In re Williams

Filed 8/8/14
CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION EIGHT

B252654
In re GARY DONNELL WILLIAMS,
(Los Angeles County
Super. Ct. No. NA086234)
on Habeas Corpus.

ORIGINAL PROCEEDING on petition for writ of habeas corpus. Petition
granted and remanded.
Ronald L. Brown, Public Defender, Albert J. Menaster, Bret Rayburn and Robin
Bernstein-Lev, Deputy Public Defenders for Petitioner.
Lawrence Beach Allen & Choi, Paul B. Beach and Matthew P. Allen for
Respondent Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Jackie Lacey, District Attorney, Matthew Brown and Roberta Schwartz, Deputy
District Attorneys, for Respondent the People.
Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Julie Weng-Gutierrez, Assistant Attorney
General and Jennifer M. Kim and Carmen D. Snuggs, Deputy Attorneys General, for
Department of Developmental Services as Amicus Curiae on behalf of Respondent Los
Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Enright & Ocheltree, Judith A. Enright and Julie A. Ocheltree for South Central
Los Angeles Regional Center as Amicus Curiae.

_____________________________
 While awaiting trial on a variety of sex crime charges, petitioner Gary Donnell
Williams was declared mentally incompetent to stand trial due to developmental
disability. (Pen. Code, § 1370.1.)1 Pursuant to its statutory obligation, the regional
center provided a recommendation to the trial court to place Williams where he was to
receive services designed to restore him to competency. (§ 1370, subd. (a)(1)(H)(2).)
It determined the Porterville Developmental Center (Porterville or PDC) was best suited
to his needs, and the trial court ordered that he be placed there. However, Porterville
refused to accept Williams because of safety concerns. In the letter rejecting Williams’
placement, Porterville cited recently enacted Welfare and Institutions Code section
6510.5, which provides that “[u]nder no circumstances” can the court commit someone
declared incompetent under section 1370.1 to a developmental center if the Department
of Developmental Services (DDS) states in writing that the person in question cannot be
safely served at that facility. Although the trial court opined that Porterville’s refusal to
accept Williams appeared to be arbitrary and capricious, it believed that, under the statute
in question, it had no authority to place Williams at Porterville.
The court requested both the DDS and the regional center to provide alternatives
for Williams’ placement. The DDS suggested that an outside vendor could provide
services to Williams in county jail. The regional center acknowledged it had previously
provided such services in the county jail, but indicated such services cannot be provided
for a commitment order under section 1370.1 and refused to recommend it. The regional
center maintained that Porterville was the only suitable placement and provided the court
with no alternative for Williams’ placement. Given no other options, the trial court
reluctantly ordered that Williams remain in the Los Angeles County Jail with the local
regional center to provide competency services to Williams while incarcerated.

1
Undesignated statutory references are to the Penal Code and undesignated
references to statutory subdivisions are to the subdivisions of section 1370.1.

2
 By way of a petition for a writ of habeas corpus, Williams claims his continued
placement in the county jail (1) is not proper under section 1370.1, which limits where
someone declared mentally incompetent due to developmental disability may be placed,
and (2) violates his right to due process. In addition, Williams argues the trial court may,
and should, order Porterville to accept him.
We agree that Williams may not be placed in the county jail for the purpose of
receiving competency services. We also agree that, absent a determination that “there is
a substantial likelihood that he will recover [his competency] in the foreseeable future”
(In re Davis (1973) 8 Cal.3d 798, 801), Williams’ continued confinement violates his
right to due process. However, in light of the clear and unequivocal language in Welfare
and Institutions Code section 6510.5, we reject the contention that the trial court may
order Williams placed at Porterville if the DDS continues to maintain that he cannot be
safely served at Porterville. At the same time, we find the trial court may take steps to
ensure that the DDS fulfills its statutory obligation to ensure the regional center meets its
duty to provide placement options for the treatment of Williams, a developmentally
disabled person. This may include issuing an order to show cause to compel the DDS to
offer a placement option for Williams.
The writ petition asks this court to direct that Williams “be placed in lawful
custody for treatment, or released.” In light of his prayer for relief, and because the
record in this case “furnishes no basis for concluding that [Williams is] not likely to
respond to treatment . . . , it would be premature for us to order [Williams] released from
confinement at this time.” (In re Davis, supra, 8 Cal.3d at p. 806.)
Accordingly, we grant the petition and direct the trial court (1) within 45 days of
finality of this opinion, to order Williams placed in a facility that meets the requirements
of section 1370.1, and to ensure that such placement occurs forthwith, and (2) within 120
days of finality of this opinion, order that Williams be released or be subject to alternative
(i.e., civil) commitment procedures, unless the trial court determines that there is a
substantial likelihood Williams will attain competency in the foreseeable future.

3
 FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
In December 2010, an information was filed, charging then 47-year-old petitioner
Gary Donnell Williams with sexual penetration by a foreign object (§ 289, subd. (a)(1)),
sexual penetration by a foreign object of someone with a developmental disability (§ 289,
subd. (b)), forcible rape (§ 261, subd. (a)(2)), rape of an incompetent person (§ 261, subd.
(a)(1)), and sexual battery by restraint (§ 243.4, subd. (a)). A host of prior convictions –
mostly theft-related, but including one for sexual battery – were also alleged.
The charges arose out of events that took place in 2004. Williams allegedly
boarded a bus and, at one point, seated himself next to a 28-year-old woman with Down
Syndrome. During the ride, Williams allegedly convinced the woman that he and she
were a couple and he lured her off the bus to a deserted alley, where he sexually assaulted
her. Williams was arrested in 2010 and his DNA allegedly matched DNA taken from the
victim’s clothing following the crimes.
Williams pleaded not guilty, the Public Defender was appointed to represent him
and he was remanded in lieu of $1 million bail.
In April 2011, the trial court declared a doubt regarding Williams’ competence
and criminal proceedings were suspended. In August of that year, the trial court found
Williams incompetent to stand trial pursuant to section 1370.1, which applies when a
defendant is declared mentally incompetent due to a developmental disability. The court
referred Williams to the South Central Los Angeles Regional Center (SCLARC), which
was directed to examine Williams in the county jail and to report to the court pursuant to
section 1370.1. That section requires the court to consider the regional center’s
recommendation for placement before making a final placement decision.2
(Subd. (a)(1)(B)(i); see also subd. (a)(1)(H)(2).)

2
Regional centers are operated by private nonprofit community agencies and are
responsible for coordinating the delivery of services for developmentally disabled
persons. (See Welf. & Inst. Code, § 4620; Morohoshi v. Pacific Home (2004) 34 Cal.4th
482, 486-488.) Regional centers are monitored by the DDS to ensure they meet their
(Fn. continues on next page)

4
 Little progress was made with respect to Williams’ placement over the next
approximately 15 months. In November 2012, the SCLARC sent a letter to Williams’
counsel advising that Williams “has been assessed and determined eligible for Regional
Center services.” The record is not entirely clear why it took the SCLARC
approximately 15 months from the trial court’s finding of incompetency to make this
determination. However, the minute orders reflect that the trial court diligently
conducted progress hearings on an almost monthly basis. Initially, the court continued
the matter on several occasions because the SCLARC apparently needed additional time
to evaluate Williams. At least some of the subsequent continuances were due to
Williams being a “miss out,” most likely for medical reasons, including Williams’ need
to receive dialysis several times per week.
In January 2013, the SCLARC sent a letter to the trial court, advising that “Mr.
Williams was made eligible to receive services in 2012 with a diagnosis of Mild Mental
Retardation” and that, “[s]ince his eligibility, Mr. Williams has been incarcerated and has
not participated in any SCLARC funded programs.” The SCLARC also stated in the
letter that “[d]ue to the nature of Mr. Williams[’] offense[s] as well as a [section] 290 Sex
Registrant Status, The Regional Center cannot find an appropriate community placement,
as all residential facilities are within a quarter of a mile from schools.” In addition, the
SCLARC reported that lockdown facilities had advised, based on the nature of the
offenses charged and Williams’ sex registrant status, that Williams was “at high risk to
offend with the more vulnerable population at these sites.” The letter concluded with a
recommendation that “Williams be ordered [placed in the] Porterville Developmental
Center.”

statutory, regulatory, and contractual obligations in providing services to persons with
developmental disabilities. (Welf. & Inst. Code, §§ 4434, 4501.)

5
 The trial court acted promptly on the SCLARC’s recommendation. In January
2013, just one day after the date of the SCLARC’s letter, the trial court ordered Williams
committed to Porterville, where he was to be evaluated pursuant to section 1370.1.3
In February 2013, the trial court ordered the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s
Department (Sheriff) to release Williams’ medical records to the regional center.
However, at a hearing that took place exactly one month later, Williams’ counsel advised
the trial court that the regional center was still waiting for Williams’ medical records.
At the end of April 2013, the SCLARC sent a letter to the trial court, advising that
Williams continued to be incarcerated in the county jail and that his case “is to be
reviewed by the Porterville Development Center Clinical Team for placement approval
and placement on their waiting list.” An assessment attached to the letter indicated that
Williams’ diagnosis was “moderate” mental retardation. The assessment also noted that
Williams has “end-stage renal disease” and receives dialysis three times per week.
Minutes from a hearing that took place in early May 2013 reflect that Williams
was still in the county jail “awaiting being transported to Porterville Development
Center.” The minutes noted that Williams “will be placed on a waiting list for
Porterville. The wait . . . time is 6 to 9 months.” Although not entirely clear, it appears
this assertion was based on statements from a representative of the SCLARC who was
present at the hearing. The matter was continued to June 2013.
In late May 2013, the Acting Community Liaison Representative for the
Porterville Regional Project sent a letter to the trial court (hereafter the rejection letter),
advising that Porterville had assessed Williams for placement based on information it had
received from the SCLARC. According to the letter, an assessment “team determined
that Mr. Williams cannot be Safely Served at PDC.” The letter then quoted Welfare and
3
One month later, the trial court corrected its minute order nunc pro tunc to replace
the Porterville commitment with commitment to the regional center. However, this was a
mere technical correction. It is clear from the record that the trial court still intended for
Williams to be transported to Porterville. For simplicity, we will refer to the commitment
as being to Porterville.

6
Institutions Code section 6510.5, which provides: “Under no circumstances shall the
court order placement of a person described in this article or a dangerous person
committed pursuant to Section 1370.1 of the Penal Code to a developmental center if the
department [DDS] has specifically notified the court in writing that the individual cannot
be safely served in that developmental center.”
The letter noted that Porterville’s patient population is “challenged and very
susceptible.” The letter went on to describe Williams’ criminal history and two
psychological assessments performed on Williams in 2011 (before he was found mentally
incompetent), concluding with the following:

“Under all the circumstances, Mr. Williams presents as a person who would
be noncompliant to treatment, would engage in malingering behaviors, and
who would be manipulative and take advantage of less capable individuals
such as those housed at [Porterville]. Mr. Williams[’] demonstrated
inclinations, along with his long history of criminal behavior and offenses
provide a very substantial risk to those consumers currently served in the
Secure Treatment Program at [Porterville]. For these reasons [Porterville’s]
clinical team has determined that Mr. Williams cannot be adequately and
safely served at [Porterville].

“Accordingly, [Welfare and Institutions Code] Section 6510.5 precludes
Mr. Williams’ placement at [Porterville] as he is ‘a dangerous person
committed pursuant to section 1370.1 of the Penal Code.’ Please regard
this letter as written notification that Mr. Williams cannot be safely served
in the Porterville Development Center.”

In July 2013, the trial court held a hearing with the participation of, among others,
a SCLARC representative and the Porterville Acting Community Liaison Representative
who signed the rejection letter. During the hearing, the court expressed skepticism
regarding Porterville’s determination that Williams could not be safely housed there.
It observed that it had “seen some people accused of very dangerous crimes go to
Porterville who could walk” and who were “physically, basically a hundred percent.”
The court noted that Williams is an “older gentleman” who is on dialysis and who has
sometimes appeared in court on a gurney. The court characterized Williams as “one of

7
the most physically incapacitated people that I have seen in this courtroom and this is a
wheelchair courtroom.” The Deputy District Attorney also observed that, during the
years she has been assigned to the case, Williams “has always been in a wheelchair” and
he “seem[s] to be very limited in his physical capacity, coupled with his medical
situation.” The Porterville representative confirmed that “numerous” people charged
with sex offenses are housed at Porterville.
The District Attorney maintained that Porterville is “the correct institution to
actually house and take the defendant pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code section
6501,” which, as discussed below, provides that, when dealing with persons charged with
violent felonies who are committed under section 1370.1, priority should be given to
placement at Porterville.
Counsel for the DDS advised the trial court that, besides Porterville, she did not
believe there was a placement that could provide services to Williams while adequately
protecting the community.
The representative who signed the rejection letter informed the court that
Porterville has the capacity to accept 170 persons and that it was currently “at capacity.”
The representative emphasized, however, that this is “not the reason that [Williams’
placement at Porterville] was denied. He was denied based on the fact that [under
Welfare and Institutions Code section 6510.5,] we had the discretion to do so.”
The court then scheduled an order to show cause hearing as to why Williams
should not be ordered placed in Porterville “at a time convenient.”
In August 2013, the court vacated its order to show cause for technical reasons.
However, the court continued to discuss the merits of the case with counsel for the
various interested parties in an effort to find a solution to the placement dilemma.
Among other things, the court stated that Porterville’s decision to reject Williams
“appears to be arbitrary and capricious” but the court believed that Welfare and
Institutions Code section 6510.5 prevented it from placing Williams in Porterville.
The court expressed its belief that under section 1370.1, the DDS had to come up with an
alternative treatment plan.

8
 Counsel for the DDS maintained that under section 1370.1, “the Regional Center
would be the proper party to make a recommendation for alternate service.” Counsel for
the DDS suggested that an outside vendor could provide services to Williams in the
county jail.
Counsel for the SCLARC stated that the regional center “can arrange for a vendor
to go in county jail. It has been done in other cases that we have; however, that’s usually
pending a placement at Porterville.” Counsel for the SCLARC added, however, that
“[t]he commitment order under [section] 1370.1 can’t be county jail, the way I read [the
statute].”
Williams’ counsel also maintained that placement in the county jail is not proper
under section 1370.1.
The court continued the matter to September 2013 to consider alternative
placement options.
In late August 2013, Williams filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus in the
trial court, seeking his “immediate release from his present unlawful confinement.”
Williams maintained that his continued confinement is unlawful because there has been
no determination that there is a substantial likelihood he will attain competency in the
foreseeable future.
The trial court directed the District Attorney to file a return. In the return, the
District Attorney argued that Williams could and should remain in county jail and should
receive competency training there. Alternatively, the District Attorney asked that the
court place Williams in Patton State Hospital.
The SCLARC also filed a brief in which it argued that “the jail is not a placement
option under Penal Code section 1370.1 and the regional center is not recommending it as
a placement.” Although stopping short of expressly stating that the court should order
Williams placed in Porterville notwithstanding the rejection letter, the SCLARC
maintained that Porterville is the only secure treatment facility where Williams could be
placed.

9
 In late September 2013, after conducting a hearing on the matter, the trial court
issued a written order denying the petition. The court concluded that, in light of Welfare
and Institutions Code section 6510.5, it had no authority to place Williams in Porterville.
The court then ruled that “[t]he only alternative to releasing the petitioner is for this court
to order the SCLARC to provide competency services in the Los Angeles County Jail,
which does qualify pursuant to Penal Code section 1369.1 as a ‘treatment facility,’ and to
submit to the court the ninety[-]day evaluation required by Penal Code section
1370.1(b)(1).”4
Two months later, Williams filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus in this
court. This court summarily denied the petition, but the Supreme Court granted
Williams’ petition for review and transferred the matter to this court with directions to
issue an order to show cause why Williams’ continued placement in county jail is not
contrary to subdivision (a)(1)(B)(i), and why his continued confinement without a
determination whether there is a substantial likelihood he will attain competency is not a
denial of due process. We issued such an order to show case, received separate returns
from the Sheriff and the District Attorney, as well as a traverse from petitioner.
In addition, we invited and received amicus curiae briefs from the DDS and the
SCLARC, each of which addressed the question whether the trial court had authority to
order Porterville to accept Williams notwithstanding Porterville’s invocation of Welfare
and Institutions Code section 6510.5. The DDS maintains that the trial court had no such
authority. The SCLARC does not directly address the question, though it maintains that
Williams may challenge Porterville’s decision to reject his placement through the

4
Section 1369.1, subdivision (a), provides in pertinent part that, as used in the Penal
Code chapter dealing with competency issues, the term “treatment facility” includes a
county jail. We discuss the significance of this provision below.

10
Lanterman Act’s administrative fair hearing procedures.5 The DDS also suggests
Williams may challenge the rejection letter by way of such an administrative proceeding.
DISCUSSION
A. Placement of Persons Declared Mentally Incompetent Due to
Developmental Disability
1. Applicable Legal Principles
A defendant may be found incompetent to stand trial due to a mental disorder or a
developmental disability.6 (§ 1367, subd. (a).) Different procedures apply in each

5
“ ‘[T]he Lanterman Act guarantees an applicant for or recipient of services or his
or her representative “who is dissatisfied with any decision or action of [a regional center
or developmental center]” the right to an administrative fair hearing. [Citation.]’
(Conservatorship of Whitley (2007) 155 Cal.App.4th 1447, 1459 (Whitley); see [Welf. &
Inst. Code,] § 4704.) The fair hearing procedures are designed to decide ‘all issues
concerning the rights of persons with developmental disabilities to receive services under
[the Lanterman Act].’ ([Welf. & Inst. Code,] § 4706, subd. (a).) The fair hearing
procedures include ‘detailed provisions for claimants who wish to attempt to resolve the
issue through a voluntary informal meeting or through voluntary mediation before
proceeding to an administrative fair hearing. [Citations.]’ (Whitley, at pp. 1459–1460.)
If the claimant chooses to proceed to an administrative fair hearing, the Lanterman Act
guarantees the claimant a prehearing exchange of potential witnesses and documentary
evidence, the opportunity to present witnesses and evidence, the opportunity to cross-
examine all opposing witnesses, the right to appear through counsel or other
representatives, and a written decision by the hearing officer. (Whitley, at pp. 1460–
1461.) Either side may seek judicial review of the administrative decision through a writ
of administrative mandamus.” (Michelle K. v. Superior Court (2013) 221 Cal.App.4th
409, 423-424, fourth and sixth brackets added.)
While Williams is free to explore this option, we express no opinion concerning
the availability of such administrative review in this case.
6
“ ‘[D]evelopmental disability’ means a disability that originates before an
individual attains 18 years of age, continues, or can be expected to continue, indefinitely
and constitutes a substantial handicap for the individual, and shall not include other
handicapping conditions that are solely physical in nature. As defined by the Director of
Developmental Services, in consultation with the Superintendent of Public Instruction,
this term shall include intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and autism. This
term shall also include handicapping conditions found to be closely related to intellectual
disability or to require treatment similar to that required for individuals with an
(Fn. continues on next page)

11
instance. Section 1370 applies to a person found incompetent due solely to mental
disorder, while section 1370.1 applies to a person found incompetent due to
developmental disability and to “a person who is incompetent as a result of a mental
disorder, but is also developmentally disabled.” (§ 1367, subd. (b).)
Sections 1370 and 1370.1 contain many similarities, and even some virtually
identical provisions, but there are some important differences. One of those differences
is relevant to this writ proceeding. It concerns the placement options available to the trial
court when deciding where the incompetent person should receive services designed to
help that person attain competency.
We focus on the statute applicable to this case – section 1370.1. Under this
statute, “[i]f the defendant is found mentally incompetent and is developmentally
disabled, the trial or judgment shall be suspended until the defendant becomes mentally
competent.” (Subd. (a)(1)(B).)
Subdivision (a)(1)(B) specifies the placement options available to the court after a
finding of incompetency. They are contained in three paragraphs – (i) through (iii),
respectively. The main placement provision is contained in paragraph (i), which provides
in pertinent part:
“In the meantime [i.e., until the defendant becomes mentally competent],
the court shall order that the mentally incompetent defendant be delivered
by the sheriff or other person designated by the court to [1] a state hospital
or developmental center for the care and treatment of the developmentally
disabled or [2] any other available residential facility approved by the
director of a regional center for the developmentally disabled established
under Division 4.5 (commencing with Section 4500) of the Welfare and
Institutions Code as will promote the defendant’s speedy attainment of
mental competence, or [3] be placed on outpatient status pursuant to
Section 1370.4 and Title 15 . . . .”7 (Subd. (a)(1)(B)(i).)

intellectual disability, but shall not include other handicapping conditions that are solely
physical in nature.” (Subd. (a)(1)(H).)
7
This text of subdivision (a)(1)(B)(i) begins with the following sentence: “Except
as provided in clause (ii) or (iii), the court shall consider a recommendation for
placement, which recommendation shall be made to the court by the director of a regional
(Fn. continues on next page)

12
center or designee.” When read literally, the “[i]n the meantime” clause at the start of the
following sentence, would seem to refer to the relatively brief period before the trial court
receives and considers the regional center’s placement recommendation. This would
mean that the three placement options listed in clause (i) limit only where an incompetent
defendant may be placed on a temporary basis; i.e., until the court can make a more
“permanent” placement decision based on the regional center’s recommendation. This
would then leave the court free to make its more “permanent” placement decision without
having to adhere to the restrictions imposed in subdivision (a)(1)(B)(i).
No party to this writ proceeding has advocated such a construction, which we
consider prudent. Looking at the entire statute, it is clear that “in the meantime” refers to
the period until the defendant attains competency. Thus, subdivision (a)(1)(H)(2)
provides that an incompetent defendant may not even be admitted to one of the facilities
listed in subdivision (a)(1)(B)(i) before the regional center has performed the court-
ordered evaluation that is required for its placement recommendation. As a result, the
trial court cannot even place the incompetent defendant in one of the listed facilities
before receiving the regional center’s recommendation. In addition, it would be odd if
the Legislature had placed relatively strict limits on where a mentally incompetent person
may be placed on a temporary basis, only to place virtually no restrictions on the more
“permanent” placement after receipt of the regional center’s recommendation. Finally,
the “parallel” statute that applies when someone is declared incompetent due solely to a
mental disorder (§ 1370) contains the same “in the meantime” clause. In that statute,
there is no question the language refers to the period until the person is restored to
competency because the “in the meantime” clause follows the statement that, if the
defendant is found mentally incompetent, trial should be suspended until the person
becomes mentally competent. That is also the way the comparable provision appeared in
section 1370.1 until the Legislature amended the statute in 1980 to add a provision
requiring the court to consider the regional center’s recommendation. (See Stats. 1980,
ch. 547, § 9; Stats. 1980, ch. 859, § 2; Stats. 1980, ch. 1253, § 2.) Unfortunately, when it
did so, the drafters apparently failed to recognize that some grammatical adjustments
should be made to avoid confusion over the meaning of the “in the meantime” clause.
Nonetheless, as this case illustrates, courts and the bar have continued to construe the
clause rationally and in accordance with the Legislature’s obvious intent, namely, as
referring to the period until the incompetent person attains competency. Consistent with
the rules of statutory construction, we will do so as well. (See Smith v. Superior Court
(2006) 39 Cal.4th 77, 83 [“[F]undamental task [in construing a statute] is to ascertain the
Legislature’s intent so as to effectuate the purpose of the statute” and, while courts “begin
with the language of the statute, giving the words their usual and ordinary meaning.
[Citation.] The language must be construed ‘in the context of the statute as a whole and
the overall statutory scheme[;]’ ” court must “choose the construction that comports most
closely with the Legislature’s apparent intent, endeavoring to promote rather than defeat
(Fn. continues on next page)

13
 In this case, we are not concerned with the third of these options because, under
section 1601, subdivision (a), persons charged with certain specified offenses are not
eligible for outpatient status until they have “actually been confined in a state hospital or
other treatment facility for 180 days or more . . . .” One of the specified offenses is
forcible rape. Because Williams was charged with forcible rape, he was not eligible for
outpatient status. (See also People v. Superior Court (Lopez) (2005) 125 Cal.App.4th
1558, 1563 (Lopez) [trial court erred by placing incompetent defendant directly in
outpatient treatment because he was facing trial on one of the offenses listed in section
1601, subdivision (a)].)
Therefore, the two placement options that were available to the trial court under
subdivision (a)(1)(B)(i) were (1) “a state hospital or developmental center for the care
and treatment of the developmentally disabled” or (2) “any other available residential
facility approved by the director of a regional center for the developmentally disabled . . .
as will promote the defendant’s speedy attainment of mental competence.”
The two remaining paragraphs in subdivision (a)(1)(B) authorize “alternative
placement[s]” beyond those available under paragraph (i), but they apply only under
limited circumstances. Paragraph (ii) of subdivision (a)(1)(B) provides:
“However, if the action against the defendant who has been found
mentally incompetent is on a complaint charging a felony offense specified
in Section 290 [i.e., an offense for which sex offender registration is
required upon conviction], the prosecutor shall determine whether the
defendant [1] previously has been found mentally incompetent to stand trial
pursuant to this chapter on a charge of a Section 290 offense, or [2] whether
the defendant is currently the subject of a pending Section 1368 proceeding
arising out of a charge of a Section 290 offense. If either determination is
made, the prosecutor shall so notify the court and defendant in writing.
After this notification, and opportunity for hearing, the court shall order
that the defendant be delivered by the sheriff to a state hospital or other
secure treatment facility for the care and treatment of the developmentally
disabled unless the court makes specific findings on the record that an

the statute’s general purpose, and avoiding a construction that would lead to absurd
consequences”].)

14
 alternative placement would provide more appropriate treatment for the
defendant and would not pose a danger to the health and safety of others.”
(Subd. (a)(1)(B)(ii), italics added.)

In Lopez, supra, 125 Cal.App.4th at pages 1563 through 1565, the Court of Appeal
construed a virtually identical provision in the “parallel” statute that applies when
someone is declared incompetent due solely to a mental disorder – section 1370,
subdivision (a)(1)(B)(ii). The court observed that the provision “applies only if the
defendant has been found mentally incompetent to stand trial on a section 290 offense
and he falls into one of two prerequisite categories: (1) he previously was found
incompetent to stand trial on a section 290 offense, or (2) he ‘is currently the subject of a
pending Section 1368 proceeding arising out of a charge’ listed in section 290.”
(Lopez, supra, 125 Cal.App.4th at p. 1564.)
Before the defendant in Lopez was declared incompetent, he was facing trial on a
felony offense listed in section 290, but “there [wa]s nothing in the record to indicate
defendant was previously found incompetent to stand trial on an offense listed in section
290.” (Lopez, supra, at p. 1564.) Therefore, the first prerequisite category could not be
invoked. “As to the second category – whether the defendant ‘is currently the subject of
a pending Section 1368 proceeding’ based on an offense listed in section 290 –” the court
in Lopez concluded that “this language refers to a separate proceeding from the one
before the trial court.” (Ibid.)
The court explained:
“Any other interpretation of [section 1370,] subdivision (a)(1)(B)(ii)
would render much of its language surplusage, ‘ “ ‘[a] construction . . . to
be avoided.’ ” ’ (California Insurance Guarantee Assn. v. Workers’ Comp.
Appeals Bd. (2003) 112 Cal.App.4th 358, 366.) For example, if the fact
that a defendant has been found incompetent to stand trial for a section 290
offense in the current proceeding were sufficient to satisfy the requirement
of a ‘pending section 1368 proceeding,’ this second prerequisite category
would apply in every case, rendering it unnecessary for the prosecuting
attorney to ever make a determination whether either of the two prerequisite
categories applied.” (Lopez, supra, 125 Cal.App.4th at p. 1565, first
brackets and ellipsis in original.)

15
 The Supreme Court denied review in Lopez and the Legislature has not made any
changes to the statutory language at issue in Lopez since that case was decided in 2005.
Turning back to the placement options in subdivision (a)(1)(B), the third and final
paragraph listing the placement options is paragraph (iii), which authorizes the trial court
to consider “alternative placement[s]” only if, among other things, the defendant was
denied bail.8
2. Application to Petitioner’s Commitment in This Case9
We first consider whether Williams’ current placement in the county jail is proper
under section 1370.1. We hold it is not.

8
Subdivision (a)(1)(B)(iii) provides:
“If the action against the defendant who has been found mentally incompetent is
on a complaint charging a felony offense specified in Section 290 and the defendant has
been denied bail pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 12 of Article I of the California
Constitution because the court has found, based upon clear and convincing evidence, a
substantial likelihood that the person’s release would result in great bodily harm to
others, the court shall order that the defendant be delivered by the sheriff to a state
hospital for the care and treatment of the developmentally disabled unless the court
makes specific findings on the record that an alternative placement would provide more
appropriate treatment for the defendant and would not pose a danger to the health and
safety of others.”
9
Preliminarily, we address two procedural issues raised by the DDS. First, the
DDS suggests this petition may soon become moot because William’s three-year
maximum confinement date is approaching. That date has not yet arrived. If and when it
does, the issue can be raised in the trial court.
Second, the DDS maintains that “the issue of whether the [DDS] properly
exercised its discretion [when it issued the rejection letter and invoked Welfare and
Institutions Code] Section 6510.5 is not before this Court.” That is correct. However,
the question whether the trial court had authority to even consider whether the DDS
properly exercised its discretion is before this court (in the context of this court’s
consideration of the propriety of the trial court’s placement order), and the parties,
including the DDS, have briefed this issue. And, contrary to the DDS’s contention, the
Supreme Court did not “grant[] review on selected issues” before transferring the matter
to this court with directions to issue an order to show cause. Thus, the Supreme Court’s
order does not preclude this court from considering the trial court’s authority to direct the
DDS to accept Williams at Porterville.

16
 a. Subdivision (a)(1)(B)(i)
The placement options in section 1370.1 are contained in subdivision (a)(1)(B),
with the main placement provision being in paragraph (i). As discussed above, that
paragraph contains three placement options: (1) “a state hospital or developmental center
for the care and treatment of the developmentally disabled or” (2) “any other available
residential facility approved by the director of a regional center for the developmentally
disabled established under Division 4.5 (commencing with Section 4500) of the Welfare
and Institutions Code as will promote the defendant’s speedy attainment of mental
competence,” or (3) “outpatient status.”
The first and last of these options require little discussion. A county jail is not a
“state hospital or developmental center for the care and treatment of the developmentally
disabled” and no party argues that it is. And, as noted, under section 1601, subdivision
(a), Williams was not eligible for outpatient status because he was charged with forcible
rape.
Turning to the second option, we are uncertain whether the county jail could
theoretically qualify as a “residential facility approved by the director of a regional center
for the developmentally disabled established under Division 4.5 (commencing with
Section 4500) of the Welfare and Institutions Code as will promote the defendant’s
speedy attainment of mental competence.” In this case, the director of the SCLARC has
not approved the county jail under this provision, so it was not an option available to the
trial court.
At oral argument, counsel for the DDS stated that the county jail or other facility
could qualify as such a residential facility if approved by the regional center. Counsel for
the SCLARC likewise seemed to concede that the county jail could qualify as such a
residential facility if its director approved it as such. However, counsel maintained that
the SCLARC could not approve the county jail for Williams’ placement because doing so
would be inconsistent with its obligations under Welfare and Institutions Code section
4648, subdivision (b), to advocate for, and protect, persons with developmental
disabilities.

17
 Perhaps because it was only a theoretical possibility, the District Attorney and the
Sheriff do not argue Williams’ placement in the county jail could be proper if the
regional center approved it as a residential facility. However, Williams claims it would
not be proper because the county jail does not meet the requirements in “Division 4.5
(commencing with Section 4500) of the Welfare and Institutions Code.”
Because the propriety of such a placement is not before us, and because this point
was not fully addressed by the parties in their briefing, we are not in a position to
determine whether the county jail could qualify as a residential facility for Williams’
placement if the SCLARC approves it. However, we do not preclude the possibility that
a “residential facility” under subdivision (a)(1)(B)(i) may include a correctional facility if
it meets the requirements of Division 4.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and it is
approved by the regional center.
b. Subdivision (a)(1)(B)(ii)
We turn next to paragraph (ii) of subdivision (a)(1)(B). It provides:
“However, if the action against the defendant who has been found
mentally incompetent is on a complaint charging a felony offense specified
in Section 290 [i.e., an offense for which sex offender registration is
required upon conviction], the prosecutor shall determine whether the
defendant [1] previously has been found mentally incompetent to stand trial
pursuant to this chapter on a charge of a Section 290 offense, or [2] whether
the defendant is currently the subject of a pending Section 1368 proceeding
arising out of a charge of a Section 290 offense. If either determination is
made, the prosecutor shall so notify the court and defendant in writing.
After this notification, and opportunity for hearing, the court shall order
that the defendant be delivered by the sheriff to a state hospital or other
secure treatment facility for the care and treatment of the developmentally
disabled unless the court makes specific findings on the record that an
alternative placement would provide more appropriate treatment for the
defendant and would not pose a danger to the health and safety of others.”
(Subd. (a)(1)(B)(ii), italics added.)

The Sheriff and the DDS argue that this provision applies here. According to the
case law we discussed above, this provision “applies only if the defendant has been found
mentally incompetent to stand trial on a section 290 offense and he falls into one of two

18
prerequisite categories: (1) he previously was found incompetent to stand trial on a
section 290 offense, or (2) he ‘is currently the subject of a pending Section 1368
proceeding arising out of a charge’ listed in section 290.” (Lopez, supra, 125
Cal.App.4th at p. 1564 [construing virtually identical language in section 1370, subd.
(a)(1)(B)(ii)].)
Although Williams was facing trial on one or more felony offenses listed in
section 290, there is nothing in the record to indicate he was previously found
incompetent to stand trial on an offense listed in section 290. Therefore, the first
prerequisite category may not be invoked. As for the second category, and as discussed
above, the court in Lopez concluded that “this language refers to a separate [pending]
proceeding from the one before the trial court.” (Lopez, supra, 125 Cal.App.4th at p.
1564.) There is no indication that Williams was the subject of another pending section
1368 proceeding arising out of a charge listed in section 290.10
Thus, based on the record before us, we cannot find Williams’ placement is
appropriate under subdivision (a)(1)(B)(ii) either. However, if the District Attorney
failed to assert a factual basis for applying the provision as we have just explained, it may
do so after the matter is remanded to the trial court.
c. Subdivision (a)(1)(B)(iii)
Paragraph (iii) of subdivision (a)(1)(B) allows housing in a state hospital for the
care and treatment of the developmentally disabled, and also for “alternative placement”
upon the court making specific findings on the record. However, it applies only when a
defendant has been denied bail because of “a substantial likelihood that the person’s
release would result in great bodily harm to others, . . .” This subdivision cannot be used
in this case because Williams was not denied bail.

10
Neither the Sheriff nor the DDS discuss Lopez in their briefing. In contrast, the
District Attorney acknowledges and does not take issue with the holding in Lopez.

19
 d. Other Arguments
1) Section 1369.1
The District Attorney argues Williams is properly placed in county jail because of
a 2012 amendment to section 1369.1 pursuant to which a “ ‘treatment facility’ includes a
county jail.” (§ 1369.1, subd. (a).) As we now explain, while a county jail may qualify
as a “treatment facility” for certain purposes, it does not qualify as a placement option
under section 1370.1.
First, the only reference to “treatment facility” in subdivision (a)(1)(B) – which, as
noted, contains the placement options in section 1370.1 – is contained in paragraph (ii).
That paragraph gives the court the option to place someone in a “secure treatment facility
for the care and treatment of the developmentally disabled . . . .” (Subd. (a)(1)(B)(ii),
italics added.) As we have already explained, however, based on the record before us,
Williams does not qualify for placement under paragraph (ii) of subdivision (a)(1)(B).
Second, the legislative history demonstrates that the amendment to section 1369.1
was meant to apply to the placement of defendants found mentally incompetent due to
mental disorder under section 1370, not to the placement of defendants found mentally
incompetent due to developmental disability under section 1370.1.
Section 1369.1 was enacted in 2007 and became effective on January 1, 2008.
Initially, it dealt only with the ability of county jails to administer antipsychotic
medications. When enacted, subdivision (a) of the statute provided in pertinent part:

“As used in this chapter, for the sole purpose of administering
antipsychotic medication pursuant to a court order, ‘treatment facility’
includes a county jail. Upon the concurrence of the county board of
supervisors, the county mental health director, and the county sheriff, the
jail may be designated to provide medically approved medication to
defendants found to be mentally incompetent and unable to provide
informed consent due to a mental disorder, pursuant to this chapter. . . .
The provisions of Sections 1370 and 1370.01 shall apply to antipsychotic
medications provided in a county jail, provided, however, that the
maximum period of time a defendant may be treated in a treatment facility

20
 pursuant to this section shall not exceed six months.”11 (Former § 1369.1,
subd. (a), italics added.)

Thus, section 1369.1 dealt only with the ability of county jails to administer
medication, and it was specifically limited to persons declared mentally incompetent due
to a mental disorder (not due to developmental disability). That explains why the statute
cites only sections 1370 and 1370.01 (both of which deal with mental incompetence due
to mental disorder), and makes no reference to section 1370.1.
The language upon which the trial court in this case and the District Attorney rely
was added by way of a 2012 amendment, which went into effect in June of that year.
(Stats. 2012, ch. 24, § 25.) The only substantive change was the deletion of the phrase
“for the sole purpose of administering antipsychotic medication pursuant to a court
order.” Thus, subdivision (a) now provides:

“As used in this chapter, ‘treatment facility’ includes a county jail.
Upon the concurrence of the county board of supervisors, the county mental
health director, and the county sheriff, the jail may be designated to
provide medically approved medication to defendants found to be mentally
incompetent and unable to provide informed consent due to a mental
disorder, pursuant to this chapter. . . . . The provisions of Sections 1370
and 1370.01 shall apply to antipsychotic medications provided in a county
jail, provided, however, that the maximum period of time a defendant may
be treated in a treatment facility pursuant to this section shall not exceed six
months.” (§ 1369.1, subd. (a), italics added.)

As can be seen, this subdivision refers only to persons suffering from a “mental
disorder.” It makes no reference to persons suffering from a developmental disability.12

11
Section 1370.01 contains procedures that apply only to persons charged with
misdemeanors. (See § 1367, subd. (b).)
12
In addition, as the SCLARC notes in its amicus brief, the statute refers to the
“county mental health director” and makes no reference to the regional center director.

21
 In addition, as part of the same 2012 amendment to section 1369.1, the Legislature
also amended section 1370, the statute dealing with those declared mentally incompetent
due to a mental disorder. Specifically, the Legislature amended that statute to provide
that a treatment facility where such persons may be placed includes the county jail.
Section 1370, subdivision (a)(1)(B)(i), now provides:

“In the meantime [pending restoration to sanity], the court shall order that
the mentally incompetent [due to mental disorder] defendant be delivered
by the sheriff [1] to a state hospital for the care and treatment of the
mentally disordered, or [2] to any other available public or private
treatment facility, including a local county jail treatment facility, approved
by the community program director that will promote the defendant’s
speedy restoration to mental competence, or [3] placed on outpatient status
as specified in Section 1600.” (§ 1370, subd. (a)(1)(B)(i)), italics added.)

Thus, section 1370, subdivision (a)(1)(B)(i), specifically authorizes placement in a
“treatment facility,” and specifically provides (as of June 2012) that a treatment facility
includes a county jail. (See also § 1370, subd. (a)(1)(F)(2)(A) [discussing placement in a
county jail treatment facility].)
In contrast, section 1370.1 was not amended in June 2012 when the Legislature
amended sections 1369.1 and 1370 to provide that treatment facility includes a county
jail. Indeed, section 1370.1 does not include a single reference to “jail.”
The District Attorney argues that, although the Legislature amended only section
1370, and not section 1370.1, to expressly authorize placement in a county jail, this court
should interpret section 1370.1 as authorizing such placement “in order to harmonize this
section [1370.1] with section 1370.” We decline the invitation to rewrite the statute.
As the Supreme Court explained in a different context, “plaintiffs’ argument would
require us to adopt the following implausible line of reasoning: When two parallel
statutes use nearly identical language, and when the Legislature amends one but not the
other, and when the amendment does not merely clarify existing law but actually changes
the law, we should nevertheless continue to give the two statutes the same meaning,
treating them as if the Legislature had actually amended both . . . .” (Miklosy v. Regents

22
of University of California (2008) 44 Cal.4th 876, 894.) Moreover, the discussion above
demonstrates that the 2012 amendment to section 1369.1 was meant to apply only to the
placement of those found mentally incompetent due solely to a mental disorder.
The language in subdivision (a)(1)(B)(i) is clear. “If the [statutory] language is
clear, courts must generally follow its plain meaning unless a literal interpretation would
result in absurd consequences the Legislature did not intend.” (Coalition of Concerned
Communities, Inc. v. City of Los Angeles (2004) 34 Cal.4th 733, 737.) No party contends
that construing the subdivision according to its plain meaning would lead to absurd
consequences. We therefore decline to construe subdivision (a)(1)(B)(i) to include an
amendment the Legislature chose not to add.
2) Subdivision (e)
Although not expressly relying on subdivision (e) for an alternative argument that
Williams is appropriately placed in county jail, the District Attorney contends it gives rise
to an “implication that correctional facilities may be an appropriate treatment facility if
the circumstances warrant.” Subdivision (e) provides:

“For the purpose of this section, ‘secure treatment facility’ shall not
include, except for state mental hospitals, state developmental centers, and
correctional treatment facilities, a facility licensed pursuant to Chapter 2
(commencing with Section 1250) of, Chapter 3 (commencing with Section
1500) of, or Chapter 3.2 (commencing with Section 1569) of, Division 2 of
the Health and Safety Code, or a community board and care facility.”

As discussed, while the term “secure treatment facility” appears in subdivision
(a)(1)(B)(ii), Williams’ placement cannot be supported under this provision. Subdivision
(a)(1)(B)(i) is the only provision containing the placement options available in this case.
It makes no reference to “secure treatment facility.” Therefore, what may or may not be
included in the term “secure treatment facility” is irrelevant.

23
 In sum, Williams’ placement in the county jail cannot currently be upheld under
any of the three provisions in subdivision (a)(1)(B), the subdivision that contains the only
placement options available under section 1370.1.13
B. Due Process Limits on the Commitment of Persons Declared Mentally
Incompetent to Stand Trial
1. Applicable Legal Principles
As noted above, pending restoration to sanity, the incompetent defendant is to be
placed in an authorized facility for the purpose of receiving services designed to help that
person attain competency. (Subd. (a)(1)(B).) Previously, such placement could last
indefinitely. (See In re Polk (1999) 71 Cal.App.4th 1230, 1235 [“Before 1974, a criminal
defendant found mentally incompetent to stand trial in California was committed to a
state hospital until he regained competence and thus faced the possibility of an indefinite
commitment without regard to the crime with which he was charged or his prognosis for
recovery of competence”].) However, there are now both constitutional and statutory
time limits on such placements.
In Jackson v. Indiana (1972) 406 U.S. 715, 731 (Jackson), the United States
Supreme Court held that a state’s “indefinite commitment of a criminal defendant solely
on account of his incompetency to stand trial does not square with the Fourteenth
Amendment’s guarantee of due process.” The court held that, “[a]t the least, due process
requires that the nature and duration of commitment bear some reasonable relation to the
purpose for which the individual is committed.” (Id. at p. 738.) More specifically, the
court held that a “person charged by a State with a criminal offense who is committed

13
Some parties cite to the services Williams has been receiving in the county jail and
argue, depending on their respective positions, that those services are or are not adequate.
Even assuming it would be appropriate for us to consider such recent developments –
many of which involve facts occurring after we issued our order to show cause – the
adequacy of the services provided to Williams in the county jail is irrelevant because we
have determined Williams’ placement in the county jail is not authorized. We express no
opinion regarding the quality of the services provided to Williams in the county jail.

24
solely on account of his incapacity to proceed to trial cannot be held more than the
reasonable period of time necessary to determine whether there is a substantial
probability that he will attain that capacity in the foreseeable future. If it is determined
that this is not the case, then the State must either institute the customary civil
commitment proceeding that would be required to commit indefinitely any other citizen,
or release the defendant.” (Ibid., italics added.)
In In re Davis, supra, 8 Cal.3d 798, the California Supreme Court
“acknowledge[d] that some provision must be made to assure that [incompetent
defendants] do not face an indefinite commitment without regard to the likelihood that
they will eventually regain their competence” and it proceeded to “adopt the rule of the
Jackson case that no person charged with a criminal offense and committed to a state
hospital solely on account of his incapacity to proceed to trial may be so confined more
than a reasonable period of time necessary to determine whether there is a substantial
likelihood that he will recover that capacity in the foreseeable future.” (In re Davis,
supra, 8 Cal.3d at p. 801.)
The Supreme Court went on to specify procedures that should apply to future
commitments:
“in order to comply with Jackson’s demands the trial courts should
henceforth direct the appropriate state hospital authorities to commence an
immediate examination of the person committed and, within a reasonable
time, report to the court the result of that examination and estimate the
additional time probably necessary to restore the person to competence.
Should the person committed desire to challenge the report’s conclusions,
reasonable opportunity should be provided him to do so.

“If the report discloses that there exists no reasonable likelihood that
the person will recover his competence to stand trial in the foreseeable
future, then the court should either order him released from confinement or
initiate appropriate alternative commitment proceedings under the
Lanterman-Petris-Short Act (Welf. & Inst. Code, § 5000 et seq.). On the
other hand, if the report is optimistic regarding the person’s probable
recovery, the court should continue his commitment and require the
hospital authorities to furnish, within a reasonable time, additional periodic

25
 reports regarding the person’s progress.” (In re Davis, supra, 8 Cal.3d at
pp. 806-807, fns. omitted.)

In 1974, the Legislature responded to the Jackson and Davis decisions by
substantially amending the statutes governing incompetency commitments. (See Hale v.
Superior Court (1975) 15 Cal.3d 221, 223.) Subdivision (b)(1) now provides for specific
time limits to ensure that a mentally incompetent person is not committed if there is no
substantial likelihood of attaining competency. The subdivision provides in pertinent
part:
“Within 90 days of admission of a person committed pursuant to
subdivision (a), the executive director or designee of the state hospital,
developmental center, or other facility to which the defendant is
committed, . . . shall make a written report to the committing court and the
regional center director or a designee concerning the defendant’s progress
toward becoming mentally competent. If the defendant has not become
mentally competent, but the report discloses a substantial likelihood the
defendant will become mentally competent within the next 90 days, the
court may order that the defendant shall remain in the state hospital,
developmental center, or other facility . . . for that period of time. Within
150 days of an admission made pursuant to subdivision (a) or if the
defendant becomes mentally competent, the executive director or designee
of the hospital or developmental center or person in charge of the
facility . . . shall report to the court and the regional center director or his or
her designee regarding the defendant’s progress toward becoming mentally
competent. . . . If the report indicates that there is no substantial likelihood
that the defendant has become mentally competent, the committing court
shall order the defendant to be returned to the court for [commitment or
detention] proceedings pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (c).”14

14
Paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of the statute provides in pertinent part: “In the
event of dismissal of the criminal charges before the defendant becomes mentally
competent, the defendant shall be subject to the applicable provisions of the Lanterman-
Petris-Short Act (Part 1 (commencing with Section 5000) of Division 5 of the Welfare
and Institutions Code), or to commitment and detention pursuant to a petition filed
pursuant to Section 6502 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.” (Subd. (c)(2).)

26
 The maximum commitment under section 1370.1 is three years. (Subd. (c)(1)(A)
[“At the end of three years from the date of commitment or a period of commitment equal
to the maximum term of imprisonment provided by law for the most serious offense
charged in the information, indictment, or misdemeanor complaint, whichever is shorter,
a defendant who has not become mentally competent shall be returned to the committing
court”].)
2. Application to Petitioner’s Commitment in This Case
Although the court in Davis referred to commitment to a “state hospital,” the
same due process concerns apply when someone is being held in confinement prior to
transportation to such hospital or other facility. (See Craft v. Superior Court (2006) 140
Cal.App.4th 1533, 1545 [“Because commitment and treatment are the intertwined
rationales for suspending criminal proceedings against a mentally incompetent defendant
[citation], it follows that where there is no commitment and no treatment, the time an
incompetent defendant spends in jail is unnecessary and implicates not only due process,
but also counts towards a finding of prolonged incarceration under the state constitutional
speedy trial guarantee”].)
Due process requires that the nature and duration of commitment “bear some
reasonable relation to the purpose for which the individual is committed.” (Jackson,
supra, 406 U.S. at p. 738.) In this case, once the court found Williams incompetent in
August 2011, he was committed to the county jail solely for (1) the SCLARC to evaluate
Williams and make the statutorily-required placement recommendation, (2) the trial to
issue a placement order after receipt of the SCLARC recommendation, and (3) the sheriff
to transport Williams to the facility in question.
While there may be no firm deadline for these things to occur, based on the record
in this case, the two years that passed between the time the trial court found Williams
incompetent and the time it ordered him placed in the county jail for treatment is
unreasonable.

27
 After the trial court found Williams incompetent to stand trial and ordered the
SCLARC to make a placement recommendation in August 2011, it was not until
November 2012 that the SCLARC actually fulfilled its duty and sent a letter to Williams’
counsel advising that Williams had been assessed and determined to be eligible for
regional center services. We can discern that Williams’ health problems may have been
responsible for some of the delay. In addition, problems retrieving Williams’ medical
records – which required considerable intervention by the trial court – may have
contributed to the delay. Still, considering that Williams had been examined by at least
two experts before the court found him incompetent due to developmental disability , it is
hard to understand why it took so long for the SCLARC to reach its conclusion that
Williams was eligible for services.
It took another two months before the SCLARC recommended to the court in
January 2013 that Williams be placed in Porterville, a recommendation the trial court
acted on within one day. It then took another four months before Porterville issued its
letter stating that Williams could not be safely served there, a letter that took the court,
the parties and the SCLARC by surprise because they all assumed Williams was on
Porterville’s waiting list, waiting only for a bed to become available.
It was incumbent on the regional center to make a placement recommendation and
on the DDS to accommodate, rather than hinder, placement efforts. Due process does not
permit someone declared incompetent to be confined for such a long period of time
without receiving any treatment, much less without a determination that there is a
substantial likelihood the person will attain competency in the foreseeable future.

28
C. The Trial Court Correctly Determined That, Under Welfare and Institutions
Code Section 6510.5, it Had No Authority to Order Williams Placed in
Porterville. However, the Trial Court Still Has Options Available to Ensure
that the DDS is Fulfilling its Statutory Obligations
Williams argues the trial court should have ordered him placed at Porterville,
notwithstanding that institution’s refusal to accept him. The District Attorney concurs.
We are not persuaded.
In concluding it had no authority to do so, the trial court cited Welfare and
Institutions Code section 6510.5. That statute provides: “Under no circumstances shall
the court order placement of a person described in this article or a dangerous person
committed pursuant to Section 1370.1 of the Penal Code to a developmental center if the
department [DDS] has specifically notified the court in writing that the individual cannot
be safely served in that developmental center.” (Italics added.)
The statute in question, which was enacted and went into effect in June 2012, has
not been cited in a single case. The District Attorney impliedly acknowledges the
unambiguous language in Welfare and Institutions Code section 6510.5. It notes,
however, that under section 6501 of that code, Porterville “is, in essence, a haven of last
resort for those inmates who need to be securely restored to competency.”15 The District
Attorney then argues that construing Welfare and Institutions Code section 6510.5 as
giving Porterville the “unfettered discretion to decide who it chooses to treat completely
eviscerates the stated intention of the Legislature . . . that developmentally disabled
persons charged with violent felonies be treated at Porterville.” In other words, the
15
Welfare and Institutions Code section 6501 provides: “If a person is charged with
a violent felony, as described in Section 667.5 of the Penal Code, and the individual has
been committed to the State Department of Developmental Services pursuant to Section
1370.1 of the Penal Code or [Welfare and Institutions Code] Section 6500 for placement
in a secure treatment facility, as described in subdivision (e) of Section 1370.1 of the
Penal Code, the department shall give priority to placing the individual at Porterville
Developmental Center prior to placing the individual at any other secure treatment
facility.”

29
District Attorney urges this court to read a “Porterville exception” into Welfare and
Institutions Code section 6510.5.
However, the statutory language is clear. “Under no circumstances” means under
no circumstances. It does not mean “under some circumstances.” And while the
Legislature determined that preferential consideration should be given to Porterville when
deciding where to place persons such as Williams, it did not mandate placement at
Porterville. Neither did it indicate Porterville was the sole placements for such
defendants. Moreover, construing Welfare and Institutions Code section 6510.5
according to its plain meaning may require difficult choices, but it does not necessarily
lead to absurd consequences. DDS is obligated to find a facility that is qualified for
placement. In addition, section 1370.1 provides for alternative (i.e., civil) commitment
procedures if the defendant cannot attain competency.16

16
See subd. (a)(5)(A) [“In the event of dismissal of the criminal charges before the
defendant recovers competence, the person shall be subject to the applicable provisions
of the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act (Part 1 (commencing with Section 5000) of Division 5
of the Welfare and Institutions Code) or to commitment or detention pursuant to a
petition filed pursuant to Section 6502 of the Welfare and Institutions Code”]; subd.
(c)(2) [“In the event of dismissal of the criminal charges before the defendant becomes
mentally competent, the defendant shall be subject to the applicable provisions of the
Lanterman-Petris-Short Act (Part 1 (commencing with Section 5000) of Division 5 of the
Welfare and Institutions Code), or to commitment and detention pursuant to a petition
filed pursuant to Section 6502 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. If it is found that the
person is not subject to commitment or detention pursuant to the applicable provision of
the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act (Part 1 (commencing with Section 5000) of Division 5 of
the Welfare and Institutions Code) or to commitment or detention pursuant to a petition
filed pursuant to Section 6502 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, the individual shall
not be subject to further confinement pursuant to this article and the criminal action
remains subject to dismissal pursuant to Section 1385. The court shall notify the regional
center director and the executive director of the developmental center of any dismissal”].)

30
 Thus, while the trial court was right to question the basis for Porterville’s
determination that Williams could not be “safely served” at Porterville, it correctly
determined that it had no authority to place Williams at Porterville.17
This does not mean the trial court has no tools at its disposal to ensure that the
DDS is performing its statutory duties. First, the court can confirm that the DDS stands
by the rejection letter. Welfare and Institutions Code section 6510.5 requires the written
notice that an incompetent person cannot be safely served at a particular development
center to be from “the department” (the DDS). The written notice in this case was given
by way of the rejection letter, which was signed by the “Acting Community Liaison
Representative” of “Porterville Regional Center.” Although the DDS operates Porterville
and is charged with determining who is admitted to that facility (see Welf. & Inst. Code,
§§ 4440, 6501, 6509, subd. (a)(3), 7502.5, subd. (b)), the liaison representative did not
expressly purport to be speaking on behalf of the DDS. Nonetheless, all parties and the
trial court assumed that the rejection letter qualified as the written notice referenced in
Welfare and Institutions Code section 6510.5. Because this assumption was not
questioned in the trial court or in this writ proceeding, we have no occasion to consider
its validity. However, nothing in this opinion should be construed as restricting the trial
court’s authority, after the matter is remanded to it, to take all steps it deems appropriate
to confirm that the liaison representative’s letter represents the official position of the
DDS. This may include requiring the DDS’s director to confirm that Williams cannot be
safely served at Porterville, notwithstanding his extensive physical limitations and the

17
At oral argument, counsel for Williams and the SCLARC suggested Welfare and
Institutions Code section 6510.5 is unconstitutional. However, such a contention was not
raised in the trial court or in the briefing before this court. Accordingly, we decline to
address the issue at this time. However, although we express no opinion on the question,
nothing in this opinion should be construed as restricting the ability of any party to
advance this argument in the trial court.
At some point, the Legislature may wish to consider whether Welfare and
Institutions Code section 6510.5 should be amended to ensure that it is not invoked for
reasons unrelated to safety.

31
Legislature’s designation of Porterville as the preferred placement for someone accused
of a violent felony.
Second, the trial court may issue an order to show cause and ultimately compel the
DDS to fulfill its statutory obligations by offering a placement option. Welfare and
Institutions Code section 4501 provides in pertinent part: “The State of California
accepts a responsibility for persons with developmental disabilities and an obligation to
them which it must discharge.” (Italics added.) The DDS is the entity charged with
fulfilling this obligation. (See Welf. & Inst. Code, § 4416 [“Unless otherwise indicated
in this code, the State Department of Developmental Services has jurisdiction over the
execution of the laws relating to the care, custody, and treatment of developmentally
disabled persons, as provided in this code”].) In addition, as noted above, the DDS is
required to ensure that the regional centers meet their statutory, regulatory, and
contractual obligations. (Welf. & Inst. Code, §§ 4501; see also Welf. & Inst. Code,
§ 4434.) By vetoing the trial court’s placement order – which order was made pursuant
to the statutorily-required regional center recommendation – without offering any
alternatives, the DDS is making it impossible for the SCLARC to fulfill its obligations.
While Welfare and Institutions Code section 6510.5 may authorize the DDS to veto a
specific developmental center placement, it does not give the DDS the authority to refuse
to approve any placement. In short, the DDS cannot escape its responsibilities and place
the burden on the trial court to come up with a placement solution for a problem the DDS
has itself created. If, as discussed below, the trial court in this case is forced to release
this defendant – charged with registerable sex offenses and previously convicted of
registerable sex offenses – because the DDS has not provided a placement option, the
responsibility for such action will lie with the DDS, not with the court.
D. Petitioner Must be Lawfully Committed or Released
This brings us to the question of the remedy. Williams does not necessarily pray
for an order directing that he be released outright. In his petition, he maintains that he “is
entitled to immediate release from such unlawful custody [in county jail], whether to be
placed in lawful custody for treatment, or released (for outpatient treatment or

32
otherwise).” There is therefore no basis for ordering his immediate release. (See also
In re Davis, supra, 8 Cal.3d at p. 806 [because “the record in the cases before us
furnishes no basis for concluding that petitioners are not likely to respond to
treatment . . . , it would be premature for us to order petitioners released from
confinement at this time”].)
To afford the trial court an opportunity to find a lawful placement, while ensuring
that Williams’ current detention in the county jail is not prolonged unnecessarily, we
direct the trial court to issue an order, within 45 days of finality of this opinion, placing
Williams in a facility that meets the requirements of subdivision (a)(1)(B), and to ensure
that such placement occurs forthwith.18 If such an order issues, within 120 days of
finality of this opinion, the trial court is to order that Williams be released or be subject to
the alternative commitment procedures referenced in section 1370.1, unless the trial court
determines there is a substantial likelihood that Williams will attain competency in the
foreseeable future. (See subd. (b)(1); In re Davis, supra, 8 Cal.3d at pp. 806-807.)
Alternatively, if the trial court does not issue a new placement order within 45
days and ensure placement in accordance with such order forthwith, the trial court is
directed to order that Williams be released or be subject to the alternative commitment
procedures referenced in section 1370.1.19

18
During this time, the trial court may conduct any proceedings and take any action
it deems necessary to put itself in a position to make the requisite placement order,
including making use of some of the tools available to it as discussed above. (See ante,
at pp. 31-32.)

19 We recognize that Williams may be approaching the three-year maximum
commitment period. (See subd. (c)(1).) Because the issue is not before us, and because
the parties may not be in agreement concerning the calculation of the three-year period in
this case, we have not considered the three-year commitment period in our discussion of
the remedy. We wish to emphasize, however, that nothing in this opinion should be
construed as authorizing a commitment in excess of the statutory maximum three-year
period.

33
 Before concluding, we wish to add that, based on the comments of virtually all
counsel at oral argument, this case reflects a statewide problem in finding adequate
housing for persons declared mentally incompetent to stand trial, especially those who
are developmentally disabled. We urge the legislative and executive branches to work
towards finding a solution to this problem to ensure that persons found mentally
incompetent are provided the treatment they require and are not released onto the streets
where they may pose a significant risk to themselves and to public safety.
DISPOSITION
The petition is granted. The trial court is directed (1) within 45 days of finality of
this opinion, to order petitioner placed in a facility that meets the requirements of Penal
Code section 1370.1, subdivision (a)(1)(B), and to ensure that such placement occurs
forthwith, and (2) within 120 days of finality of this opinion, order that petitioner be
released or subject to alternative commitment procedures, unless the trial court
determines there is a substantial likelihood petitioner will attain competency in the
foreseeable future. If the trial court does not issue a new placement order within 45 days
of finality of this opinion, the trial court is directed to order that Williams be released or
be subject to the alternative commitment procedures referenced in Penal Code section
1370.1.
CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION

BIGELOW, P. J.
We concur:

FLIER, J.

GRIMES, J.

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