Abstract
One model for providing procedural protections in forensic commitments is to set limit on the length of treatment, requiring a judicial hearing at expiration to extend the commitment. This article investigates the hearing procedure that existed in Florida under previous statute. The specific focus is on the procedure as applied to mentally disordered sex offenders and defendants found incompetent to stand trial. Problems with the Florida procedure are discussed, suggesting the conclusion that the jurisdiction of the committing court–-as well as, the hospital–-must be restricted for protection by limited commitment to be effective. Changes in, and for commitment procedures regarding forensic patients are also discussed.
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