirhofer, 2001WL 1643535, at *2, 2001 Wash. App. LEXIS 2794, at *4.
¶3 Civil commitment under the SVP act is indefinite, but the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) is required to have the condition of each person detained under the act reviewed by a qualified professional at least annually and regularly report to the court whether each detainee still meets the statutory and constitutional criteria for civil commitment. RCW 71.09.070(1); WAC 388-880-031. If the secretary of DSHS determines that a detainee does not still meet the requirements, "the secretary shall authorize the person to petition the court for conditional release to a less restrictive alternative or unconditional discharge." RCW 71.09.090(1). In such cases, "[t]he court must order an evidentiary hearing upon receipt of the petition." State v. McCuistion, 174 Wn.2d 369, 380, 275 P.3d 1092 (2012) (citing RCW 71.09.090(1)), cert, denied, 133 S. Ct. 1460 (2013). Alternatively, those civilly committed under the SVP act can petition the court for either full release or release to a less restrictive alternative than full civil commitment. RCW 71.09.090(2)(a). In such cases, the trial court will hold a show cause hearing to determine if sufficient grounds exist to hold a full eviden-tiary proceeding. McCuistion, 174 Wn.2d at 380 (citing RCW 71.09.090(2)(a)). At this show cause hearing, the State bears the burden of presenting prima facie evidence that continued commitment is appropriate. Id. (citing RCW 71-.09.090(2)(b)); In re Det. of Petersen, 145 Wn.2d 789, 798, 42 P.3d 952 (2002). If it fails to do so, the court will hold a full evidentiary hearing. RCW 71.09.090(2). Alternately, the detainee may present prima facie evidence that there is probable cause to believe his or her condition has "so changed" that release is appropriate. RCW 71.09.090(2)(c)(ii); McCuistion, 174 Wn.2d at 382. If the detainee succeeds, the court will set a full evidentiary proceeding. RCW 71.09.090(2)(c), (3); In re Det. of Petersen, 145 Wn.2d at 798. At the show cause hearing, the court "must assume the truth of the evidence presented; it may not 'weigh and measure asserted facts against potentially competing ones.' " McCuistion, 174 Wn.2d at 382 (quoting In re Det. of Petersen, 145 Wn.2d at 797). "At the same time, the court can and must determine whether the asserted evidence, if believed, is sufficient to establish the proposition its proponent intends to prove." Id. (citing In re Det. of Petersen, 145 Wn.2d at 798). While the court does not weigh the evidence, it is entitled to consider all of it. See In re Det. of Petersen, 145 Wn.2d at 798.
¶4 In 2005, the legislature limited the type of evidence and the grounds a court may consider when determining whether there was probable cause to believe an SVP had " 'so changed' " that release might be appropriate. Laws of 2005, ch. 344, § 1. These amendments were in response to two cases where evidentiary hearings had been ordered based on changes in "demographic factors," such as the offender's age, which trial courts found rendered them not likely to reoffend if released. Id. (citing In re Det. of Ward, 125 Wn. App. 381, 104 P.3d 747 (2005); In re Det. of Young, 120 Wn. App. 753, 86 P.3d 810 (2004)). The legislature declared that "a mere advance in age or a change in gender or some other demographic factor after the time of commitment does not merit a new trial proceeding under RCW 71.09.090." Id. The legislature expressed concern that allowing new trial proceedings under RCW 71.09.070 and .090 based on such demographic changes "subverts the statutory focus on treatment and reduces community safety by removing all incentive for successful treatment participation in favor of passive aging and distracting committed persons from fully engaging in sex offender treatment." Id. To avoid disincentivizing treatment, the 2005 provisions stated that probable cause to believe someone has " 'so changed' " exists only when there is a "physiological change to the person, such as paralysis, stroke, or dementia, that renders the committed person unable to commit a sexually violent act and this change is permanent" or when there is a "change in the person's mental condition brought about through positive response to continuing participation in treatment." Id. § 2(4)(b)(i), (ii) (codified as RCW 71.09-.090(4)(b)(i)-(ii)). Additionally, "a change in a single demographic factor, without more, does not establish probable cause for a new trial proceeding." Id. § 2(4)(c) (codified as RCW 71.09.090(4)(c)). We initially held these amendments unconstitutional on due process and separation of powers grounds, but on reconsideration, we upheld them. McCuistion, 174 Wn.2d at 378, 398. The United States Supreme Court denied certiorari. 133 S. Ct. 1460 (2013). The 2005 amendments and the McCuistion opinion are especially relevant to Meirhofer because he has declined treatment and because his risk to reoffend, as determined by actuarial tests, has largely been reduced because of his advancing age.
¶5 In the 2010 annual report to the court, the State's expert, Dr. Saari, stated he did not have sufficient information to diagnose Meirhofer with pedophilia because "there is not sufficient evidence to indicate a clear pattern of sexual attraction to prepubescent" children. PRP, App. B at 12. Dr. Saari gave Meirhofer the provisional diagnosis of "Rule Out Pedophilia." Id. at 11 (boldface omitted). Dr. Saari diagnosed Meirhofer with paraphilia, NOS hebephilia, paraphilia NOS nonconsent, and personality disorder NOS with antisocial and borderline traits. Id. Dr. Saari reported that the Static-99R actuarial risk assessment test suggested that offenders with similar static risk factors as Meirhofer had "a 5-year sexual recidivism estimate of about 20% and a 10-year sexual recidivism estimate of about 30%." Id. at 13. Based on Meirhofer's dynamic risk factors, including the fact that "Meirhofer felt entitled to rape teenage boys when he could not find a way to seduce them," and his own clinical judgment, Dr. Saari concluded that it was his "professional opinion that Mr. Meirhofer appears to continue to meet the definition of a sexually violent predator." Id. at 11,13,15. Dr. Saari's 2011 report was consistent and additionally observed that Mr. Meirhofer had been recently suspended from his job in the kitchen at the Special Commitment Center after he was caught making alcohol. Dr. Saari noted in the report that Meirhofer reported he
did not see any problem with making the alcohol, except for the fact he got caught. Prior to making the alcohol, he reportedly did not consider the potential consequences or how it might negatively affect his chances of release from the SCC [Special Commitment Center]. When I asked him why it is important to refrain from drinking, given his history of offending while under the influence of substances, he said he did not believe it is important for him to abstain from alcohol. More specifically, he said, "Quite frankly, I never raped anyone when I was drinking, only when I was under the influence of methamphetamine did I do that."
PRP, App. G at 9. Once again, Dr. Saari concluded that Meirhofer continued to meet the definition of an SVP.
¶6 Also in 2011, before we withdrew our first McCuistion opinion, a second psychologist, Dr. Rosell, opined that there was insufficient evidence that Meirhofer suffered from pedophilia, as currently defined in the academic literature, and that his risk of reoffending had dropped significantly due to his age. Dr. Rosell diagnosed Meirhofer with alcohol and amphetamine dependence and a personality disorder with antisocial traits. Perhaps sensitive to the legislature's response to Young and Ward and to the pending constitutional challenge to that response in McCuistion, Dr. Rosell's report said that under "pre-2005 standards," Meirhofer "no longer meets the criteria of sexual violent predator based on the lack of evidence of a current paraphilic disorder as well as the low risk found on the actuarial instruments utilized." PRP, App. D at 29. He offered no opinion on whether Meir-hofer met the criteria under the 2005 legislative standards.
¶7 Based on Dr. Rosell's report and our then recently published opinion in McCuistion, the trial court found that Meirhofer had presented prima facie evidence that "[h]is condition has so changed that he no longer meets the criteria of a sexually violent predator." Id. App. E at 2. The trial court stayed its order pending this court's resolution of the motion for reconsideration in McCuistion. A few months later, this court withdrew its opinion in McCuistion, and in 2012, we upheld the 2005 amendments. McCuistion, 174 Wn.2d at 398. After we withdrew our first McCuistion opinion, the trial judge found DSHS had met its prima facie burden of showing that Meirhofer continued to meet the statutory definition of an SVP and that Meirhofer had failed to present sufficient prima facie evidence that he did not. MDR (June 15, 2012), App. I at 2 (Oct. 10, 2011 order). Thus, it did not order the evidentiary proceeding Meirhofer seeks. Id.
¶8 Meirhofer sought discretionary review of that October order and challenged his continued confinement by way of a personal restraint petition. The Court of Appeals consolidated the two cases and denied relief in an unpublished opinion. In re Pers. Restraint of Meirhofer, noted at 175 Wn. App. 1049, 2013 WL 3867834, 2013 Wash. App. LEXIS 1643. We granted review to determine whether Meirhofer was entitled to an evidentiary proceeding under chapter 71.09 ROW or, if not, whether he was entitled to collateral relief.
¶9 We affirm.
Analysis
I. Appeal of the RCW 71.09.090 Show Cause Hearing
¶10 Under the SVP act, "there are two possible statutory ways for a court to determine there is probable cause to proceed to an evidentiary hearing . (1) by deficiency in the proof submitted by the State, or (2) by sufficiency of proof" by the detainee that he or she "no longer suffers from a mental abnormality or personality disorder" or that any mental abnormality or personality disorder "would not likely cause the prisoner to engage in predatory acts of sexual violence." Ire re Det. of Petersen, 145 Wn.2d at 798. We review the legal conclusions the trial court drew from that evidence de novo. Id. at 799. Meirhofer contends he succeeds on both grounds.
¶11 First, Meirhofer contends the State's evidence that he "continues to meet the definition of a sexually violent predator" was deficient. See RCW 71.09.090(2)(b). He stresses that the State's expert did not diagnose him with pedophilia and that an actuarial risk assessment test found his risk of reoffending to be 30 percent over the next 10 years, among other things. See PRP, App. G at 10, 12. Considering the experts' conclusions and the reasons recited in the reports, we agree with the courts below that the State has met its statutory prima facie burden. An SVP is "any person who has been convicted of... a crime of sexual violence and who suffers from a mental abnormality or personality disorder which makes the person likely to engage in predatory acts of sexual violence if not confined in a secure facility." RCW 71.09.020(18). It is undisputed that Meirhofer has been convicted of sexually violent crimes. Ire re Det. of Meirhofer, 2001 WL 1643535, 2001 Wash. App. LEXIS 2794. It is also undisputed that Meirhofer has been currently diagnosed by licensed forensic psychologists with both mental abnormalities and personality disorders, including paraphilia NOS (nonconsent) and personality disorder NOS with antisocial and borderline features. PRP, App. G at 10.
¶12 Meirhofer argues that because the State's experts originally testified he suffered from pedophilia and now the State's expert found insufficient evidence for that diagnosis, the State has not met its burden. His argument is unpersuasive. First, this court has affirmed commitment based on paraphilia NOS nonconsent and antisocial personality disorder, which are essentially Meirhofer's remaining diagnoses. See In re Det. of Stout, 159 Wn.2d 357, 363, 150 P.3d 86 (2007). Second, we rejected a similar challenge to continued civil commitment after an insanity acquittal when the detainee's diagnosis changed in State v. Klein, 156 Wn.2d 102, 120-21, 124 P.3d 644 (2005). While we cautioned that " '[d]ue process requires that the nature of the commitment bear some reasonable relation to the purpose for which the individual is committed,' " we found sufficient connection from the "original diagnosis of 'psychoactive substance-induced organic mental disorder' . . . and the current diagnosis of polysubstance dependence" to justify continued commitment. Id. at 119-20 (first alteration in original) (quoting Foucha v. Louisiana, 504 U.S. 71, 79, 112 S. Ct. 1780, 118 L. Ed. 2d 437 (1992)). We observed that "the subjective and evolving nature of psychology may lead to different diagnoses that are based on the very same symptoms, yet differ only in the name attached to it." Id. at 120-21. Similar principles apply here. Without more, the change from a diagnosis of pedophilia to a "rule out pedophilia" and hebephilia diagnosis is not sufficient to require a new evidentiary proceeding.
¶13 Meirhofer also argues that hebephilia may not act as a qualifying mental abnormality or personality disorder under the SVP act. He calls our attention to a recent Illinois Appellate Court case where the court required a Frye hearing before admitting evidence that an SVP respondent suffered from hebephilia, which is not a condition listed in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. In re Det. of New, 2013 IL App (1st) 111556, 992 N.E.2d 519, 372 Ill. Dec. 677, 688, appeal granted, 2 N.E.3d 1045, 377 Ill. Dec. 764 (2013). New had appealed his commitment arguing, among other things, that hebephilia was not a diagnosis generally accepted in the scientific community. The Illinois Appellate Court reversed his commitment and remanded for a Frye evidentiary hearing, noting that "if a respondent in an SVP proceeding does not suffer from an actual mental disorder, then there is nothing to cure, and commitment is pointless." Id. But regardless of whether hebephilia is an accepted diagnosis in the relevant scientific community (a question we need not decide), the State presented sufficient prima facie evidence that Meirhofer has consistently suffered from paraphilia NOS nonconsent and a personality disorder. This is sufficient to show that Meirhofer "suffers from a mental abnormality or personality disorder," RCW 71.09-.020(18), as required for continued confinement.
¶14 The State has also met its prima facie burden of showing Meirhofer is likely to reoffend if not confined. RCW 71.09.090(2)(b). Meirhofer is correct that the actuarial instruments the State's expert used suggest his risk of reoffense is 30 percent in the next 10 years. However, the SVP act does not limit experts to the results of actuarial tests and there is no requirement that "the SVP will reoffend in the foreseeable future." In re Det. of Moore, 167 Wn.2d 113, 125, 216 P.3d 1015 (2009). While Meirhofer is correct that we observed in a case considering the admissibly of actuarial instruments in SVP proceedings that the State "asserts [they] are more reliable than clinical judgment," we never found that they were better evidence than clinical judgment. In re Det. of Thorell, 149 Wn.2d 724, 757, 72 P.3d 708 (2003). Based on static and dynamic risk factors and his own clinical judgment, the State's expert opined that "there has been no apparent change in [Meirhofer's] mental condition that would indicate a lowered risk for sexual re-offense." PRP, App. G at 14. This is amply supported by the evidence reviewed in Dr. Saari's report. The State has met its prima facie burden under RCW 71.09.090(2)(b).
¶15 Second, Meirhofer contends that he has shown probable cause that his condition has "so changed" that he no longer meets the criteria for a sexually violent predator. See In re Det. of Petersen, 145 Wn.2d at 798; RCW 71.09-.090(2)(c). Again, Meirhofer suggests that the change in diagnosis from pedophilia to hebephilia is significant. Whether or not it might be significant if it were the only diagnosis, even Meirhofer's own expert found that he suffered from a personality disorder with antisocial traits. PRP, App. D at 20. Moreover, under the statutory standards, only a "change in the person's mental condition brought about through positive response to continuing participation in treatment" is sufficient under the act. RCW 71.09-.090(4)(b)(ii). Any change in Meirhofer's condition was not driven by any "positive response to continuing participation in treatment," as Meirhofer has refused to participate in treatment. Instead, it appears to be driven by dispute within the psychiatric establishment and refinement in the relevant diagnostic criteria. See PRP, App. J, Ex. A (Allen Frances & Michael B. First, Hebephilia Is Not a Mental Disorder in DSM-TV-TR and Should Not Become One in DSM-5, 39 J. Am. Acad. Psychiatry & L. 78, 84 (2011)).
¶16 Perhaps sensitive to the ongoing legal conflict, Meirhofer's expert couched his conclusion that Meirhofer had "so changed" as to justify further proceedings in very limited terms:
Mr. Meirhofer was found to be an SVP based on the diagnoses of pedophilia. The most recent annual review by Dr. Saari questions this diagnoses and feels there is a need to rule it out. He has supplemented that diagnoses with paraphilia NOS, hebephilia which as previously mentioned is questionable whether it exists as a mental abnormality as opposed to a descriptor of behavior.
I have been asked to address whether Mr. Meirhofer's mental abnormality has "so changed" as to whether he continues to meet the statutory definition of an SVP. As mentioned, recently the Washington State Supreme Court has ruled that the amendments of 2005 which restricted the definition of "so changed" should be reversed to pre-2005 standards. Therefore, it is my opinion that Mr. Meirhofer no longer meets the criteria of sexual violent predator based on the lack of evidence of a current paraphilic disorder[ ] as well as the low risk found on the actuarial instruments utilized.
PRP, App. D at 29. Given Dr. Rosell's reliance on Meirhofer's age in determining his risk of recidivism, given the fact Meirhofer has not undergone treatment, and given the fact no expert has suggested that Meirhofer meets the current statutory requirements for an evidentiary proceeding, the trial court did not err in declining to order one.
II. Personal Restraint Petition
¶17 Meirhofer also challenges his continued confinement by way of a personal restraint petition, largely reiterating his substantive arguments above. The State responded that relief by way of a personal restraint petition is not available. While we agree with the State that Meirhofer is not entitled to relief on the merits, we stress that there are no special rules prohibiting those committed under the SVP act from filing otherwise meritorious personal restraint petitions. "Personal restraint petitions are modern version of ancient writs, most prominently habeas corpus, that allow petitioners to challenge the lawfulness of confinement." In re Pers. Restraint of Coats, 173 Wn.2d 123, 128, 267 P.3d 324 (2011) (citing Toliver v. Olsen, 109 Wn.2d 607, 609-11, 746 P.2d 809 (1987)). But relief by way of a personal restraint petition is extraordinary. See id. at 132 (citing In re Pers. Restraint of Cook, 114 Wn.2d 802, 810-12, 792 P.2d 506 (1990)). A personal restraint petition is not a substitute for statutory avenues for review, and "[t]o prevent it from becoming a substitute for an appeal, and to protect the finality of judgments, this court has imposed significant threshold, prima facie burdens on the petitioner before the merits of the substantive claim will be considered." In re Pers. Restraint of Grantham, 168 Wn.2d 204, 211, 227 P.3d 285 (2010). Among other things, relief is limited to those who meet the requirements of RAP 16.4, including its requirement that the petitioner show that "other remedies which may be available to petitioner are inadequate." RAP 16.4(d). Chapter 71.09 RCW creates an avenue for review, which Meirhofer must show is inadequate in his case.
¶18 Meirhofer contends that if he is not entitled to an evidentiary hearing under RCW 71.09.090, he is entitled to relief in a personal restraint petition as a matter of due process "because new evidence shows the basis for Mr. Meirhofer's original commitment no longer exists and his continuing confinement is unconstitutional absent a jury trial on the issue of whether the State's new alleged bases for confinement are sufficient." Suppl. Br. of Pet'r at 19 (citing RAP 16.4(c)(2), (3)). While we are dubious that these provisions apply given that Meirhofer is restrained pursuant to a 2000 order not before us, a personal restraint petition could conceivably be available to Meirhofer under RAP 16.4(c)(7), which authorizes the petition when "[o]ther grounds exist to challenge the legality of the restraint of petitioner." He essentially argues that the statutory avenue is inadequate because within it, he could not show probable cause that he had been "so changed" as to proceed to an evidentiary hearing under RCW 71.09.090(2)(c)(ii), and that he was not entitled to have the trial judge weigh his evidence against the State's in determining whether he was still appropriately confined under RCW 71.09.090(2)(c)(i). But we effectively rejected similar arguments in McCuistion, 174 Wn.2d 369. McCuistion argued "that because he presented prima facie evidence that he no longer meets the definition of an SVP," as Meirhofer has, "he has both a statutory and constitutional right to an evidentiary hearing." Id. at 382. We disagreed. Id.
¶19 We began with first principles. "Under the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, an individual subject to civil commitment is entitled to release upon a showing that he is no longer mentally ill or dangerous." Id. at 384 (citing Foucha, 504 U.S. at 77-78). "However, once a fact-finder has determined that an individual meets the criteria for commitment as an SVP, the court accepts this initial conclusion as a verity in determining whether an individual is mentally ill and dangerous at a later date." Id. at 385 (citing Burke v. Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. of Yakima, 64 Wn.2d 244, 246, 391 P.2d 194 (1964)). "Accordingly, where an individual was found beyond reasonable doubt to be mentally ill and dangerous at the time of his commitment trial, a showing that he no longer satisfies the constitutional criteria for confinement necessarily requires a showing of change." Id. (citing Laws of 2005, ch. 344, § 1). We rejected McCuistion's contention that he was constitutionally entitled to an evidentiary hearing based on the evidence he presented on age and recidivism, concluding that "[t]here is no substantive due process right to a full annual evidentiary hearing based upon a mere showing of a change in a single demographic factor." Id. Thus, he did not show that his restraint was unlawful on those grounds.
¶20 We also rejected McCuistion's contention that the 2005 amendments were facially unconstitutional because (relevant to this case) they limited detainees seeking to prove their mental condition had changed due to a positive response to treatment. Id. at 387. Again, similarly to Meirhofer, McCuistion argued that requirement violated the constitution because it created the possibility someone could be detained who was not " 'currently likely to commit sexually violent offenses due to a mental disorder.' " Id. (quoting trial court record). We rejected that argument on the grounds the SVP act provided adequate constitutional protections:
If the individual no longer meets the definition of an SVP, then "the secretary shall authorize the person to petition the court for conditional release" or "unconditional discharge" and the court "shall within forty-five days order a hearing." RCW 71.09.090(1). This statutory scheme comports with substantive due process because it does not permit continued involuntary commitment of a person who is no longer mentally ill and dangerous.
McCuistion, 174 Wn.2d at 388. Meirhofer makes no attempt to show that McCuistion should be overruled or that RCW 71.09.090 cannot be constitutionally applied to him. The State is required to review the condition of every detainee at least annually and, when challenged, present prima facie evidence that continued commitment is statutorily and constitutionally appropriate. In re. Det. of Petersen, 145 Wn.2d at 809-10. If the secretary of DSHS determines continued commitment is not appropriate, the detainee is allowed to petition for an evidentiary hearing without having to first show cause. Id. at 810. Meirhofer has not shown that these statutory remedies are inadequate as applied to him. Thus, his due process challenge fails. Accordingly, we dismiss his personal restraint petition under RAP 16.4.
Conclusion
¶21 Meirhofer did not make a prima facie showing that his condition had "so changed" to justify an evidentiary hearing under the SVP act. Nor has he shown that the statutory procedures are inadequate to safeguard against deprivation of his constitutional rights. We affirm.
Madsen, C.J.; Johnson, Owens, and Fairhurst, JJ.; and Kulik, J. Pro Tem., concur.
" 'Mental abnormality means a congenital or acquired condition affecting the emotional or volitional capacity which predisposes the person to the commission of criminal sexual acts in a degree constituting such person a menace to the health and safety of others." RCW 71.09.020(8).
"Personality disorder" means an enduring pattern of inner experience and behavior that deviates markedly from the expectations of the individual's culture, is pervasive and inflexible, has an onset in adolescence or early adulthood, is stable over time and leads to distress or impairment. Purported evidence of a personality disorder must be supported by testimony of a licensed forensic psychologist or psychiatrist.
RCW 71.09.020(9).
It does not appear that Dr. Saari meant to indicate to the court that Meirhofer did not have pedophilia, but merely that the doctor did not have sufficient evidence at the time to diagnose it. First, Dr. Saari cautioned that "I suspect that past evaluators were likely correct in their diagnostic opinion and that full disclosure of his history of sexual fantasy and sexual behavior with minor[s] would reveal the presence of a pedophilic disorder," and that "[a] sexual history polygraph and plethysmograph assessment may help to better clarify" the matter. PRP, App. B at 12. Second, the qualifier "rule out" is a term of art used in the profession. As a treatise explains:
The phrase "rule out" does not appear in DSM-IV and is not part of the vocabulary of DSM. However, it is a common expression in psychiatric diagnosis and is often seen in reports, especially from professionals with medical training or experience in medical settings. There is often some confusion among nonphysicians as to the meaning of this expression. "Rule out" is typically used to identify an alternative diagnosis that is being actively considered, but for which sufficient data has not yet been obtained. For instance, the diagnostic statement "Alcohol Abuse, rule out Alcohol Dependence," suggests that the examiner has definitely concluded there is a drinking problem; that there is definitely evidence supporting Alcohol Abuse; and that the more serious problem of Alcohol Dependence may be present, but the available evidence is inconclusive. "Rule out" can be thought of as a reminder or instruction to continue seeking the information which would allow a diagnosis to be conclusively identified or eliminated from consideration (for the present).
Alvin E. House, DSM-IV Diagnosis in the Schools 33 (2002).
Static tests such as the Static-99R underestimate the probability of future sexual misconduct because they do not actually measure the probability that an offender will commit another sexual offense; they instead predict whether an offender will be caught for a new sexual offense by being arrested, convicted, or, in some cases, by self-report recidivism. See generally Scott I. Vrieze and William M. Grove, Multidimensional Assessment of Criminal Recidivism: Problems, Pitfalls, and Proposed Solutions, 22 Psychol. Assess. 382, 384-85 (2010); see also Static-99R Clearinghouse, Static-99R Samples For Violent Recidivism Tables, http:// www.static99.org/pdfdocs/static-99RViolentRecidEstimates2010-04-29.pdf (describing various sources of baseline recidivism data). Given that the vast majority of sexual crimes are never reported, let alone result in arrest or conviction, this "30%" prediction likely underestimates Meirhofer's dangerousness.
Frye v. United States, 54 App. D.C. 46, 293 F. 1013 (1923).
For similar reasons, we find Meirhofer's contention that he is entitled to a jury trial on whether he suffers from hebephilia unavailing based on the facts of this case. We recognize that the dissent finds the change in professional terminology from pedophilia to hebephilia significant. Given that Meirhofer has two other qualifying conditions, we do not find this an appropriate case to explore the issue.
Dr. Rosell does not explain why he rejected the paraphilia NOS nonconsent diagnosis.
The dissent suggests that Meirhofer is entitled to a new evidentiary hearing because "it is reasonably possible that his change in diagnoses could lead a reasonable trier of fact to believe that he is no longer suffering from a mental abnormality that renders him dangerous." Dissent at 661. But under the statute, such changes are a basis for an evidentiary hearing only when the "change in the person's mental condition [was] brought about through positive response to continuing participation in treatment" and not "a change in a single demographic factor." ROW 71.09.090(4)(b)(ii), (4)(c). Meirhofer has not participated in treatment, so any change in his diagnoses cannot stem from that. We upheld the facial constitutionality of this statute in McCuistion, 174 Wn.2d at 398. The dissent does not show that McCuistion should be overruled or not applied.
(2) The conviction was obtained or the sentence or other order entered in a criminal proceeding or civil proceeding instituted by the state or local government was imposed or entered in violation of the Constitution of the United States or the Constitution or laws of the State of Washington; or
(3) Material facts exist which have not been previously presented and heard, which in the interest of justice require vacation of the conviction, sentence, or other order entered in a criminal proceeding or civil proceeding instituted by the state or local government.
RAP 16.4(c).
McCuistion brought many challenges. Among other things, he maintained that his condition had changed because of his age and his abstention from alcohol and that he was entitled to an evidentiary hearing notwithstanding the statutory amendments that limited the grounds for such hearings. McCuistion, 174 Wn.2d at 377-78. We considered and rejected all of McCuistion's arguments. Id. at 398.
We respectfully disagree with the dissent that the mere fact that Meirhofer is not entitled to relief under RCW 71.09.090(4)(b) means that he is entitled to collateral relief. See dissent at 659-60. The SVP act provides at least two other ways Meirhofer could proceed to an evidentiary hearing on his claim that he no longer qualifies as an SVP. First, the secretary of DSHS could request the hearing under RCW 71.09.090(1). Second, the State could fail to present prima facie evidence that he still meets the definition of an SVP under RCW 71.09.090(2)(c). It may be that these alternative statutory mechanisms are inadequate, but Meirhofer makes no attempt to establish this.
Given our resolution, we deny the State's motion to strike as moot.