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COVERSHEET FOR DMH AND DDSN EVALUATION ORDERS

1.	The Competency to Stand Trial Evaluation orders (SCCA 221 and SCCA 487) and the Criminal Responsibility (McNaughten) Evaluation order (SCCA 222) should not be altered. It is important for purposes of compliance with the statutes as well as timeliness, efficiency and quality control in conducting evaluations that the applicable form order be used exactly as published, without alterations or additions to the terms of the form order.

2.	Additional records must be attached to the order for a complete evaluation. It is the duty of counsel requesting the evaluation to obtain these records in advance and have them ready at the time the judge signs the order so that the evaluation will not be delayed. Within five (5) days of its issuance, counsel must file the order with the Clerk and serve the order on the examining agency. A list of the necessary records is available on the last page of the order, and may include:

Completed DMH/DDSN Outpatient Information Appointment Sheet

Copy of the indictments(s)

Copy of the arresting agency’s incident report

Copy of the warrant(s)

Law enforcement investigative reports

The defendant or juvenile’s statements to law enforcement, written or electronically recorded

Witness statements to law enforcement

Autopsy reports

Defendant’s school psychological records

Defendant’s Rule 5(f) notice of insanity records

Copy of the Juvenile Petition

Special education records, including psychological evaluations and IEPs

School records, including disciplinary and attendance records

Mental health records, including inpatient and outpatient evaluation and/or treatment

3.	Only one Competency to Stand Trial evaluation can be ordered. For Defendants with mental illness, the order is addressed to the Department of Mental Health. For Defendants with an intellectual disability, the order is addressed to the Department of Disabilities and Special Needs. The order may not be addressed to both agencies. In the event there is a dual diagnosis or uncertainty as to the correct diagnosis, the order is first addressed to the Department of Mental Health, and the examiners will determine whether further referral is necessary. All orders for criminal responsibility evaluation, regardless of the diagnosis, are forwarded to the Department of Mental Health.

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA	)	IN THE COURT OF GENERAL SESSIONS
COUNTY OF	)	Indictment No.(s): ______________________
)	A/Warrant No.(s): _______________________
The State of South Carolina,	)
)	ORDER FOR CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY
)	AND CAPACITY TO CONFORM EVALUATION
)	(M’NAUGHTEN)
)
)	Select one of the following:
)	(Controls access to evaluation report as outlined below.)
)
)
)	Ex parte evaluation requested by defendant
prior to assertion of insanity defense.
)
)
)
Evaluation requested by either party after
defendant’s assertion of insanity defense.
Defendant.	)
)
)
Evaluation requested by consent of both
parties at any time.
)

This matter is before me for an order requiring defendant , charged with , to submit to an evaluation for criminal responsibility and capacity to conform conduct to the requirements of the law on or about pursuant to S.C. Code Ann. § 17-24-10 (1976). One of the following circumstances applies to the issuance of this order: (1) defendant has requested an evaluation to determine whether the insanity defense may apply; or (2) prosecution or defendant has requested this evaluation after defendant has affirmatively asserted the insanity defense and given appropriate notice pursuant to Rule 5(f) of the South Carolina Rules of Criminal Procedure; or (3) both parties by consent request this evaluation regardless of whether defendant has asserted the insanity defense.

BASIS FOR ORDER. I have considered the showing made in support of the motion requesting this evaluation and find defendant’s mental state at the time of the alleged crime(s) will likely be at issue in this proceeding.

This order is issued for the following reasons:

.

THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED: Because the Department of Mental Health has statutory responsibility for custody and control of individuals determined not guilty by reason of insanity, defendant shall be examined and observed at an appropriate facility of the Department of Mental Health by one or more examiners to determine whether defendant is criminally responsible pursuant to S.C. Code Ann. § 17-24-10(A) (1976) for conduct on or about .

If defendant is believed to be criminally responsible by the designated examiners, defendant shall be further examined to determine whether, because of mental disease or defect, defendant lacked sufficient capacity to conform conduct to the requirements of the law on or about pursuant to S.C. Code Ann. § 17-24-20(A) (1976).

COMPLIANCE DEADLINE/TRANSPORT FOR EVALUATION. The examining facility shall schedule the ordered examination as soon as possible and no later than sixty (60) days from the receipt of this order by the Department of Mental Health, this time being necessary to gather required records. If defendant is currently free on bond or personal recognizance, defendant is responsible for making transportation arrangements to attend the examination. In the event defendant does not appear at the scheduled examination, upon written notice of such failure by the Department of Mental Health to the Sheriff of the county in which this case arose, defendant shall be taken into custody by the Sheriff and held until an examination can be scheduled and completed, and thereafter shall be released. Defendant’s bond or bail is hereby revoked to the extent necessary to carry out the provisions of this order, and upon completion of the examination and release of defendant, any previous bail or bond issued by the Court shall remain in effect. If defendant is in custody at the time of the scheduled examination, the Sheriff is hereby authorized and required to transport defendant to and from the examination, arriving at the examining facility at the time established by confirmed appointment with the staff of the examining facility. In the event defendant is in custody of a law enforcement agency other than a Sheriff’s department, nothing herein prevents such agency from carrying out the provisions of this order.

PROCEDURE IF LACK OF COMPETENCY IS INDICATED. If, during the course of the criminal responsibility and capacity to conform evaluation scheduled pursuant to this Order, the examiner finds indications that defendant may not be competent to stand trial pursuant to S.C. Code Ann. § 44-23-410 (1976) and State v. Blair, 275 S.C. 529, 273 S.E.2d 536 (1981), the examiner shall terminate the criminal responsibility and capacity to conform evaluation, issue no report thereon, and by written communication recommend to the Court that a competency to stand trial evaluation should be ordered. Further, the examiner should state whether, in the examiner’s opinion, such lack of competency is due to a mental illness or, in the alternative, an intellectual disability or a related disability. A copy of this written communication shall be sent to the prosecutor and defense counsel.

AUTHORIZATION FOR INPATIENT EVALUATION. In the event examiners from the Department of Mental Health determine defendant requires an inpatient examination, upon written notice to this Court from the director of the Department of Mental Health or his designee, defendant shall be committed to an appropriate facility of the Department of Mental Health for no more than fifteen (15) days for examination and observation related to defendant’s criminal responsibility and capacity to conform. If the examination and observation of defendant has not concluded at the end of the initial inpatient fifteen (15) days, defendant may be kept in the continued custody of the Department of Mental Health for an additional period not to exceed fifteen (15) days, provided the director of the examining facility or his designee notifies this Court in writing. The issuance of an additional Court order allowing for the inpatient commitment(s) discussed in this paragraph is not necessary.

DETENTION BEYOND EVALUATION PERIOD. If, in the judgment of Department of Mental Health examiners, defendant is in need of immediate hospitalization or inpatient treatment, upon written request to this Court from the director of the examining facility or his designee, defendant may be detained by the Department of Mental Health in a suitable facility for so long as deemed clinically necessary or until a hearing on the matter may be conducted by this Court. An additional Court order shall be necessary for ongoing pre-trial inpatient detention of defendant as discussed in this paragraph.

ACCESS TO EXAMINER’S REPORT. The Department of Mental Health is an independent entity, conducting this evaluation pursuant to Court order, and is not aligned with any party before the Court. It is the intention of the State of South Carolina to provide defendant an adequate opportunity for mental status investigation when the defendant’s mental condition is seriously in question pursuant to Ake v. Oklahoma, 470 U.S. 68, 105 S.Ct. 1087 (1985), either before or after defendant formally asserts the insanity defense.

The purpose of the following provisions controlling access to the examiner’s report is to strike a balance between defendant’s right to explore the possibility of an insanity defense and prosecution’s right to respond if such defense is raised. If defendant is requesting evaluation prior to asserting the defense of insanity, the evaluation shall be confidential until such time as defendant elects to assert the insanity defense. If defendant or prosecution is requesting evaluation after defendant’s formal assertion of the insanity defense pursuant to Rule 5(f) of the South Carolina Rules of Criminal Procedure, or both parties are requesting the evaluation by consent, the evaluation shall not be confidential and both defense counsel and the prosecutor shall be provided a copy of the examiner’s report. In either case, ownership of the examining agency’s files shall be vested with the examining agency.

(A)	Ex parte evaluation requested by defendant prior to assertion of insanity defense.

If defendant has requested an evaluation to determine whether the insanity defense may be viable, the examiner’s report shall not be provided to the prosecution and shall not be admissible as evidence in any Court proceedings. The prosecution may not discover any portion of the evaluation files. Any written report resulting from the evaluation shall be considered confidential and provided only to defense counsel, and shall be provided within ten (10) days of all examinations or the conclusion of the inpatient examination period. Examiners and agency staff may not be compelled to testify regarding statements made during the criminal responsibility and capacity to conform examination for any purpose unless and until defendant asserts the defense of insanity. However, as a condition of accepting the evaluation provided by the State of South Carolina, defendant expressly waives any and all confidentiality privileges associated therewith if defendant subsequently asserts the insanity defense. In such case, the evaluation shall no longer be confidential, and all parties’ access to the evaluation report shall be controlled by paragraph (B) below.

(B)	Evaluation requested by either party after assertion of insanity defense.

Because the assertion of the insanity defense places defendant’s mental status at issue, either party may discover any portion of the evaluation files upon presentation of a Court order authorizing such or a release authorization signed by defendant. Both the prosecutor and defense counsel shall be provided a copy of the examiner’s report within ten (10) days of the conclusion of all examinations or the inpatient examination period. The evaluation report may be admissible as evidence in subsequent hearings concerning defendant’s criminal responsibility and capacity to conform. However, the report shall be inadmissible in any other proceedings except as expressly permitted by South Carolina law. Examiners and agency staff may not be compelled to testify regarding statements made during the criminal responsibility and capacity to conform examination for any purpose other than on the issue of criminal responsibility and capacity to conform. Also, statements made during the examination may not be used to impeach defendant at trial. Hudgins v. Moore, 337 S.C. 333, 524 S.E.2d 105 (1999).

(C)	Evaluation Requested by Consent of Both Parties.

By consent, the parties may request evaluation at any time, regardless of whether the insanity defense has been asserted by the defendant. The procedures and rules for this examination shall be the same as outlined in paragraph (B) above; however, in the event defendant does not assert the insanity defense, the examiner’s report shall not be admissible for any reason, nor shall the contents of the evaluation files be used for any purpose.

MEDICAL PROVIDERS/SCHOOLS MUST RELEASE NECESSARY RECORDS. Department of Mental Health examiners conducting the evaluation may need clinical and school records concerning defendant to assist in forming an opinion. It is therefore ordered, upon presentation by the Department of Mental Health of this order with a written request for specific records attached thereto, that any physician or clinician, licensed health care facility, licensed health care provider, or any school district is hereby authorized and required to furnish copies of all records concerning defendant to the Department of Mental Health.

COUNSEL REQUIRED TO FURNISH NECESSARY RECORDS. Upon written request from the Department of Mental Health, counsel for prosecution and defense shall furnish to the agency such records and information in counsel’s possession as the agency requests, including but not limited to copies of law enforcement reports, investigations, witness statements, statements by defendant (both written and electronic), defendant’s medical records, and prior psychiatric or psychological evaluations of defendant. Nothing herein shall be construed to require counsel to divulge any information, documents, notes, or memoranda that are protected by attorney-client privilege or work-product doctrine.

DUTIES OF DEFENSE COUNSEL. Unless the prosecution is the party moving for this evaluation, defense counsel has the responsibility to file, serve, and transmit this order as outlined in the final paragraph below. Defense counsel does not have the right to attend any clinical interview scheduled pursuant to this Order, nor does defendant have a constitutional right to compel counsel’s attendance. State v. Hardy, 283 S.C. 590, 325 S.E.2d 320 (1985). The Court recognizes, however, that circumstances may arise through which the Department of Mental Health may request counsel’s attendance to facilitate the examination. In the event that such a determination is made, the Department of Mental Health may request counsel’s attendance in writing, and counsel’s level of participation shall be prescribed by the Department of Mental Health’s written evaluation protocol. In this event, because of the substantial number of individuals awaiting examination, such interviews cannot be rescheduled, postponed, or canceled to accommodate counsel except upon presentation to the Department of Mental Health of a written statement from a circuit court judge that counsel’s attendance is required in Court at the time the examination is scheduled. Whether or not defense counsel is requested to attend the clinical interview, defense counsel must meet with defendant prior to the interview to discuss this Court order, the evaluation process, the clinical interview, defendant’s rights with regard to the clinical interview, and penalties associated with non-appearance and non-cooperation. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in sanctions for defense counsel. Defendant’s refusal to participate at the interview because of the absence of counsel will be deemed non-cooperation. Failure of defendant to cooperate or participate in the interview may result in cancellation of the interview and examiners being unable to offer an opinion on criminal responsibility and capacity to conform. Failure to cooperate may further result in the case being called for trial without completion of the evaluation, and may result in defendant being prohibited from presenting expert testimony on the issue of insanity or waiver of the insanity defense.

FILING, SERVICE, AND TRANSMITTAL OF ORDER. It is the responsibility of counsel for the party requesting the evaluation to file and serve this order as outlined herein. In the event the evaluation has been requested by consent, or the moving party cannot be determined, defense counsel shall be responsible. After being signed by the Court, the original order without attachments shall be immediately filed with the Clerk of Court and a certified copy served upon the opposing party. Further, within five (5) business days, a certified copy of this order, together with the attachments listed at the end of this order, must be served upon the Department of Mental Health at the address listed below. To expedite commencement of the evaluation process and scheduling of the clinical interview, counsel is instructed to immediately contact the Department of Mental Health to advise of the issuance of this order and forthcoming service upon the agency:

Evaluation Order Service Address for the Department of Mental Health

Forensic Evaluation Service Paralegal

S. C. Department of Mental Health

CBHS Forensic Center

7901 Farrow Road

Columbia, S.C. 29203-3220

(803) 935-5540 (Phone)

(803) 935-5544 (Fax)

Email: FES-PARALEGAL@SCDMH.ORG

AND IT IS SO ORDERED.

Presiding Circuit Judge

Printed Name of Presiding Circuit Judge

, South Carolina

Dated:

Prosecutor
Defense Counsel
Address
Address
City, State, Zip
City, State, Zip
Telephone
Telephone
Email
Email

The following documents must be attached to this order upon submission to the Department of Mental Health:

Completed DMH/DDSN Outpatient Information Appointment Sheet

Copy of the indictment(s) (if issued)

Copy of the arresting agency’s incident report

Copy of the warrant(s)

Law enforcement investigative reports

Defendant’s statements to law enforcement, written or electronically recorded

Witness statements to law enforcement

Defendant’s school psychological records (if available)

Defendant’s Rule 5(f) notice of insanity defense (if applicable)

Autopsy reports (if applicable)

9 of 9

SCCA 222 (02/2012)

FORM

Network Services

2022-04-05

Fleming, Marissa B.

Network Services