Document: 350 U.S. 366 76 S.Ct. 410 100 L.Ed. 412 Earl P. GREENWOOD, Petitioner,v.UNITED STATES of America. No. 460. Argued Jan. 25, 1956. Decided March 5, Mr. William J. Burrell, Kansas City, Mo., for petitioner. Sol. Gen. Simon E. Sobeloff, Washington, D.C., respondent. Justice FRANKFURTER delivered the opinion Court. 1 This case involves construction and constitutional validity Act September 7, 1949, 63 Stat. 686, now codified in 18 U.S.C. §§ 4244—4248, U.S.C.A. 'To provide care custody insane persons charged with or convicted offenses against United States, other purposes.' 2 Section 4244 provides a procedure determining mental incompetency during period 'after arrest prior to imposition sentence expiration any probation.'1 4245 sets up similar prison believed have been mentally incompetent at time their trial when issue was not raised determined before trial. 4246 states that whenever court shall determine, under 4245, an accused is incompetent, may commit Attorney General until competent stand pending charges him are disposed according law. further if court, after hearing as provided preceding finds conditions specified § 4247 exist, commitment be governed by 4248.2 prisoner's about expire board examiners probable danger officers, property, interests then hold and, it determines those prisoner General.3 Under 4248 run sanity restored, condition so improved he will endanger suitable arrangements made his State residence—reserving right establish eligibility release writ habeas corpus.4 3 Petitioner, resident Cleveland, Ohio, indicted on November 20, 1952, grand jury Western District Missouri two counts, robbery from States Post Office Missouri, felonious assault there postal employee. Rule 20 Federal Rules Criminal Procedure, U.S.C.A., petitioner signed waiver transferred Eastern Division Northern Ohio. Acting suggestion appointed counsel, district judge ordered examined psychiatrist. After which examining psychiatrist testified doubtful petitioner, because condition, could fully understood significance signed, Court, February 2, 1953, remanded Court disposition. 4 That Medical Center Prisoners Springfield, purpose ascertaining condition. On April 15, Chief Psychiatric Service filed report concluding legally insance, unable choose between wrong not, reason adequately cooperate counsel own defense. 5 Petitioner jail; but, 16, entered order returning determination whether acutely chronically insane. The Neuropsychiatric Staff Center, 1, 1954, indicated 'psychotic incompetent,' 'it unlikely this subject regain near future,' recommended 'consideration given transferring state hospital residence.' following day, 'resolve power defendant defective 4247. * *' requested Director Board Examiners certify judgment defendant, released, would 'probably safety (defendant) otherwise available.' Board, dated 4, concluded remained stated 'at present appears little likelihood recovering extent might considered future.' In reply request '(t)he agreed potentially dangerous released conceivably persist criminal activities type presently charged. considering man's illness does fixed delusions concerning wanting harm person group persons, either officials government otherwise, respect probably constitute States. recommends candidate can made.' May 1954 Ohio where again who had examination 1952. found 'is remission equivalent recovery. He legal sense.' authorities. 6 rearrested original indictment, still pending, June removed Missouri. 18, moved appoint least one qualified inquire into petitioner's competency purpose. Two psychiatrists were directed court. also recommitted examination. 7 held July 15. belief sane. first three reports received evidence, along fourth, 8, 1954. latest 'that remains major disorder prevent having proper understanding proceeding impairs ability properly assist defense.' staff subject's prognosis recovery poor require indefinite hospitalization insure society. consider except engaging charged.' same effect. 8 its 30, trial, that, no care, than General, available. therefore committed should residence. 125 F.Supp. 777, 778. appealed Appeals Eighth Circuit, seven circuit judges sitting en banc, affirmed, dissenting. 219 F.2d 376. Because important federal conflicting views Courts Appeals, compare Higgins v. 9 Cir., 205 650, Wells 10 201 556, decision Circuit case, we granted certiorari. 821, 89. A detailed history legislation set forth Appeals. pages 380—384. It sufficient note here bill proposed Judicial Conference long study conspicuously able committee, followed consultation judges. statute deals comprehensively crime such insanity incompetence, incompetent. Petitioner's assertion only problem temporary supported language statute, Committee clearly indicates designed deal disability seems more temporary: 11 'If accused's transitory but all will, insanity, never brought seem general rule assume responsibility merely has (but convicted) crime. Normally turned over domicile confined called for. 12 'But cases cannot satisfactorily established care. faced practical situation lawful whom safe let large. recent Massachusetts, Torrez (unreported), Filipino murder high seas. notice alienists testified, insance rationally aid conduct Obviously authority cause confinement hospital.' 13 pursued appropriate holding determine existence 4247, once incompetence seemed temporary. Although demonstrate generally situations both infer Committee, itself, committees Houses Congress specific prisoners whose sentences expire. But applying canon wag said, legislative doubtful, go statute. second makes applicable meet 14 We reach narrow circumstances case. came put custody—the prosecute offenses—is exhausted. Its form indictment persists. States—and these findings supported. retaining restraining while corpus always available warrant. commitment, authorizing context involve authority, duly guarded, auxiliary incontestable national power. As plainly within congressional Necessary Proper Clause. Art. I, cl. 18. 15 fact defeat make initial say irretrievably frustrated. record shows court-appointed sane While did accept conclusion, testimony illustrates uncertainty diagnosis field tentativeness professional judgment. certain thing said knowledge therapy regarding disease science reached finality judgment, even unpromising petitioner's, Springfield. Certainly, denial dealing like ought rest dogmatic adherence view another controversial psychiatric issues. 16 decide us presents equally do imply us. affirmed. 17 Affirmed. HARLAN took part consideration Sec. 4244: 'Whenever probation reasonable believe offense understand proceedings defense, file motion judicial accused, setting ground pending. Upon upon behalf motion, psychiatrist, For facility designated If hearing, due notice, evidence submitted, including reporting finding thereto. 4246: accordance sections authorized representative, And section herein provided.' 4247: Bureau Prisons referred 4241, wll available, transmit certificate clerk confined. above representative.' 4248: pursuant restored residence, whichever event occur. Provided, however, nothing contained preclude hereof establishing provisions corpus. representative transfer authorities

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