Utah § 77-15-6.5 - Petition for involuntary medication of incompetent defendant.
Full text of Utah Utah Code § 77-15-6.5 — Petition for involuntary medication of incompetent defendant., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 77-15-6.5. Petition for involuntary medication of incompetent defendant.
Effective 5/8/2018 77-15-6.5.
Petition for involuntary medication of incompetent defendant.
(1)
As used in this section, "final order" means a court order that determines the rights of the parties and concerning which appellate remedies have been exhausted or the time for appeal has expired.
(2)
(a)
At any time after a defendant has been found incompetent to proceed and has been committed to the department under Section 77-15-6 for restoration treatment, the department shall notify the court, prosecuting attorney, and attorney for the defendant if the department determines that the defendant is not responding to restoration treatment and is unlikely to be restored to competency without the involuntary administration of antipsychotic medication.
(b)
The department shall provide the notification under Subsection (2)(a) only if there is no basis for involuntarily medicating the defendant for reasons other than to restore the defendant's competency.
(3)
In the notice under Subsection (2)(a), the department shall state whether:
(a)
medication is necessary to render the defendant competent;
(b)
medication is substantially likely to render the defendant competent;
(c)
medication is substantially unlikely to produce side effects which would significantly interfere with the defendant's ability to assist in the defendant's defense;
(d)
no less intrusive means are available, and whether any of those means have been attempted to render the defendant competent; and
(e)
medication is medically appropriate and is in the defendant's best medical interest in light of the defendant's medical condition.
(4)
(a)
The court shall conduct a hearing within 15 days, or, for good cause, within 30 days after the day on which the court receives the notice described in Subsection (2)(a), regarding the involuntary medication of the defendant.
(b)
The prosecuting attorney shall represent the state at any hearing under this section.
(c)
The court shall consider whether the following factors apply in determining whether the defendant should be involuntarily medicated:
(i)
important state interests are at stake in restoring the defendant's competency;
(ii)
involuntary medication will significantly further the important state interests, in that the medication proposed:
(A)
is substantially likely to render the defendant competent to stand trial; and
(B)
is substantially unlikely to produce side effects which would significantly interfere with the defendant's ability to assist in the defendant's defense;
(iii)
involuntary medication is necessary to further important state interests, because any less intrusive treatments are unlikely to achieve substantially the same results; and
(iv)
the administration of the proposed medication is medically appropriate, as it is in the defendant's best medical interest in light of the defendant's medical condition.
(5)
In determining whether the proposed treatment is medically appropriate and is in the defendant's best medical interest, the potential penalty the defendant may be subject to, if the defendant is convicted of any charged offense, is not a relevant consideration.
(6)
(a)
If the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the involuntary administration of antipsychotic medication is appropriate, it shall make findings addressing each of the factors in Subsection (4)(c) and shall issue an order authorizing the department to involuntarily administer antipsychotic medication to the defendant in order to restore the defendant's competency, subject to the periodic reviews and other procedures provided in Section 77-15-6.
(b)
When issuing an order under Subsection (6)(a), the court shall consider ordering less intrusive means for administering the drugs, such as a court order to the defendant enforceable by the contempt power, before ordering more intrusive methods of involuntary medication.
(7)
The provisions in Section 77-15-6 establishing time limitations for treatment of incompetent defendants before they must be either released or civilly committed are tolled from the time the department gives notice to the court and the parties under Subsection (2) until:
(a)
the court has issued a final order for the involuntary medication of the defendant, and the defendant has been medicated under that order; or
(b)
the court has issued a final order that the defendant will not be involuntarily medicated.
(8)
This section applies only when an order of involuntary medication is sought solely for the purpose of rendering a defendant competent to stand trial.
Section 77-15-6.5 ("Petition for involuntary medication of incompetent defendant.") is part of the Utah Code, the codified statutory law of Utah. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite Utah § 77-15-6.5?
A common citation format is "Utah Code § 77-15-6.5" (Utah). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of Utah law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Utah official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Utah attorney.
How does Utah § 77-15-6.5 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Utah can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
