Ohio Revised Code
Chapter 2152 | Delinquent Children; Juvenile Traffic Offenders
Section 2152.56 | Competency Assessment Report.

Effective: October 12, 2016
Latest Legislation: House Bill 158 - 131st General Assembly
(A) Upon completing an evaluation ordered pursuant to section 2152.53 of the Revised Code, an evaluator shall submit to the court a written competency assessment report. The report shall include the evaluator's opinion as to whether the child, due to mental illness, due to developmental disability, or otherwise due to a lack of mental capacity, is currently incapable of understanding the nature and objective of the proceedings against the child or of assisting in the child's defense. The report shall not include any opinion as to the child's sanity at the time of the alleged offense, details of the alleged offense as reported by the child, or an opinion as to whether the child actually committed the offense or could have been culpable for committing the offense.
(B) A competency assessment report shall address the child's capacity to do all of the following:
(1) Comprehend and appreciate the charges or allegations against the child;
(2) Understand the adversarial nature of the proceedings, including the role of the judge, defense counsel, prosecuting attorney, guardian ad litem or court-appointed special assistant, and witnesses;
(3) Assist in the child's defense and communicate with counsel;
(4) Comprehend and appreciate the consequences that may be imposed or result from the proceedings.
(C) A competency assessment report shall include the evaluator's opinion regarding the extent to which the child's competency may be impaired by the child's failure to meet one or more of the criteria listed in division (B) of this section. If the evaluator concludes that the child's competency is impaired but that the child may be enabled to understand the nature and objectives of the proceeding against the child and to assist in the child's defense with reasonable accommodations, the report shall include recommendations for those reasonable accommodations that the court might make. If the evaluator concludes that the child's competency is so impaired that the child would not be able to understand the nature and objectives of the proceeding against the child or to assist in the child's defense, the report shall include an opinion as to the likelihood that the child could attain competency within the periods set forth in division (D)(2) of section 2152.59 of the Revised Code.
(D) If the evaluator concludes that the child could likely attain competency within the periods set forth in division (D)(2) of section 2152.59 of the Revised Code, the competency assessment report shall include both of the following:
(1) A recommendation as to the least restrictive setting for child competency attainment services that is consistent with the child's ability to attain competency and the safety of both the child and the community;
(2) A list of the providers of child competency attainment services known to the evaluator that are located most closely to the child's current residence.
(E) If the evaluator is unable, within the maximum allowable time for submission of a competency assessment report under division (A) of section 2152.57 of the Revised Code, to form an opinion regarding the extent to which the child's competency may be impaired by the child's failure to meet one or more of the criteria listed in division (B) of this section, the evaluator shall so state in the report. The evaluator shall also include recommendations for services to support the safety of the child or the community.

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