Pennsylvania Statutes Title 51 Pa.C.S.A. Military Affairs § 5721. Effect of finding of lack of mental capacity on trial proceedings

(a) Mental incapacity generally.--When the accused is determined under this part to be suffering from a mental disease or defect rendering him mentally incompetent such that he is unable to understand the nature of the proceedings against him or to conduct or cooperate intelligently in the defense of the case, the general court-martial convening authority for the accused shall commit him to the custody of an agency or facility providing services to persons with such a disease or defect.

(b) Agency or facility action.--The agency or facility providing services shall take action in accordance with the jurisdictional laws applicable to persons incompetent to stand trial. If, at the end of the period for hospitalization, it is determined that the accused's mental condition has not so improved as to permit the trial to proceed, action shall be taken in accordance with the law of the jurisdiction.

(c) Recovery of accused.--When the director of a facility in which the accused is hospitalized determines that the accused has recovered to such an extent that he is able to understand the nature of the proceedings against him and to conduct or cooperate intelligently in the defense of the case, the director shall promptly transmit a notification of that determination to the general court-martial convening authority for the accused. The director shall send a copy of the notification to the defense counsel for the accused.

(d) Receipt of notification of competence.--Upon receipt of a notification transmitted under subsection (c), the general court-martial convening authority shall promptly take custody of the accused unless he is no longer subject to this part. If the accused is no longer subject to this part, the agency or facility with custody of the accused shall take such action as authorized by law of the jurisdiction. The director of the facility may retain custody of the accused for not more than 30 days after transmitting the notifications required under subsection (c).

(e) Court ordering commitment.--In the application of jurisdictional law applicable to persons incompetent to stand trial, references to the court that ordered the commitment of a person and to the clerk of such court shall be deemed to refer to the general court-martial convening authority for the accused. However, if the accused is no longer subject to this part, the State trial court with felony jurisdiction in the county where the accused is hospitalized or otherwise may be found shall be considered as the court that ordered the commitment of the accused.