Opinion ID: 2074649
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Sexually Violent Persons Commitment Act

Text: Before we begin our analysis of section 15(b-5)(1), we provide, as background, a brief overview of the Sexually Violent Persons Commitment Act as a whole. The Commitment Act, which went into effect on January 1, 1998 (Pub. Act 90-40, eff. January 1, 1998), applies to an individual who has been convicted of a sexually violent offense and who is nearing release or discharge from custody. In re Detention of Lieberman, 201 Ill.2d 300, 309, 267 Ill.Dec. 81, 776 N.E.2d 218 (2002); 725 ILCS 207/10(b) (West 2000). If such an individual may meet the criteria for commitment as a sexually violent person, the Act allows the State to petition the court for the civil detention of this person beyond his imposed period of incarceration. Lieberman, 201 Ill.2d at 309, 267 Ill.Dec. 81, 776 N.E.2d 218; 725 ILCS 207/10(b), 15 (West 2000). A sexually violent person, as defined in the Act, is one who has been convicted of a sexually violent offense    and who is dangerous because he or she suffers from a mental disorder that makes it substantially probable that the person will engage in acts of sexual violence. 725 ILCS 207/5(f) (West 2000). Upon the filing of the petition, the court must determine whether to order the detention of the person who is the subject of the petition. Such detention is ordered only if there is cause to believe that the person is eligible for commitment as a sexually violent person. If the person is ordered detained, he is held in a facility approved by the Department of Human Services. 725 ILCS 207/30(a) (West 2000). The court also is required to conduct a hearing to determine if there is probable cause to believe that the person named in the petition is a sexually violent person. 725 ILCS 207/30(b) (West 2000). If probable cause is not established, the petition must be dismissed. If probable cause is shown and if the person is not already in custody, the court must order the person taken into custody pending trial. 725 ILCS 207/30(c) (West 2000); In re Detention of Samuelson, 189 Ill.2d 548, 554, 244 Ill.Dec. 929, 727 N.E.2d 228 (2000). Under section 35 of the Act, a trial to determine whether the person named in the petition is a sexually violent person must begin no later than 45 days after the date of the probable cause hearing. However, [t]he court may grant a continuance of the trial date for good cause upon its own motion, the motion of any party or the stipulation of the parties, provided that any continuance granted shall be subject to Section 103-5 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 [725 ILCS 5/103-5 (West 2000)]. 725 ILCS 207/35(a) (West 2000). Section 103-5 of the Code of Criminal Procedure is known as the speedy-trial statute. If it is not shown at trial that the person named in the petition is a sexually violent person, the court shall dismiss the petition and direct that the person be released unless he or she is under some other lawful restriction. 725 ILCS 207/35(f) (West 2000). If, on the other hand, it is determined that the person named in the petition is a sexually violent person, the court shall order the person to be committed to the custody of the Department [of Human Services] for control, care and treatment until such time as the person is no longer a sexually violent person. 725 ILCS 207/40(a) (West 2000).