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WHEN A DEFENDANT MUST BE RELEASED BECAUSE HE OR SHE IS NOT CHARGED WITH A BAIL-ELIGIBLE OFFENSE, A COMPETENCY EXAMINATION MUST BE CONDUCTED AS AN OUT-PATIENT OR IN A HOSPITAL; THE DEFENDANT CANNOT BE ORDERED TO JAIL PENDING THE EXAMINATION; THE HABEAS CORPUS PETITION WAS PROPERLY GRANTED; THE APPEAL WAS HEARD AS AN EXCEPTION TO THE MOOTNESS DOCTRINE (CT APP). ​

The Court of Appeals, in a full-fledged opinion by Judge Rivera, determined defendant, who was not charged with a bail-eligible offense, could not be ordered to jail for a competency examination. Defendant must either be examined as an out-patient, or, upon a recommendation of a medical official, in a hospital. The writ of habeas corpus was properly granted and the appeal was heard as an exception to the mootness doctrine:

… [W]e conclude that Wei Li [defendant] was not “in custody” during his arraignment … because he was not charged with a qualifying offense under the bail laws and the court was required to order his release at arraignment (see CPL 510.10 [3]; 530.20 [1] [a]). As its plain text makes clear, subdivision (3) mandates the location for the examination as either (1) the place where the defendant is in custody at the time the court orders the examination, or (2) at a hospital facility, as might be necessary for an effective examination. The statute’s use of the phrase “in custody,” like the phrase “hospital confinement,” refers, as a practical matter, to where a defendant may be properly examined by psychiatric personnel. Thus, “in custody,” as used in subdivision (3), does not broadly refer to custodial control over a defendant at a courthouse. …

A court issuing an order for a competency examination [pursuant to CPL 730.20] (1) may direct an examination on an outpatient basis or, (2) upon a medical recommendation of the director, the court may, but need not, order hospital confinement until completion of the examination. People v Warden, Rikers Is., 2022 NY Slip Op 07093, CtApp 12-15-22

Practice Point: A defendant who is not charged with a bail-eligible offense cannot be ordered to jail pending a competency examination. The defendant must be examined as an out-patient or, upon the recommendation of a medical official, in a hospital.

 

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