Arizona Revised Statutes Title 36. Public Health and Safety § 36-4002. Biannual examination of committed persons; report; records access; attorney withdrawal

A. The psychiatrist, psychologist or other competent professional of the secure state mental health facility shall biannually examine each person who is committed pursuant to § 13-4521. The person who conducts the biannual examination shall submit the examination report to the court, the state and the committed defendant. The biannual report shall state the treatment and education that the committed defendant has received, a prognosis for the committed defendant's restoration to competency and whether the committed defendant remains dangerous.

B. If the psychiatrist, psychologist or other competent professional submits a report indicating that the committed defendant is competent to stand trial or is no longer dangerous, the court shall hold a hearing to determine whether the committed defendant is competent or is no longer dangerous.

C. If the psychiatrist, psychologist or other competent professional submits a report that the committed defendant is no longer dangerous in whole or in part because of medication that the committed defendant is taking, the report shall state whether the committed defendant will continue to take that medication if released to a less restrictive alternative and would comply with all other conditions of a less restrictive alternative.

D. The court shall hold the hearing within forty-five days after receiving the report. The court may continue the hearing on the request of either party and a showing of good cause or on its own motion if the committed defendant will not be substantially prejudiced. Either party may request that the committed defendant be examined by the party's own competent professional. The attorney for the state has the burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that the committed defendant's mental illness, defect or disability has not changed and that the committed defendant remains dangerous and that the committed defendant is incompetent to stand trial.

E. A retained or appointed competent professional shall have access to all records concerning the committed defendant. All competent professionals shall have equal access to the committed defendant as well as all records concerning the committed defendant.

F. This section does not preclude the committed defendant from petitioning the court for conditional release to a less restrictive alternative or discharge from treatment pursuant to § 36-4004, subsection C.

G. If the committed defendant's attorney withdraws from representing the committed defendant at any time during the committed defendant's commitment, the court shall notify the attorney for the state and the committed defendant and either allow the committed defendant sufficient time to employ another attorney or, if the committed defendant is indigent, appoint an attorney to represent the committed defendant in connection with proceedings under this article.