Court Opinion

ID: 9737111
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 19:16:23.44737+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:23:56.597696
License: Public Domain

STONE, J. pro tem.*
I concur in the majority’s holding that a person legally confined in a state prison is a prisoner within the meaning of Penal Code, section 4502.
I cannot agree with the holding of the majority that the trial court was under no duty to inquire into the mental condition of the defendant pursuant to Penal Code, section 1367. To so hold gives rise to a judicial anomaly, since the record reflects that at the time of the commission of the present offense, the defendant had not been discharged as a psychopathic delinquent nor returned to the committing court. As a matter of law, it must be presumed that defendant’s disability existed during the 11 years he was incarcerated, during which time, he committed the crime now in question. Since he was admittedly a psychopathic delinquent against whom criminal proceedings were then suspended, it is manifestly inconsistent to hold that he was properly convicted of a crime perpetrated during such commitment without the court first satisfying itself of his mental status. The majority cite People v. Jensen, 43 Cal.2d 572 [275 P.2d 25] as authority for their position. A reading of the opinion discloses the following at page 575:
“. . . By order of the court, Jensen was examined by three psychiatrists, each of whom concluded that Jensen was sane at that time and also when the offenses were committed. ...”
Although the court in the Jensen case appointed the psychiatrists because the defendant pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, the court, faced with the record in this ease, should have appointed psychiatrists on its own motion to determine the mental condition of the defendant at the time the offense was committed and at the time of examination before proceeding to convict and sentence him for the commission of a felony.
Appellant’s petition for a hearing by the Supreme Court was denied March 23, 1960.

Assigned by Chairman of Judicial Council.