Opinion ID: 1479202
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Overview of Forensic Commitment

Text: Before we delve into the parties' dispute about whether the forensic statute prohibits the exercise of judicial discretion to order a competent defendant to remain committed at the forensic unit, we believe it is helpful to first provide an overview of Rhode Island's forensic statute. The statute, as set forth in chapter 5.3 of title 40.1, has general provisions that apply to all individuals who are committed pursuant to it. For example, § 40.1-5.3-1(a) requires that the director of MHRH establish a facility to provide proper care, treatment, and restraint for such individuals. Section 40.1-5.3-13 sets forth a non-exhaustive list of general rights that apply to all committed patients, and § 40.1-5.3-14 provides that persons being committed or transferred to a facility under the forensic statute have a right to receive care that is appropriate, necessary, and based on individual needs. Other sections of the forensic statute provide for specific categories of commitment. Section 40.1-5.3-4 addresses those acquitted of a criminal charge on grounds of insanity. Sections 40.1-5.3-6 through 40.1-5.3-9 apply to those who are sentenced to prison but require special care related to their mental illness. The section directly at issue in the present action, § 40.1-5.3-3, entitled Competency to stand trial, contains a series of parts and subparts that shepherd the courts, criminal defendants, and the director of MHRH through a series of steps that apply when a person's competency to stand trial is at issue. For instance, § 40.1-5.3-3(c) allows counsel for the defendant or the state to request that the defendant be examined for the limited purpose of determining whether he or she is competent. The court may act on its own motion in this regard as well. If the examining physician believes that the defendant is incompetent, and the defendant currently is confined to the ACI, he or she immediately is transferred to the forensic unit to await a competency hearing. Section 40.1-5.3-3(d)(3). At this hearing, § 40.1-5.3-3(g) requires the court to determine whether the defendant is competent. If the court finds that the defendant is incompetent, he or she is committed to the custody of MHRH and evaluated to determine whether he or she poses a danger to himself or herself or the public, and whether competency will be restored within the maximum time allowed under the statute. Section 40.1-5.3-3(h)(2). If the defendant is dangerous, as was the case with Tavares, he or she is committed to the forensic unit for competency restoration. Section 40.1-5.3-3(i)(3). After an incompetent defendant has been committed to the forensic unit, the director of MHRH is required to petition the court to review his or her competency every six months, or sooner if the director believes that the defendant's competency has been restored. Section 40.1-5.3-3(k). Upon receipt of the director's petition, the court must hold a hearing to evaluate the defendant's competency and prognosis. Section 40.1-5.3-3(m). [10] When a person is committed to the forensic unit because he or she is incompetent to stand trial, § 40.1-5.3-3(i)(3) outlines the circumstances under which the commitment will terminate. The relevant language provides: The commitment ordered pursuant to this section shall terminate upon the occurrence of any of the following: (i) The defendant is determined by the court to be competent; or (ii) The charges against the defendant are dismissed pursuant to subsection (j); or (iii) The charges against the defendant are dismissed or a nolle prosequi is entered; or (iv) The defendant is civilly committed pursuant to § 40.1-5-8; or (v) The court finds there is no reasonable likelihood that in the foreseeable future the defendant will become competent and his or her condition is such that he or she cannot properly be committed under § 40.1-5-8. Section 40.1-5.3-3(i)(3) (Emphases added.) The key question before us is whether this provision forecloses discretion to a hearing justice after a finding of competency to stand trial, especially in light of the Legislature's use of the imperative word shall. Tavares argues that the forensic commitment statute is remedial in nature, and therefore calls for a liberal construction to effectuate its purposes. MHRH counters, however, that because § 40.1-5.3-3(i)(3)(i) unambiguously states that a defendant's commitment shall terminate, the hearing justice did not have discretion to order anything but an end to the commitment. According to MHRH, in the absence of ambiguity, the justice should have applied the words of this provision as written. We agree with MHRH to the limited extent that the words commitment    shall terminate are unambiguous. However, we do not agree that this provision, a subpart within one subsection of the forensic statute, is dispositive of the case at bar. To apply these words literally, without consideration of the section or the statute as a whole, would frustrate legislative intent [11] and reach an absurd result. See Krikorian v. Rhode Island Department of Human Services, 606 A.2d 671, 675 (R.I. 1992) (Court views statute in its entirety to ascertain legislative intent); Town of Scituate v. O'Rourke, 103 R.I. 499, 507, 239 A.2d 176, 181 (1968) (Court does not apply literal reading of statute when doing so defeats or frustrates legislative intent).