59-2959. Temporary custody order; request for; procedure. (a) At the time that the petition for determination of mental illness is filed, or any time thereafter prior to the trial upon the petition as provided for in K.S.A. 59-2965 and amendments thereto, the petitioner may request in writing that the district court issue a temporary custody order. The request shall state:

(1) The reasons why the person should be detained prior to the hearing on the petition;

(2) whether an ex parte emergency custody order has been requested or was granted; and

(3) the present whereabouts of the person named in the petition.

(b) Upon the filing of a request for a temporary custody order, the court shall set the matter for a hearing which shall be held not later than the close of business of the second day the district court is open for the transaction of business after the filing of the request. The petitioner and the person with respect to whom the request has been filed shall be notified of the time and place of the hearing and that they shall each be afforded an opportunity to appear at the hearing, to testify and to present and cross-examine witnesses. If the person with respect to whom the request has been filed has not yet retained or been appointed an attorney, the court shall appoint an attorney for the person.

(c) At the hearing scheduled upon the request, the person with respect to whom the request has been filed shall be present unless the attorney for the person requests that the person's presence be waived and the court finds that the person's presence at the hearing would be injurious to the person's welfare. The court shall enter in the record of the proceedings the facts upon which the court has found that the presence of the person at the hearing would be injurious to such person's welfare. However, if the person with respect to whom the request has been filed states in writing to the court or to such person's attorney that such person wishes to be present at the hearing, the person's presence cannot be waived.

The hearing shall be conducted in as informal a manner as may be consistent with orderly procedure and in a physical setting not likely to have a harmful effect on the person with respect to whom the request has been filed. All persons not necessary for the conduct of the proceedings may be excluded. The court shall receive all relevant and material evidence which may be offered. The rules governing evidentiary and procedural matters shall be applied to hearings under this section in a manner so as to facilitate informal, efficient presentation of all relevant, probative evidence and resolution of issues with due regard to the interests of all parties. The facts or data upon which a duly qualified expert bases an opinion or inference may be those perceived by or made known to the expert at or before the hearing and if of a type reasonably relied upon by experts in their particular field in forming opinions or inferences upon the subject, the facts or data need not be admissible in evidence. The expert may testify in terms of opinion or inference and give the expert's reasons therefor without prior disclosure of the underlying facts or data unless the court requires otherwise. If requested on cross-examination, the expert shall disclose the underlying facts or data.

If the petitioner is not represented by counsel, the county or district attorney shall represent the petitioner, prepare all necessary papers, appear at the hearing and present such evidence as the county or district attorney determines to be of aid to the court in determining whether or not there is probable cause to believe that the person with respect to whom the request has been filed is a mentally ill person subject to involuntary commitment for care and treatment under this act, and that it would be in the best interests of the person to be detained until the trial upon the petition.

(d) After the hearing, if the court determines from the evidence that:

(1) There is probable cause to believe that the person with respect to whom the request has been filed is a mentally ill person subject to involuntary commitment for care and treatment under this act, and that it is in the best interests of the person to be detained until the trial upon the petition, the court shall issue a temporary custody order;

(2) there is probable cause to believe that the person with respect to whom the request has been filed is a mentally ill person subject to involuntary commitment for care and treatment under this act, but that it would not be in their best interests to be detained until the trial upon the petition, the court may allow the person to be at liberty, subject to such conditions as the court may impose;

(3) there is not probable cause to believe that the person with respect to whom the request has been filed is a mentally ill person subject to involuntary commitment for care and treatment under this act, the court shall terminate the proceedings and release the person.

(e) (1) A temporary custody order issued pursuant to this section may direct any law enforcement officer or any other person designated by the court to take the person named in the order into custody and transport them to a designated treatment facility, and authorize the designated treatment facility to detain and treat the person until the trial upon the petition.

(2) No temporary custody order shall provide for the detention and treatment of any person at a state psychiatric hospital unless a written statement from a qualified mental health professional authorizing such admission and detention at a state psychiatric hospital has been filed with the court.

(3) No temporary custody order shall provide for the detention of any person in a nonmedical facility used for the detention of persons charged with or convicted of a crime.

(4) If no other suitable facility at which such person may be detained is willing to accept the person, then the participating mental health center for that area shall provide a suitable place to detain the person until the further order of the court or until the trial upon the petition.

History: L. 1996, ch. 167, § 15; Apr. 18.