Overview
Program Overview
The Minnesota Judicial Branch is responsible for the cost of psychological or psychiatric examinations in civil commitment and criminal proceedings as mandated in Minn. Stat. § 480.182.Civil commitment is a legal process that allows the state to order a proposed patient into treatment even if the person objects. Because the process drastically impacts a person’s rights, it is only used in narrowly defined circumstances. Minnesota’s procedures for civil commitment are contained in chapter 253B of Minnesota’s Statutes. As part of the commitment process, an examiner must be appointed by the court. The proposed patient may also request a second examiner. The examiner submits a report to the court that offers an opinion whether civil commitment of the proposed patient is appropriate.
Pursuant to Minn. Stat. §§ 611.40-59 and Minn. R. Crim. P. Rule 20, competency evaluations occur in criminal cases when there is a concern raised that a defendant may not be competent to proceed with the case or was not responsible at the time of the alleged offense because of mental illness or developmental disability.