Bill No.: SF0043 Drafter: JHR

LSO No.: 06LSO-0250 Effective Date: 7/1/2006

Enrolled Act No.: SEA0012

Chapter No.: 24

Prime Sponsor: Joint Judiciary Interim Committee

Catch Title: Forensic evaluations.

Subject: Requires the Wyoming State Hospital to provide forensic evaluations of persons accused of crimes if requested by the court.

Summary/Major Elements:

· Under current law, the Wyoming State Hospital (WSH) is required to provide two opinions about a person who is accused of a crime and who is sent to the WSH to determine if the person may have a mental illness or mental deficiency. The opinions relate to:

· Whether the person is fit to participate in his defense;

· Whether, at the time of the alleged criminal conduct, the person lacked the substantial capacity to appreciate the wrongfulness of his action or to conform his conduct to the requirements of the law.

· This bill would not require the WSH to express an opinion as to whether the person lacked the substantial capacity to appreciate the wrongfulness of his action or to conform his conduct to the requirements of the law, unless requested by the court.