Opinion ID: 1571905
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Custody Under the Act

Text: As has previously been noted by this Court, as well as by the First District Court of Appeal below, the Legislature appears to have specifically contemplated that an individual would be lawfully in the State's custody when civil commitment proceedings are commenced under the Act. State v. Goode, 830 So.2d 817, 825 (Fla. 2002) ([I]t appears that the Legislature intended that the State would initiate commitment proceedings while the inmate is still incarcerated. (citing § 394.915(1), Fla. Stat. (1999))); Larimore, 917 So.2d at 357 ([T]he Act as amended clearly contemplates that a commitment petition should be filed before a person is released from total confinement....). The Act provides that the commitment process is initiated by the agency with jurisdiction. [1] This is done in one of two wayseither by giving notice to the multidisciplinary team and state attorney under section 394.913(1), Florida Statutes (2004), which begins the detailed process under that section, see §§ 394.913(1)-(4), or by transferring the individual to the custody of the Department of Children and Family Services upon that person's immediate release from total confinement under section 394.9135(1), Florida Statutes (2004). This latter procedure is followed to initiate commitment proceedings where it is anticipated that the individual will be immediately released from total confinement for any reason. See § 394.9135(1), Fla. Stat. (2004). [2] Section 394.913(1)(a) indicates that the person is to be in custody when proceedings are commenced because it specifically provides that the notice must be given to the multidisciplinary team and the state attorney at least 545 days prior to the person's anticipated release from total confinement if the person is in custody of the Department of Corrections. [3] Notice must be given at least 180 days prior to release from a residential commitment if the person is in custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice or, where the person has been found not guilty of a sexually violent offense by reason of mental incapacity or insanity, from the custody of the Department of Children and Family Services. See § 394.913(1)(b)-(c), Fla. Stat. (2004). Specifically, section 394.913(1) provides that the agency with jurisdiction shall give written notice to the multidisciplinary team, and a copy to the state attorney of the circuit where that person was last convicted of a sexually violent offense. Subsection (1) further provides that if the person was never convicted of a sexually violent offense in Florida, but has been convicted of such an offense in another state or federal court, a copy of the notice shall be given to the state attorney of the circuit where the person was last convicted of any offense in this state. Subsection (1) provides that if the person is being confined in this state pursuant to interstate compact, notice shall also be given to the state attorney of the circuit where the person plans to reside upon release  or, if no residence in this state is planned, the state attorney in the circuit where the facility from which the person to be released is located. Id. (emphases added). Subsection (2) of section 394.913 sets forth the information that the agency with jurisdiction must provide to the multidisciplinary team, including information such as the individual's name, identifying characteristics, criminal history, mental health, mental status, and documentation of institutional adjustment. Subsection (2)(e) states that, [i]f the person was returned to custody after a period of supervision, documentation of adjustment during supervision and any treatment received shall be provided to the multidisciplinary team. Section 394.913(3) provides for establishment of the multidisciplinary team or teams, and states that each team shall include at least two licensed psychiatrists or psychologists. Subsection (3) also provides that the assessment and evaluation shall include a review of the individual's institutional history and treatment record, the person's criminal background, and any other relevant factor. Subsection (3)(e) provides that within 180 days after receiving notice, there shall be a written assessment and recommendation, which shall be provided to the state attorney and to the Department of Children and Family Services. Following the receipt of the written assessment and recommendation from the multidisciplinary team, the state attorney may file a petition in the circuit court alleging that the person is a sexually violent predator. § 394.914, Fla. Stat. (2004). Section 394.915(1) then provides that upon finding probable cause to believe that an individual is a sexually violent predator, the judge shall order that the person remain in custody and be immediately transferred to an appropriate secure facility if the person's incarcerative sentence expires. § 394.915(1), Fla. Stat. (2004) (emphasis added). Similarly, section 394.9135(3), which applies in cases where the individual is in total confinement but subject to immediate release, instructs that upon finding probable cause in a proceeding initiated under that section, the judge shall order the person be maintained in custody and held in an appropriate secure facility for further proceedings in accordance with this part. § 394.9135(3), Fla. Stat. (2004) (emphasis added). Section 394.9135 is predicated on the underlying premise that the individual is in custody when initial steps are taken in the commitment process, addressing what must happen when the anticipated release from total confinement of a person who has been convicted of a sexually violent offense becomes immediate for any reason. § 394.9135(1), Fla. Stat. (2004) (emphasis added). This would occur, for example, where the inmate obtains an order for release from an incarcerative sentence. [4] Additionally, this section would apply where an inmate is about to be immediately released from an incarcerative sentence and the detailed procedures of section 394.913 and section 394.915(1) [5] have not yet been followed to initiate commitment proceedings and retain the person in custody. Section 394.9135(1) provides that where an individual currently in total confinement is about to be released, the agency with jurisdiction shall upon immediate release from total confinement transfer that person to the custody of the Department of Children and Family Services to be held in an appropriate secure facility. § 394.9135(1), Fla. Stat. (2004). This provision allows the multidisciplinary team seventy-two hours after this transfer to assess whether the person meets the definition of a sexually violent predator. § 394.9135(2), Fla. Stat. (2004). If the multidisciplinary team determines that the person does not meet the definition of a sexually violent predator, the person is immediately released. If the team determines that the person does meet the definition, the team shall provide the state attorney ... with its written assessment and recommendation within the 72-hour period or, if the 72-hour period ends on a weekend or holiday, within the next working day thereafter. Id. After that, within forty-eight hours of receipt of the written assessment and recommendation from the team, the state attorney has the option of filing a petition with the circuit court alleging that the person is a sexually violent predator. § 394.9135(3), Fla. Stat. (2004). If a petition is not filed within 48 hours after receipt of the written assessment and recommendation by the state attorney, the person shall be immediately released. Id. If a petition is timely filed pursuant to this section and the judge determines that there is probable cause, then the judge shall order the person to be maintained in custody and held in an appropriate secure facility for further proceedings in accordance with this part. § 394.9135(3), Fla. Stat. (2004). These provisions of the Act all demonstrate legislative intent that the individual be in lawful custody when civil commitment proceedings are initiated. Therefore, as to the question of custody, we conclude that it is clear from a reading of all of the related provisions that the legislative intent of the Jimmy Ryce Act is that the person is in lawful custody at the time any initial steps are taken in the commitment process under either section 394.913 or 394.9135. There are no provisions in the Act that expressly provide or even imply that the State may initiate a civil commitment proceeding after a person has been released from custody and is living in society. We will next consider whether any sections of the Act constitute a statutory waiver of this custody requirement to allow the state to initiate Jimmy Ryce proceedings against an individual who is not in lawful custody.