Arizona Laws 13-4508. Privilege against self-incrimination; sealed reports
A. The privilege against self-incrimination applies to any examination that is ordered by the court pursuant to this chapter.
Terms Used In Arizona Laws 13-4508
- Dangerous: means that, as a result of a mental illness, defect or disability, a person's continued behavior can reasonably be expected, on the basis of a mental health expert's opinion, to result in serious physical harm or death to another person. See Arizona Laws 13-4501
- 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.
- Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
- Person: means a human being and, as the context requires, an enterprise, a public or private corporation, an unincorporated association, a partnership, a firm, a society, a government, a governmental authority or an individual or entity capable of holding a legal or beneficial interest in property. See Arizona Laws 13-105
- Plea: In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges, a declaration made in open court.
- Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
- Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
B. Any evidence or statement that is obtained during an examination is not admissible at any proceeding to determine a defendant‘s guilt or innocence unless the defendant presents evidence that is intended to rebut the presumption of sanity.
C. Any statement made by the defendant during an examination or any evidence resulting from that statement concerning any other event or transaction is not admissible at any proceeding to determine the defendant’s guilt or innocence of any other criminal charges that are based on those events or transactions, except that a statement or evidence may be used by any party in a proceeding to determine whether the defendant is eligible for court-ordered treatment pursuant to Title 36, Chapter 5 or 40 or is a sexually violent person.
D. Any statement made by the defendant or any part of the evaluations that is obtained during an examination may not be used for any purpose without the written consent of the defendant or the defendant’s guardian or a court order that is entered by the court that ordered the examination or that is conducting a dependency or severance proceeding.
E. After a plea of guilty or guilty except insane or the trial or after the defendant is found to be unable to be restored to competence, the court shall order all the reports submitted pursuant to this section sealed. The court may order that the reports be opened only as follows:
1. For use by the court or defendant, or by the prosecutor if otherwise allowed by law, for further competency or sanity evaluations, in a hearing to determine whether the defendant is eligible for court-ordered treatment pursuant to Title 36, Chapter 5 or is a sexually violent person or in a trial to determine whether the defendant is dangerous and eligible for commitment pursuant to section 13-4521.
2. For statistical analysis.
3. When the records are deemed necessary to assist in mental health treatment pursuant to section 13-502 or 13-4517.
4. For use by the probation department or the state department of corrections if the defendant is in the custody of or is scheduled to be transferred into the custody of the state department of corrections for the purposes of assessment and supervision or monitoring of the defendant by that department.
5. For use by a mental health treatment provider that provides treatment to the defendant or that assesses the defendant for treatment.
6. For data gathering.
7. For scientific study.
F. Any statement made by the defendant during an examination that is conducted pursuant to this chapter or any evidence resulting from that statement is not subject to disclosure pursuant to section 36-509.