West Virginia Code § 49-4-733

Procedure after determination of juvenile's competency to participate in
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the proceedings.
(a) After a hearing pursuant to §49-4-732 of this code, if the court determines by a
preponderance of the evidence that the juvenile is competent to proceed despite any
presumption that may have applied, the delinquency proceedings shall resume as provided
by law. e
(b) If the court determines by a preponderance of the evidence that a juvenile is incompetent
to proceed, but is likely to attain competency within a reasonable time with services, the
court shall stay the proceedings and order the juvenile to receiveu services designated to
assist the juvenile in attaining competency, based upon the recommendations in the
competency evaluation report, unless the court makes specitfic findings that the
recommended services are not justified. The court shall order the juvenile's parent or legal
guardian to contact a court-designated provider by a specified date to arrange for services.
(1) The competency attainment services provided tlo a juvenile shall be based on the
recommendations contained in the qualified fosrensic evaluator's report described in
§49-4-731(d) of this code, and are subject to the conditions and time periods required
pursuant to this section measured from the date the court approves the plan.
(2) The court shall order that the competency attainment services ordered are provided in
the least restrictive environment, taking into account the public safety and the best interests
of the juvenile. If the juvenile has been released on temporary orders and refuses or fails to
cooperate with the service provider, the court may modify the orders to require a more
appropriate setting for further services. A juvenile may not be placed in a Bureau of Juvenile
Services facility to receive competency attainment services. Additionally, a juvenile
presumed incompetent under §49-4-727(c) of this code shall not be placed in a Bureau of
Juvenile Services facility, except in compliance with §49-4-705 and §49-4-706 of this code,
and corresponding Rules of Juvenile Procedure as adopted by the Supreme Court of Appeals
of WWest Virginia.
(3) A juvenile shall not be required to participate in competency attainment services for
longer than is necessary to attain competency or after the court determines that there is no
reasonable likelihood that competency can be attained. The following maximum time limits
apply to the participation of a juvenile:
(A) A juvenile charged with an act which would constitute a misdemeanor or nonviolent
felony if committed by an adult shall not be required to participate in competency attainment
services beyond his or her 19th birthday and there shall be a rebuttable presumption that
competency is not attainable if the juvenile has not attained competency after 90 days of
services.
(B) A juvenile charged with an act which would constitute a felony crime of violence if
committed by an adult shall not be required to participate in competency attainment
services beyond his or her 21st birthday and there shall be a rebuttable presumption that
competency is not attainable if the juvenile has not attained competency after 180 days of
services.
(4) Not later than 10 judicial days after the court orders competency attainment services, the
department shall identify the appropriate entity and location to provide those services.
(5) Within 10 judicial days after the department identifies the appropriate entity and
location, the provider responsible for the juvenile's competency attainment services shall
commence. The court shall deliver to that provider:
(A) The name and address of the juvenile's counsel;
(B) A copy of the juvenile's petition;
(C) A copy of the competency evaluation report;
(D) The name, address, and phone number of the juvenile's parents or legal guardian;
(E) The name of the department's caseworker, if any; and
(F) Any other relevant documents or reports concerning the juvenile's health that have come
to the attention of the court.
(c) The court shall order and conduct review hearings no less often than every 90 days as
determined appropriateL by the court. The multidisciplinary team shall meet prior to any
review hearing and provide a written status report to the court prior to the hearing. Unless
sooner ordered by the court, the qualified forensic evaluator shall submit a report to the
court prior to any review hearing, and upon completion or termination of services, and shall
include the following:
(1) WThe services provided to the juvenile, including medication, education, and counseling;
(2) The likelihood that the competency of the juvenile to proceed will be restored within the
applicable period of time set forth in subdivision (3), subsection (b) of this section; and
(3) The progress made toward the goals and objectives for the restoration of competency
identified in the recommendations from the competency evaluation adopted by the court.
(d) The provider responsible for the juvenile's competency attainment services shall report
to the court within three judicial days if he or she determines that:
(1) The juvenile is failing to cooperate, and the lack of cooperation is significantly impeding
or precluding the attainment of competency; or
(2) The current setting is no longer the least restrictive setting that is consistent with the
juvenile's ability to attain competency taking into account public safety and the best
interests of the juvenile. The provider shall include in the report an assessment of the
danger the juvenile poses to himself, herself or others and an assessment of the
appropriateness of the placement.
(e) The provider responsible for the juvenile's competency attainment services shall request
a subsequent evaluation when the provider has reason to believe: e
(1) The juvenile has achieved the goals of the plan and would be able to understand the
nature and objectives of the proceedings against him or her, to assist in his or her defense,
and to understand and appreciate the consequences that may beu imposed or result from the
proceedings with or without reasonable accommodations; and
(2) The juvenile will not achieve the goals of the plan within the applicable period of time
pursuant to subdivision (3), subsection (b) of this sectiaon.
(f) The evaluator shall assess the observation of thel provider and provide a written report to
the court within 10 days of receiving a report sfrom the provider pursuant to subsection (e) of
this section.
(g) The court shall provide copies of any report made by the provider to the prosecuting
attorney, the juvenile's attorney, the juvenile's case worker, and the juvenile's guardian ad
litem, if any. The court shall provide copies of any reports made by the provider to the
juvenile's parents or legal guardians, unless the court finds that doing so is not in the best
interest of the juvenile.
(h) Within 15 judicial days after receiving an evaluator's report, the court may hold a
hearing to determine if new, additional, or further orders are necessary.
(i) If the court determines that the juvenile is not making progress toward competency or is
so uncooperative that attainment services cannot be effective, the court may order a change
in setting or services that would help the juvenile attain competency within the relevant
period of time as set forth in subdivision (3), subsection (b) of this section.

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