Mont. Code Ann. » TITLE 46. CRIMINAL PROCEDURE · CHAPTER 14. MENTAL COMPETENCY OF ACCUSED · Part 3. Disposition of Defendant
Montana Code Annotated

Mont. Code Ann. § 46-14-302 (2026)

Discharge Or Release Upon Motion Of Director

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  1. MCA Contents
  2. TITLE 46
  3. CHAPTER 14
  4. Part 3
  5. 46-14-302 Discharge or release upon motion of director

TITLE 46. CRIMINAL PROCEDURE

CHAPTER 14. MENTAL COMPETENCY OF ACCUSED

Part 3. Disposition of Defendant

Discharge Or Release Upon Motion Of Director

46-14-302. Discharge or release upon motion of director. (1) If the director of the department of public health and human services believes that a person committed to the director's custody under 46-14-301 may be discharged or released on condition without danger to the person or others because the person no longer suffers from a mental disease or disorder that causes the person to present a substantial risk of serious bodily injury or death to the person or others, a substantial risk of an imminent threat of physical injury to the person or others, or a substantial risk of substantial property damage, the director shall make application for the discharge or release of the person in a report to the district court by which the person was committed unless that court transfers jurisdiction to the court in the district in which the person has been placed and shall send a copy of the application and report to the prosecutor of the county from which the person was committed.

(2) Either the director of the department of public health and human services or the person may also make application to the court for discharge or release as part of the person's annual treatment review.

(3) The court shall then appoint at least one person who is a qualified psychiatrist, licensed clinical psychologist, or advanced practice registered nurse to examine the person and to report as to the person's mental condition within 60 days or a longer period that the court determines to be necessary for the purpose. To facilitate the examinations and the proceedings on the examinations, the court may have the person confined in any mental health facility located near the place where the court sits that may be designated by the director of the department of public health and human services as suitable for the temporary detention of persons suffering from mental disease or disorder.

(4) The committed person or the person's attorney may secure a professional person of the committed person's choice to examine the committed person and to testify at the hearing. If the person wishing to secure the testimony of a professional person is unable to do so because of financial reasons, the court shall appoint an additional professional person to perform the examination. Whenever possible, the court shall allow the committed person or the person's attorney a reasonable choice of an available professional person qualified to perform the requested examination. The professional person must be compensated by the department of public health and human services.

(5) If the court is satisfied by the report filed under subsection (1) and the testimony of the reporting psychiatrist, licensed clinical psychologist, or advanced practice registered nurse that the committed person may be discharged or released on condition because the person no longer suffers from a mental disease or disorder that causes the person to present a substantial risk of serious bodily injury or death to the person or others, a substantial risk of an imminent threat of physical injury to the person or others, or a substantial risk of substantial property damage, the court shall order the person's discharge.

(6) (a) If the court is not satisfied, it shall promptly order a hearing to determine whether the person may safely be discharged or released on the grounds that the person no longer suffers from a mental disease or disorder that causes the person to present a substantial risk of:

(i) serious bodily injury or death to the person or others;

(ii) an imminent threat of physical injury to the person or others; or

(iii) substantial property damage.

(b) A hearing is considered a civil proceeding, and the burden is upon the state to prove by clear and convincing evidence that the person may not be safely discharged or released because the person continues to suffer from a mental disease or disorder that causes the person to present a substantial risk of:

(i) serious bodily injury or death to the person or others;

(ii) an imminent threat of physical injury to the person or others; or

(iii) substantial property damage.

(c) According to the determination of the court upon the hearing, the committed person must then be discharged or released on conditions that the court determines to be necessary or must be recommitted to the custody of the director of the department of public health and human services, subject to discharge or release only in accordance with the procedures provided in 46-14-303 and this section.

History: En. 95-508 by Sec. 1, Ch. 196, L. 1967; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 210, L. 1973; amd. Sec. 91, Ch. 120, L. 1974; R.C.M. 1947, 95-508(2), (3); amd. Sec. 15, Ch. 116, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 361, L. 1983; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 127, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 162, Ch. 800, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 397, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 207, Ch. 546, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 303, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 19, Ch. 161, L. 2015.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 7 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1979–2024 · leading case: State v. Woods, 945 P.2d 918 (Mont. 1997).
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State v. Woods, 945 P.2d 918 (Mont. 1997). · cites it 89× “or a substantial risk of substantial property damage," as required for continued commitment under § 46-14-302, MCA. At a second evidentiary hearing in June 1996, the District Court heard testimony by Casey, who had reexamined Woods in January 1996 following this Court's remand…”
State v. Wooster, 1999 MT 22, 974 P.2d 640. · cites it 35× “Consistent with the requirements of Foucha , the procedures for continued confinement of an acquittee set forth in §§ 46-14-301 et seq.”
State v. Olson, 593 P.2d 724 (Mont. 1979). · cites it 6× “1947, now section 46-14-302(4) MCA. We therefore proceed to an examination of the testimony of Karla White.”
Taylor v. Comm'r of Mental Health & Mental Retardation, 481 A.2d 139 (Me. 1984). “See Mont. Code Ann. §§ 46-14-302 (4), 46-14-303 (1983) (burden on BRI acquittee to prove eligibility for release by a preponderance of the evidence); see also State v.”
State v. Cooney, 2000 MT 138, 1 P.3d 956. · cites it 3× “Section 46-14-302(6)(b), MCA. In reviewing the District Court’s decision, this Court will set aside findings of fact only if they are clearly erroneous; we review conclusions of law for correctness.”
State v. C. Kepler, 2024 MT 173, 554 P.3d 138. · cites it 5× “¶19 A not guilty but mentally ill person committed to DPHHS pursuant to § 46-14-301, MCA, may be conditionally released if the court is satisfied the person no longer suffers from a mental disease or disorder, § 46-14-302, MCA; or, the person, although suffering from a mental…”
State v. Leischner, 650 P.2d 797 (Mont. 1982). · cites it 6× “The applicable statute is section 46-14-302, MCA, which provides in pertinent part as follows: “Discharge or release upon motion of Superintendent.”
Mont. Code Ann. § 46-14-302(1): 2 cases
State v. Woods, 945 P.2d 918 (Mont. 1997). “or a substantial risk of substantial property damage," as required for continued commitment under § 46-14-302, MCA. At a second evidentiary hearing in June 1996, the District Court heard testimony by Casey, who had reexamined Woods in January 1996 following this Court's remand…”
State v. Wooster, 1999 MT 22, 974 P.2d 640. “Consistent with the requirements of Foucha , the procedures for continued confinement of an acquittee set forth in §§ 46-14-301 et seq.”
Mont. Code Ann. § 46-14-302(3): 2 cases
State v. Wooster, 1999 MT 22, 974 P.2d 640. “Consistent with the requirements of Foucha , the procedures for continued confinement of an acquittee set forth in §§ 46-14-301 et seq.”
State v. Woods, 945 P.2d 918 (Mont. 1997). “or a substantial risk of substantial property damage," as required for continued commitment under § 46-14-302, MCA. At a second evidentiary hearing in June 1996, the District Court heard testimony by Casey, who had reexamined Woods in January 1996 following this Court's remand…”
Mont. Code Ann. § 46-14-302(4): 2 cases
State v. Olson, 593 P.2d 724 (Mont. 1979). “1947, now section 46-14-302(4) MCA. We therefore proceed to an examination of the testimony of Karla White.”
State v. Woods, 945 P.2d 918 (Mont. 1997). “or a substantial risk of substantial property damage," as required for continued commitment under § 46-14-302, MCA. At a second evidentiary hearing in June 1996, the District Court heard testimony by Casey, who had reexamined Woods in January 1996 following this Court's remand…”
Mont. Code Ann. § 46-14-302(5): 1 case
State v. Wooster, 1999 MT 22, 974 P.2d 640. “Consistent with the requirements of Foucha , the procedures for continued confinement of an acquittee set forth in §§ 46-14-301 et seq.”
Mont. Code Ann. § 46-14-302(6): 2 cases
State v. Wooster, 1999 MT 22, 974 P.2d 640. “Consistent with the requirements of Foucha , the procedures for continued confinement of an acquittee set forth in §§ 46-14-301 et seq.”
State v. Woods, 945 P.2d 918 (Mont. 1997). “or a substantial risk of substantial property damage," as required for continued commitment under § 46-14-302, MCA. At a second evidentiary hearing in June 1996, the District Court heard testimony by Casey, who had reexamined Woods in January 1996 following this Court's remand…”
Mont. Code Ann. § 46-14-302(6)(a): 1 case
State v. Woods, 945 P.2d 918 (Mont. 1997). “or a substantial risk of substantial property damage," as required for continued commitment under § 46-14-302, MCA. At a second evidentiary hearing in June 1996, the District Court heard testimony by Casey, who had reexamined Woods in January 1996 following this Court's remand…”
Mont. Code Ann. § 46-14-302(6)(b): 4 cases
State v. Woods, 945 P.2d 918 (Mont. 1997). “or a substantial risk of substantial property damage," as required for continued commitment under § 46-14-302, MCA. At a second evidentiary hearing in June 1996, the District Court heard testimony by Casey, who had reexamined Woods in January 1996 following this Court's remand…”
State v. Wooster, 1999 MT 22, 974 P.2d 640. “Consistent with the requirements of Foucha , the procedures for continued confinement of an acquittee set forth in §§ 46-14-301 et seq.”
State v. Cooney, 2000 MT 138, 1 P.3d 956. “Section 46-14-302(6)(b), MCA. In reviewing the District Court’s decision, this Court will set aside findings of fact only if they are clearly erroneous; we review conclusions of law for correctness.”
State v. C. Kepler, 2024 MT 173, 554 P.3d 138. “¶19 A not guilty but mentally ill person committed to DPHHS pursuant to § 46-14-301, MCA, may be conditionally released if the court is satisfied the person no longer suffers from a mental disease or disorder, § 46-14-302, MCA; or, the person, although suffering from a mental…”
Mont. Code Ann. § 46-14-302(6)(c): 1 case
State v. Woods, 945 P.2d 918 (Mont. 1997). “or a substantial risk of substantial property damage," as required for continued commitment under § 46-14-302, MCA. At a second evidentiary hearing in June 1996, the District Court heard testimony by Casey, who had reexamined Woods in January 1996 following this Court's remand…”
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