TITLE 16

Health and Safety

Mental Health

CHAPTER 51. The Department of Health and Social Services

Subchapter IV. Persons With Criminally Mental Conditions

§ 5151. Establishment of department for persons with criminally mental conditions.

The Department shall establish at the Delaware Psychiatric Center a department for persons with criminally mental conditions who are adults regardless of their mental capacity. The term “persons with criminally mental conditions” as used herein shall be defined as any incarcerated individual, charged with or convicted of any criminal offense under this Code who also meets the definition set forth at § 5001(7) of this title [repealed]. The department shall be established on the present grounds of the Psychiatric Center.

Code 1935, c. 76;  46 Del. Laws, c. 190, §  1;  16 Del. C. 1953, §  5151;  49 Del. Laws, c. 57, §  154 Del. Laws, c. 279, §  355 Del. Laws, c. 21270 Del. Laws, c. 550, §  176 Del. Laws, c. 322, §§  7, 878 Del. Laws, c. 179, §§  189-19179 Del. Laws, c. 442, §  1

§ 5152. Commitment by courts.

(a) All persons with criminally mental conditions who are adults shall be admitted to the department for persons with criminally mental conditions at the Delaware Psychiatric Center for evaluation and/or treatment when committed by any court of this State having jurisdiction over the persons committed.

(b) All criminally inclined juveniles amenable to the processes of Family Court shall be committed to treatment programs for criminally inclined juveniles established by the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families when committed by any court of this State having jurisdiction over the persons committed.

(c) Jurisdiction to order and review commitments under this subchapter is conferred upon any court:

(1) Which presides over any active matter in which the person with a criminally mental condition is a defendant or respondent; or

(2) Which entered the most recent sentencing order regarding the person with a criminally mental condition.

Code 1935, c. 76;  46 Del. Laws, c. 190, §  2;  16 Del. C. 1953, §  5152;  49 Del. Laws, c. 57, §  166 Del. Laws, c. 424, §  1070 Del. Laws, c. 550, §  176 Del. Laws, c. 322, §§  9-1278 Del. Laws, c. 179, §§  192-196

§ 5153. Commitment from other institutions.

The governing authorities of any institution of this State, including but not limited to those facilities maintained by the Department of Correction, to which an adult or juvenile who is nonamenable to the processes of Family Court who classifies for admission under the terms of this subchapter already has been committed may request an order to temporarily remove an inmate of the institution to the department for persons with criminally mental conditions at the Delaware Psychiatric Center or other authorized institutions for suitable for nonamenable juveniles as follows:

(1) By petition to any court of competent jurisdiction in the State; or

(2) In the case of any individual within the custody of the Department of Correction, by certification of the Commissioner of Correction, Bureau Chief of Prisons, Bureau Chief of Community Correction, or Director of Healthcare Services, that:

a. The inmate or offender is currently suffering from a mental disease or condition which requires such person to be observed and treated at a mental hospital for the person’s own welfare and which both:

1. Renders such person unable to make responsible decisions with respect to the person’s health; and

2. Poses a real and present threat, based upon manifest indications, that such person is likely to commit or suffer serious harm to that person’s own self or others or to property if not given immediate hospital care and treatment;

b. The inmate or offender is currently recommended by correctional medical staff for immediate or emergent psychiatric care or stabilization;

c. That the Department of Correction cannot provide the level of care required to treat the inmate or offender; and

d. The inmate or offender has received all of the process due to the inmate or offender under the Department of Correction policies and/or procedures.

(3) Upon receipt of any inmate or offender into the department for persons with criminally mental conditions by the process stated herein, the inmate or offender shall be treated as a provisional admittee and may only be housed at the location designated for the housing of persons with criminally mental conditions. The Department of Health and Social Services shall proceed under Chapter 50 of this title with respect to any decision to commit offenders transferred from the Department of Correction on an emergency basis.

Code 1935, c. 76;  46 Del. Laws, c. 190, §  3;  16 Del. C. 1953, §  5153;  49 Del. Laws, c. 57, §  157 Del. Laws, c. 591, §  2566 Del. Laws, c. 424, §  1070 Del. Laws, c. 550, §  176 Del. Laws, c. 322, §  1378 Del. Laws, c. 179, §§  197, 198

§ 5154. Liability for cost of maintenance and care.

The expenses of the removal of an adult with a criminally mental condition or a criminally inclined juvenile and of the adult’s or juvenile’s admission to a hospital under this subchapter, and the charges and expense for the maintenance and care at such hospital shall be paid by the institution which had charge of such case. Where such persons are committed by the proper courts otherwise than from an institution of the State, the State Treasurer shall pay such hospital for such removal, admission, maintenance and care. If any such adult with a criminally mental condition or criminally inclined juvenile has any real or personal estate, the Department of Health and Social Services or the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families shall have, for the expenses and charges incurred, the same remedy as is provided in § 5019 of this title.

Code 1935, c. 76;  46 Del. Laws, c. 190, §  4;  16 Del. C. 1953, §  5154;  49 Del. Laws, c. 57, §  155 Del. Laws, c. 85, §  35B57 Del. Laws, c. 228, §  766 Del. Laws, c. 424, §  1070 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  178 Del. Laws, c. 179, §§  199, 20079 Del. Laws, c. 442, §  281 Del. Laws, c. 79, §  26