Texas Code of Criminal Procedure 46B.025 – Expert’s Report
(a) An expert’s report to the court must state an opinion on a defendant‘s competency or incompetency to stand trial or explain why the expert is unable to state such an opinion and must also:
(1) identify and address specific issues referred to the expert for evaluation;
(2) document that the expert explained to the defendant the purpose of the evaluation, the persons to whom a report on the evaluation is provided, and the limits on rules of confidentiality applying to the relationship between the expert and the defendant;
(3) in specific terms, describe procedures, techniques, and tests used in the examination, the purpose of each procedure, technique, or test, and the conclusions reached; and
(4) state the expert’s clinical observations, findings, and opinions on each specific issue referred to the expert by the court, state the specific criteria supporting the expert’s diagnosis, and state specifically any issues on which the expert could not provide an opinion.
(a-1) The expert’s opinion on the defendant’s competency or incompetency may not be based solely on the defendant’s refusal to communicate during the examination.
Terms Used In Texas Code of Criminal Procedure 46B.025
- Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
- Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
(b) If in the opinion of an expert appointed under Article 46B.021 the defendant is incompetent to proceed, the expert shall state in the report:
(1) the symptoms, exact nature, severity, and expected duration of the deficits resulting from the defendant’s mental illness or intellectual disability, if any, and the impact of the identified condition on the factors listed in Article 46B.024;
(2) an estimate of the period needed to restore the defendant’s competency, including whether the defendant is likely to be restored to competency in the foreseeable future; and
(3) prospective treatment options, if any, appropriate for the defendant.
(c) An expert’s report may not state the expert’s opinion on the defendant’s sanity at the time of the alleged offense, if in the opinion of the expert the defendant is incompetent to proceed.
(d) The court shall direct an expert to provide the expert’s report to the court and the appropriate parties in the form approved by the Texas Correctional Office on Offenders with Medical or Mental Impairments under § 614.0032(b), Health and Safety Code.