Opinion ID: 165223
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Certificate of Mental Disease or Defect and Dangerousness

Text: 18 In addition to the testimony, the government introduced into evidence a psychiatric report, titled Certificate of Mental Disease or Defect and Dangerousness, as required by 18 U.S.C. § 4243(b). The report was produced by the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and signed by the warden of the federal facility housing Weed. (Appellant's Addendum of Exhibits, Exh. F). The report informed the court that the mental health workers responsible for Weed's care believed that Weed is currently suffering from a mental disease or defect that would cause him to present a substantial risk of danger to others if released. The attached forensic evaluation submitted by staff psychiatrist Bryon Herbel, M.D., and staff psychologist Robert E. Cochrane, Psy. D., diagnosed Weed as having Brief Psychotic Disorder, In Remission. ( Id. at 8) The report noted that Weed demonstrated the sudden onset of manic psychotic symptoms shortly before the December 12, 2001 shooting, but found that these symptoms remitted a few days after his arrest, following treatment with a single dose of Haldol and Ativan. ( Id. at 9) 19 Regarding the link between risk of dangerousness and mental disease or defect, the report stated: 20 Mr. Weed is not viewed as presenting an increased risk of dangerous behavior in his current mental status. However, he is viewed as presenting a high risk of dangerousness if he relapsed into another psychotic episode, which resulted in him committing homicide by shooting and killing a postal worker. The risk of any such future recurrence of a psychotic episode is unknown. Mr. Weed may not have any further such episodes in his life or he may have these episodes at some unpredictable intervals in the future. 21 ( Id. at 10) Based on the gravity of Weed's offense, the lack of data to estimate the risk of recurrence of another psychotic episode, and the lack of any clear strategies to lower this risk, the report thus concluded that Weed's current condition met the standard for commitment and recommended that he be confined for further observation. ( Id. )