State v. M. L. C.

Jul 20, 2016
15CC06396; A160810
Reporters:
, ,
Before:
Garrett
PER CURIAM

In this civil commitment case, appellant seeks reversal of a judgment that committed him for a period not to exceed 180 days based on ‍‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‍the court’s finding that because of a mental disorder he was unable to provide for his basic needs. ORS 426.005(1)(e)(B) (2013), amended by Or Laws 2015, ch 433, § 1; Or Laws 2015, ch 461, § 1.1 (“‘Person with mental illness’ means a person who, because of a mental disorder, is *** [u]nable to provide ‍‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‍for basic personal needs and is not receiving such care as is necessary for health or safety.”); ORS 426.130(1)(C) (under certain circumstances, if the court determines by clear and convincing evidence that a person has a mental illness and is in need of treatment, the court may order commitment of ‍‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‍the person). Appellant contends that the evidence was insufficient to support the court’s determination. The state concedes that the evidence did not support a determination that appellant was unable to meet his basic needs in a way that would result in an imminent, nonspeculative threat to his survival. See ‍‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‍State v. S. R., 267 Or App 618, 619, 341 P3d 160 (2014) (“[T]o support a basic-needs commitment, the state’s evidence must demonstrate that a person’s inability to meet his or her own basic needs as a result of a mental disorder makes it likely that the person will not survive in the ‍‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‍near term.”). We agree, accept the state’s concession, and reverse.

Reversed.

Notes

The subsection that corresponds ORS 426.005(1)(e)(B) (2013) is now numbered as ORS 426.005(1)(f)(B). Or Laws 2015, ch 461, § 1.