383 Mass. 871 | Mass. | 1981
We review the January 4,1980, order of a District Court judge sitting in the Superior Court by designation. The order, entered pursuant to G. L. c. 123A, § 9,
The Commonwealth contends that under the statute the judge had no authority to order any form of release from the treatment center without first finding that the petitioner is no longer a sexually dangerous person. We agree.
The petitioner concedes that under G. L. c. 123A, § 9, “[a]n absolute finding that the individual is no longer sexually dangerous is a condition precedent to any form of judicial release from confinement” (emphasis supplied). Commonwealth v. Travis, 372 Mass. 238, 248 (1977) (holding that the placing of conditions on the release of a person found to be no longer sexually dangerous is unconstitutional). The petitioner contends, however, that the judge placed restrictions, including escorts, on the petitioner’s “absences” from the treatment center, and hence the judge’s order does not contemplate a “release” within the meaning of G. L. c. 123A, § 9.
As the judge declined to make any finding of whether the petitioner is sexually dangerous, we remand the case to the judge for the purpose of making such a finding.
The order of the trial judge implementing a gradual release program for the petitioner is vacated and the case is remanded for proceedings in accordance with this opinion.
So ordered.
General Laws c. 123A, § 9, as appearing in St. 1966, c. 608, provides in pertinent part: “Upon a finding by the court that such person is no longer a sexually dangerous person, it shall order such person to be discharged, or conditionally released from the center.”
In view of this disposition, we need not at this stage in the proceedings reach the petitioner’s constitutional argument that the State must employ the least drastic means of civil commitment.