Defender general warns S.193 could recreate 'a jail' rather than a forensic hospital; prosecutors propose targeted edits
On Feb. 12, the Senate Judiciary reviewed S.193, a bill to create a forensic hospital and change competency-restoration rules. Defender General Matt Valery argued the draft risks constitutional violations by prioritizing public safety over treatment and placing detainees in jail-like settings; Deputy State Attorney Jared Bianchi proposed narrowing language (changing 'shall' to 'may') and said edits are coming.
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The Senate Judiciary heard testimony Feb. 12 on S.193, a bill to create a forensic hospital and revise competency-restoration procedures. Defender General Matt Valery told the panel that while his office supports the creation of a forensic hospital in principle, the current draft reads like a detention statute rather than a treatment law and risks running afoul of constitutional limits.
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