Code Section

2964.  

(a) The treatment required by Section 2962 shall be inpatient unless the State Department of State Hospitals certifies to the Board of Parole Hearings that there is reasonable cause to believe the parolee can be safely and effectively treated on an outpatient basis, in which case the Board of Parole Hearings shall permit the State Department of State Hospitals to place the parolee in an outpatient treatment program specified by the State Department of State Hospitals. Any prisoner who is to be required to accept treatment pursuant to Section 2962 shall be informed in writing of his or her right to request a hearing pursuant to Section 2966. Prior to placing a parolee in a local outpatient program, the State Department of State Hospitals shall consult with the local outpatient program as to the appropriate treatment plan. Notwithstanding any other law, a parolee ordered to have outpatient treatment pursuant to this section may be placed in an outpatient treatment program used to provide outpatient treatment under Title 15 (commencing with Section 1600) of Part 2, but the procedural provisions of Title 15 shall not apply. The community program director or a designee of an outpatient program used to provide treatment under Title 15 in which a parolee is placed, may place the parolee, or cause the parolee to be placed, in a secure mental health facility if the parolee can no longer be safely or effectively treated in the outpatient program, and until the parolee can be safely and effectively treated in the program. Upon the request of the community program director or a designee, a peace officer shall take the parolee into custody and transport the parolee, or cause the parolee to be taken into custody and transported, to a facility designated by the community program director, or a designee, for confinement under this section. Within 15 days after placement in a secure facility the State Department of State Hospitals shall conduct a hearing on whether the parolee can be safely and effectively treated in the program unless the patient or the patient’s attorney agrees to a continuance, or unless good cause exists that prevents the State Department of State Hospitals from conducting the hearing within that period of time. If good cause exists, the hearing shall be held within 21 days after placement in a secure facility. For purposes of this section, “good cause” means the inability to secure counsel, an interpreter, or witnesses for the hearing within the 15-day time period. Before deciding to seek revocation of the parole of a parolee receiving mental health treatment pursuant to Section 2962, and return him or her to prison, the parole officer shall consult with the director of the parolee’s outpatient program. Nothing in this section shall prevent hospitalization pursuant to Section 5150, 5250, or 5353 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(b) If the State Department of State Hospitals has not placed a parolee on outpatient treatment within 60 days after receiving custody of the parolee or after parole is continued pursuant to Section 3001, the parolee may request a hearing before the Board of Parole Hearings, and the board shall conduct a hearing to determine whether the prisoner shall be treated as an inpatient or an outpatient. At the hearing, the burden shall be on the State Department of State Hospitals to establish that the prisoner requires inpatient treatment as described in this subdivision. If the prisoner or any person appearing on his or her behalf at the hearing requests it, the board shall appoint two independent professionals as provided for in Section 2978.