Opinion
01-02-2015
In the Matter of the Application for Discharge of Kenneth GROVES, Consecutive No. 166237, from Central New York Psychiatric Center Pursuant to Mental Hygiene Law § 10.09, Petitioner–Respondent, v. STATE of New York, New York State Office of Mental Health and New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, Respondents–Appellants.
Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Kathleen M. Treasure of Counsel), for Respondents–Appellants. Emmett J. Creahan, Director, Mental Hygiene Legal Service, Utica (Michael H. McCormick Of Counsel), for Petitioner–Respondent.
Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Kathleen M. Treasure of Counsel), for Respondents–Appellants.
Emmett J. Creahan, Director, Mental Hygiene Legal Service, Utica (Michael H. McCormick Of Counsel), for Petitioner–Respondent.
PRESENT: CENTRA, J.P., CARNI, VALENTINO, and WHALEN, JJ.
MEMORANDUM: Respondents appeal from an order, entered after an annual review hearing pursuant to Mental Hygiene Law § 10.09(d), that determined that petitioner does not currently suffer from a mental abnormality under Mental Hygiene Law § 10.03(i) and directed his unconditional discharge from the custody of the Office of Mental Health (see § 10.09[h] ). We affirm.
We agree with petitioner that on this record Supreme Court properly determined that respondents failed to establish by clear and convincing evidence that petitioner currently suffers from a "mental abnormality" (see Mental Hygiene Law § 10.09[h] ). Moreover, although both experts diagnosed petitioner with antisocial personality disorder, that diagnosis is insufficient, as a matter of law, to support a "mental abnormality" finding (see Matter of State of New York v. Donald DD., 24 N.Y.3d 174, 190, 996 N.Y.S.2d 610, 21 N.E.3d 239 ). We reject respondents' contention that the jury determination that petitioner suffered from a "mental abnormality" in 2008 precludes any subsequent review of that issue (see § 10.07 [d]; see generally People ex rel. Leonard HH. v. Nixon, 148 A.D.2d 75, 79, 543 N.Y.S.2d 998 ). The annual review proceeding conducted here specifically requires that every person civilly committed under Mental Hygiene Law article 10 "shall have an examination for evaluation of his or her mental condition made at least once every year" ( § 10.09[b] ). Indeed, as part of each annual review, a psychiatric examiner is required to report to the Commissioner of Mental Health whether such person "is currently a dangerous sex offender requiring confinement" (id. [emphasis added] ).
It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from is unanimously affirmed without costs.