Kansas Statutes 59-29a01. Kansas sexually violent predator act; civil commitment of sexually violent predators; legislative findings; time requirements directory
Terms Used In Kansas Statutes 59-29a01
- 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.
- Likely to engage in repeat acts of sexual violence: means the person's propensity to commit acts of sexual violence is of such a degree as to pose a menace to the health and safety of others. See Kansas Statutes 59-29a02
- Mental abnormality: means a congenital or acquired condition affecting the emotional or volitional capacity which predisposes the person to commit sexually violent offenses in a degree constituting such person a menace to the health and safety of others. See Kansas Statutes 59-29a02
- Sexually violent predator: means any person who has been convicted of or charged with a sexually violent offense and who suffers from a mental abnormality or personality disorder which makes the person likely to engage in repeat acts of sexual violence and who has serious difficulty in controlling such person's dangerous behavior. See Kansas Statutes 59-29a02
(a) The legislature finds that there exists an extremely dangerous group of sexually violent predators who have a mental abnormality or personality disorder and who are likely to engage in repeat acts of sexual violence if not treated for their mental abnormality or personality disorder. Because the existing civil commitment procedures under Kan. Stat. Ann. § 59-2901 et seq., and amendments thereto, are inadequate to address the special needs of sexually violent predators and the risks they present to society, the legislature determines that a separate involuntary civil commitment process for the potentially long-term control, care and treatment of sexually violent predators is necessary. The legislature also determines that because of the nature of the mental abnormalities or personality disorders from which sexually violent predators suffer and the dangers they present, it is necessary to house involuntarily committed sexually violent predators in an environment separate from persons involuntarily committed under Kan. Stat. Ann. § 59-2901 et seq., and amendments thereto.
(b) Notwithstanding any other evidence of legislative intent, it is hereby declared that any time requirements set forth in Kan. Stat. Ann. § 59-29a01 et seq., and amendments thereto, either as originally enacted or as amended, are intended to be directory and not mandatory and serve as guidelines for conducting proceedings under Kan. Stat. Ann. § 59-29a01 et seq., and amendments thereto.
(c) The provisions of Kan. Stat. Ann. § 59-29a01 et seq. and amendments thereto, shall be known and may be cited as the Kansas sexually violent predator act.