South Dakota Codified Laws 23A-10A-4.1. Recovery of defendant–Certificate–Discharge pending hearing–Notice–Hearing
If the director of the facility under which the defendant is being treated in accordance with § 23A-10A-4 determines that the defendant has recovered to an extent that the defendant is able to understand the nature and consequences of the proceedings against the defendant and to assist properly in the defense, the director shall promptly file a certificate to that effect with the clerk of the court that ordered the placement or commitment, and the defendant shall be discharged from the facility where the defendant is hospitalized, if applicable. Upon discharge, the defendant is subject to the provisions of chapter 23A-43.
The court shall send a copy of the certificate to the defendant’s counsel and to the prosecuting attorney. The court shall hold a hearing, conducted under the provisions of § 23A-46-3, to determine the competency of the defendant. If, after the hearing, the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant has recovered to an extent that the defendant is capable of understanding the nature and consequences of the proceedings against the defendant and to assist properly in the defense, the court shall set the date for trial. If, after the hearing, the court does not find by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant has recovered to an extent that the defendant is capable of understanding the nature and consequences of the proceedings against the defendant and to assist properly in the defense, the court shall order the defendant to be placed in a restoration to competency program under the direction of an approved facility, in an approved facility, or on outpatient status for restoration to competency if the court makes a written finding that the defendant is not considered to be a danger to the health and safety of others and is otherwise eligible for bond for a term consistent with this section and §§ 23A-10A-14 and 23A-10A-15.
Terms Used In South Dakota Codified Laws 23A-10A-4.1
- Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
- written: include typewriting and typewritten, printing and printed, except in the case of signatures, and where the words are used by way of contrast to typewriting and printing. See South Dakota Codified Laws 2-14-2
Source: SL 1985, ch 192, § 40; SL 1991, ch 199, § 6; SL 2020, ch 97, § 2; SL 2023, ch 78, § 1.