People v. Bryson

2018 IL App (4th) 170771
FILED
NO. 4-17-0771 September 11, 2018
Carla Bender
IN THE APPELLATE COURT 4th District Appellate
Court, IL
OF ILLINOIS

FOURTH DISTRICT

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, ) Appeal from the
Plaintiff-Appellee, ) Circuit Court of
v. ) Douglas County
TISHA BRYSON, ) No. 15CF115
Defendant-Appellant. )
) Honorable
) Richard L. Broch Jr.,
) Judge Presiding.

JUSTICE DeARMOND delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
Justices Knecht and Cavanagh concurred in the judgment and opinion.

OPINION
¶1 In November 2015, defendant, Tisha Bryson, was arrested and charged with

attempted aggravated kidnapping. In January 2016, in a stipulated bench trial, defendant was

found not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI) and remanded to the custody of the Department of

Human Services (DHS). In May 2017, defendant petitioned the trial court for a conditional

release, and the court denied the petition.

¶2 On appeal, defendant argues (1) the trial court’s denial of her petition for

conditional release was against the manifest weight of the evidence and (2) the court erred in

applying a different and stricter standard in its review of her petition for conditional release. We

affirm.

¶3 I. BACKGROUND

¶4 A. Defendant’s Hospitalization
¶5 In November 2015, defendant confronted a woman with a small child, informed

the woman “witches” had taken her baby, and inquired whether the woman was a witch. Later

that day, defendant entered, uninvited, the residence of people she did not know, picked up their

two-year-old child, and attempted to leave, claiming the child was hers. When later arrested by

the police, she contended the police car was hers and believed she possessed “angel wings.” As a

result of the incident, she was charged with attempted aggravated kidnapping (720 ILCS 5/8-

4(a), 10-2(a)(2) (West 2014)).

¶6 By the time she was charged in this case, defendant had been psychiatrically

hospitalized approximately 30 times in an 11-year period, and she was released from the hospital

only three days before this incident. Upon her release, she met up with a friend and consumed

both “ecstasy” and alcohol, choosing not to take the medications, which had only recently

stabilized her behavior. During a previous hospitalization, defendant set bed sheets on fire in an

attempt to be removed from the hospital and taken to jail because she believed the hospital

employees were going to harm her. This resulted in a charge of arson, which was reduced to a

charge of criminal damage to property, for which she was on probation at the time of this

offense. Defendant had a history of being noncompliant with medication and admitted regular

street drug and alcohol abuse when not in a controlled environment. Although she currently

acknowledges awareness that her usage of both substances exacerbated her psychiatric

symptoms, it is unclear from the record how long she has possessed such awareness. Defendant

was diagnosed with bipolar I disorder, current or most recent episode manic with psychotic

features, the most serious form of bipolar disorder according to the doctors. She also has a

criminal history, as well as a history of engaging in behavior, which threatened harm to herself

and others when not stabilized with prescribed medication.

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¶7 In January 2016, pursuant to a stipulated bench trial, defendant was found NGRI

of attempted aggravated kidnapping (720 ILCS 5/8-4(a), 10-2(a)(2) (West 2014)). As a result of

the NGRI finding, in March 2016, the trial court held a hearing pursuant to section 5-2-4 of the

Unified Code of Corrections (Unified Code) (730 ILCS 5/5-2-4 (West 2016)) to address

proceedings after acquittal by reason of insanity. At that time, it was determined defendant was

“in need of mental health services on an inpatient basis,” and she was ordered into the custody of

the DHS, which placed her in McFarland Mental Health Center (McFarland).

¶8 In May 2017, defendant filed a petition for conditional release pursuant to section

5-2-4(e) of the Unified Code (730 ILCS 5/5-2-4(e) (West 2016)). She retained counsel, who filed

an amended petition on her behalf in June 2017. In September 2017, at the hearing on

defendant’s petition for conditional release, defendant called three witnesses: Dr. Monica

Eberhardt, defendant’s treating psychiatrist at McFarland; Dr. Michelle Womontree, her clinical

psychologist at McFarland; and Dr. Ryan Finkenbine, a forensic psychiatrist from the University

of Illinois College of Medicine. The State called no witnesses, stipulating to the qualifications of

each expert witness called by defendant.

¶9 B. Dr. Eberhardt’s Testimony

¶ 10 Dr. Eberhardt, as defendant’s treating psychiatrist since May 18, 2017, saw her at

McFarland five times, twice individually and three times during treatment team meetings. These

meetings normally lasted between 15 to 30 minutes. She testified defendant was not compliant

with her psychiatric medication and was actively involved in street drug use during the time

leading up to the kidnapping incident. Her drugs of choice included alcohol, cocaine,

methamphetamine, and marijuana. Defendant acknowledged having previously used lysergic

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acid diethylamide and on one occasion found herself wandering around Chicago with no idea

how she got there or where she was.

¶ 11 Dr. Eberhardt described defendant’s symptoms at the time of the offense as

“manic symptoms consisting of elated affect, the irritability, paranoid delusions where she

believed witches stole her baby, who at the time was two months old. She presented with

grandiose delusions where she believed she owned the town. That later on when police arrived,

she stated the police car was hers.” She characterized defendant’s symptoms as “very severe.”

¶ 12 According to Dr. Eberhardt, defendant’s manic symptoms had “resolved” since an

incident in October 2016, when a medication change resulted in a temporary increase in manic

and psychotic symptoms. Dr. Eberhardt also noted defendant was no longer using street drugs

because she was in a controlled environment where she had no access. However, she also

admitted, in the past, when not in a controlled environment, defendant would stop taking her

psychotropic medications for a number of reasons. Defendant said they “stunted [her] creativity”

and made her feel “weird” or “depressed.” Dr. Eberhardt also acknowledged, prior to her

commitment, defendant engaged in almost daily use of alcohol and marijuana.

¶ 13 It was Dr. Eberhardt’s opinion the reason for defendant’s lack of current bipolar

disorder symptoms was the result of daily therapy, which included the controlled and monitored

administration of psychotropic medication, as well as individual and group therapy.

¶ 14 It was the doctor’s opinion defendant had insight into her psychiatric illness and

understood her symptoms would recur if she discontinued prescribed medication. Dr. Eberhardt

also believed it would take 7 to 10 days for bipolar disorder symptoms to recur if defendant

stopped taking her medication and within days if she returned to using alcohol or illegal drugs.

The doctor said she had no reason to believe defendant would stop taking her medication. The

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doctor also believed defendant had gained insight into her substance use and “she does not plan

to go back to using alcohol and illicit substances.” Dr. Eberhardt explained how medications are

administered at McFarland and the how the controlled nature of administration and monitoring

would not be present if defendant were not in a controlled environment like McFarland.

¶ 15 Dr. Eberhardt was also of the opinion defendant understood how her mental

illness related to her crime, appreciated the seriousness of the offense, and was remorseful. At

the time of the hearing, defendant was in a minimum security unit where she had been since June

2016. She also had “grounds” privileges since June 2017, which allowed her to leave her unit for

up to an hour after signing out and permitted her to walk the grounds without staff supervision.

She had access to unfenced areas and had never sought to escape. During her time at McFarland,

defendant followed most of the rules and had not disobeyed staff or attempted to harm herself or

anyone else, except for an incident in October 2016, when she required forced, emergency

medication after threatening to kill someone. It was Dr. Eberhardt’s professional opinion this

incident occurred because of a manic episode brought on by a medication change due to the

addition of an antidepressant. After the removal of the antidepressant from defendant’s

medication regimen, her condition resolved. Dr. Eberhardt acknowledged there had been several

instances where defendant’s attendance at therapy sessions was sporadic, she had engaged in

inappropriate behavior with a male patient, and she had to leave some group sessions due to her

inappropriate comments.

¶ 16 According to an HCR-20 violence risk assessment tool administered in August

2017, Dr. Eberhardt indicated defendant was assessed as a “low risk” for violence. It was her

professional opinion defendant was not an imminent risk to hurt herself or others. “At this time,

is [sic] [defendant’s] symptoms are resolved and she’s not using any alcohol or illicit substances.

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She’s compliant with treatment.” It was also Dr. Eberhardt’s opinion defendant did not meet the

criteria for inpatient hospitalization; however, Dr. Eberhardt was not recommending defendant’s

conditional release. She also indicated there were not opportunities for defendant to exhibit

behavior outside a controlled environment since McFarland did not have an “off grounds without

staff” privilege.

¶ 17 When asked why she had not sought defendant’s release at this point, Dr.

Eberhardt said she and the rest of the treatment team wanted to see how defendant did with the

recently awarded grounds privileges first. They wanted to evaluate her performance with the

increased privileges for “at least six months before [they] considered conditional release.” They

were also interested in evaluating her behavior for at least six months from the last incident with

a peer, which had occurred in July. Although she was of the opinion defendant was not at risk to

inflict serious harm upon herself or others “at this time,” Dr. Eberhardt acknowledged how her

violation of what might appear to be “small rules” at McFarland could mean defendant would

not follow “big rules” outside.

¶ 18 The extended length of defendant’s hospitalization has, in the opinion of Dr.

Eberhardt, contributed to her stability because it has given her the ability to gain insight into her

mental illness and substance-abuse issues. She noted how, if conditionally released, any violation

of any conditions attached to her release would result in her immediate return to McFarland.

¶ 19 When questioned further by the trial court, Dr. Eberhardt said neither she nor the

treatment team were recommending defendant for conditional release because they were of the

opinion defendant needed more time in treatment. The doctor acknowledged that some of

defendant’s behaviors were concerning and further acknowledged, upon questioning by the

court, defendant may be motivated to seek release from McFarland, in part, due to the pending

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juvenile case involving her child and the influence her continued hospitalization may have on the

Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS).

¶ 20 C. Dr. Womontree’s Testimony

¶ 21 Dr. Womontree served as defendant’s treating clinical psychologist since

September 2016. During that time, she saw defendant for approximately 1½ hours per week in a

group session, as well as another hour per week individually. She described defendant’s bipolar

disorder symptoms at the time of the offense as “primarily manic at that time, and had delusions,

hallucinations, poor judgment,” and disturbed sleeping. Defendant was not compliant with her

psychiatric medication and was using illegal drugs.

¶ 22 Dr. Womontree said defendant’s clinical condition changed “remarkably” since

her hospitalization. In her opinion, defendant was “really taking her treatment seriously for the

first time.” She believed defendant was committed to her treatment and was attempting to learn

behaviors that would contribute to her continued stability. Dr. Womontree agreed defendant had

been free of bipolar disorder symptoms since the brief psychotic episode in October 2016 caused

by a temporary medication change.

¶ 23 At the time of the hearing, defendant was receiving individual and group therapy,

psychotropic medication in the form of lithium and Depakote, psychoeducational group therapy,

and participating in a variety of psychosocial activities. Dr. Womontree related an incident where

defendant had been hit by another patient and did not retaliate as positive evidence of her

advances in individual therapy. Instead of reacting to the unprovoked attack, defendant was able

to discuss it in therapy. After initially participating in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), defendant

was leading a group as well as attending.

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¶ 24 It was Dr. Womontree’s opinion defendant “understands that she has a severe

mental illness that requires daily attention in order to maintain recovery.” She said defendant

also knew she had to take her medication without fail, realizing she would rapidly begin

manifesting symptoms if she did not. It was the doctor’s opinion defendant’s symptoms would

reappear within days to a couple of weeks of stopping her medication.

¶ 25 Dr. Womontree said the primary reason why defendant had exhibited no

symptoms of substance abuse was due to her presence in a controlled environment. She also

believed defendant was “gradually” becoming more educated about the effects of substance

abuse on her mental illness. The doctor was also of the opinion defendant understood the

seriousness of her criminal offense and the harm it caused and she felt remorseful about it.

¶ 26 Dr. Womontree agreed defendant had been in the minimal security unit since June

2016 and had “grounds privileges,” which allowed her free access to McFarland grounds,

including unsecured areas from which she could walk away or escape from if she chose. Dr.

Womontree also agreed with Dr. Eberhardt that defendant never attempted escape, attempted or

caused physical harm to anyone, or required physical restraint while at McFarland. Dr.

Womontree described defendant as being “exceptionally active” in her treatment, taking

advantage of everything McFarland had to offer. She said defendant had been exposed to

cognitive behavioral therapy as well as “rationally motivated therapy” designed to address real-

life, problem-solving issues, and defendant has expressed her desire to continue individual

therapy after leaving the hospital.

¶ 27 Dr. Womontree was also familiar with the HCR-20 violence risk assessment tool

and defendant’s assessment as a “very low risk” for future violence. Put in context, Dr.

Womontree noted how normally, the nature of the historical factors alone is enough to place

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someone in the “moderate risk” range, so the fact that defendant was considered a low risk was

“unusual and outstanding.”

¶ 28 As a result, it was Dr. Womontree’s professional opinion defendant was “not

reasonably expected to harm herself or another,” and defendant could “benefit from continued

treatment but as an [outpatient].” Dr. Womontree’s opinion was based on defendant’s active

efforts toward treatment, “the actual stability” the doctors witnessed during her hospitalization,

her “response to treatment, and her responsible approach to improving her life.”

¶ 29 Dr. Womontree admitted on cross-examination, however, defendant’s risk of

dangerousness would increase if she was not compliant with her medication, which would not be

administered and monitored for her outside of a controlled environment. She also agreed

defendant had not been given the opportunity to test her learned skills off McFarland’s grounds.

¶ 30 D. Dr. Finkenbine’s Testimony

¶ 31 Dr. Finkenbine, a professor and chair of the Department of Psychiatry at the

University of Illinois College of Medicine, testified as a forensic psychiatry expert on behalf of

defendant. His task was to perform a three-hour, conditional-release assessment of defendant,

which he did in August 2017. Many of his findings were consistent with those expressed by the

two previous witnesses and need not be repeated here.

¶ 32 When Dr. Finkenbine examined defendant in August, he found her “almost

normal” and exhibiting none of the various symptoms of bipolar disorder seen previously. He

was aware of her brief period of psychotic behavior in October 2016 due to the addition of an

antidepressant known to cause manic symptoms in some patients, but otherwise, he did not find

her to be exhibiting any of the other behaviors described by the other experts. He ascribed this

change to proper medication, therapy, and counseling and believed, as did Dr. Womontree,

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defendant had a greater appreciation for her mental illness and the need for continued

medication.

¶ 33 Dr. Finkenbine noted defendant’s long history of noncompliance with medication;

however, he believed her extended hospitalization, along with the education provided by her

psychiatrist and counselor, have allowed defendant to better understand the need to maintain her

medication as prescribed. He described three reasons given by defendant for discontinuing her

medication in the past: (1) her pregnancy; (2) when she would experience side effects

necessitating a medication change; and (3) poor decision-making when she did not want to

continue taking her medication, which he described in his report as, “[s]he did not think she

needed medications and liked some of her symptoms of mania (e.g., feeling ‘up’, more creative

and energetic).” On cross-examination, he admitted mentioning in his report how, although

defendant’s insight had improved, it was still limited. He acknowledged the large number of

hospitalizations for defendant was unusual. His report noted how her history of alcohol and drug

use “increase[d] the risk for dangerous behavior with relapse.” In addition, Dr. Finkenbine

admitted despite being fully compliant with her medication, defendant remained unable to follow

all of the internal rules at McFarland during her time there, including an incident fairly recently

with a male patient. He also noted defendant has not had the opportunity to demonstrate her

ability to remain compliant when not in a controlled environment and that her presence in such a

controlled environment factors into her increased compliance.

¶ 34 He said defendant had been free from symptoms of substance abuse for two years

by the time of his interview. Dr. Finkenbine was of the opinion this was due, in part, to forced

abstinence, but also due to defendant’s recognition of her substance-abuse issues, the various

treatment programs, and counseling she had received at McFarland, including taking an active

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role in leading some of the AA meetings. He found defendant to be intelligent and able to

recognize the links between her use of illegal drugs and unfortunate events in her life, as well as

understanding some of the things that triggered her substance abuse. Dr. Finkenbine testified

defendant’s attitude and understanding of the need to stay off illegal drugs was “high.” He also

found she had a “reasonable appreciation” of the harm her crime had caused and understood how

both her mental illness and substance abuse contributed to her crime. At the time of his

evaluation, defendant was on the lowest security level at McFarland, had made no attempt to

escape, and had neither caused nor attempted any physical harm to herself or anyone else. Dr.

Finkenbine reiterated defendant’s low violence risk assessment scoring.

¶ 35 It was also Dr. Finkenbine’s opinion defendant did not meet the criteria for

involuntary admission. He found her risk to harm herself or others was “greater than that

associated with persons in the general population but about the same as those associated with

[NGRI] acquittees who are released with conditions.” When asked whether she continued to

need mental health treatment on an inpatient basis, Dr. Finkenbine was of the opinion defendant

no longer needed to be hospitalized but that she would continue to benefit from treatment on an

outpatient basis. His report, however, acknowledged the benefits of continued inpatient care in

that she was “more likely to adhere to the treatment recommendations, take medications, attend

group [therapy] and activities, and abstain from alcohol and intoxicating substances.” He noted

how an inpatient setting helped restrict her from experiencing active symptoms of mental illness

and thereby reduced the risk of harm to herself and others. However, he believed there were

certain conditions that could be placed on her release to assure satisfactory progress in treatment,

as well as the safety of herself and others, and that her continued inpatient care was not the “least

restrictive” setting to manage her clinical needs. He listed a series of suggestions relating to

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medication monitoring, psychiatric treatment and counseling, and methods of therapy. He also

suggested the records of the various providers be available to each other as well as to the court.

Dr. Finkenbine emphasized the need for both abstinence from street drugs and random drug

screens and suggested defendant be released to a group home (as opposed to living on her own

when first released), avoid contacting certain people, and have no access to firearms. Lastly, he

said defendant needed to pursue financial support and any assistance available to her through

Social Security or employment.

¶ 36 Dr. Finkenbine acknowledged his awareness of the treatment team’s current

position of not recommending conditional release. In spite of the testimony of Dr. Eberhardt

indicating both she and the team believed defendant needed more time, Dr. Finkenbine

contended it was due to some unspecified policy of McFarland requiring an independent

assessment before making a recommendation, not a matter of their therapeutic or psychiatric

opinions. He did acknowledge, upon further questioning by the State, he was surprised to learn

one of the team members had earlier testified defendant needed more time to practice her learned

skills and develop further insight.

¶ 37 The trial court denied the petition for conditional release, stating it had not been

shown by clear and convincing evidence defendant was not in danger of seriously injuring

herself or others if conditionally released. The court based its decision on a number of factors:

(1) defendant’s substantial history of noncompliance with medication and substance abuse,

(2) the seriousness of her behavior when not compliant with medication and abusing substances,

(3) the fact that professional opinions regarding her behavior and performance were based upon

her current condition while in a totally controlled environment, and (4) the presence of rule

violations within McFarland even while working toward conditional release. The court also

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considered the fact defendant’s treatment team believed she would continue to benefit from

further inpatient treatment and that she did not appear to have a feasible plan for community

reintegration. The trial court concluded defendant failed to meet her burden. This appeal

followed.

¶ 38 II. ANALYSIS

¶ 39 Defendant contends the trial court’s ruling was against the manifest weight of the

evidence because all the experts agreed she was an appropriate candidate for conditional release.

To answer this question, we must engage in an analysis of the conditional release standard and

the weight of expert testimony.

¶ 40 A. Conditional Release Standard

¶ 41 Prior to 2000, section 5-2-4(g) of the Unified Code placed the burden of proof on

the State to prove the defendant should not be conditionally released if the facility director

recommends conditional release. 730 ILCS 5/5-2-4(g) (West 1998). However, after 2000, the

burden shifted to the defendant regardless of who petitioned the court for the defendant’s

conditional release. 730 ILCS 5/5-2-4(g) (West 2004). In People v. Jurisec, 199 Ill. 2d 108, 766

N.E.2d 648 (2002), our supreme court described the operation of section 5-2-4 before the

amendment that shifted the burden. The court explained how an insanity acquittee may be

committed to the custody of the DHS “only if it is shown, by clear and convincing evidence, that

the acquittee is subject to involuntary admission or in need of mental health services on an

inpatient basis.” (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Jurisec, 199 Ill. 2d at 116. Once committed,

however, the acquittee “may be detained only as long as he [or she] continues to be subject to

involuntary admission or in need of [inpatient] mental health services.” (Internal quotation marks

omitted.) Jurisec, 199 Ill. 2d at 116. The defendant’s burden is to show by clear and convincing

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evidence that, due to his or her mental illness (regardless of whether it was enough to require

involuntary admission), defendant is not reasonably expected to inflict serious harm upon

defendant’s self or another and would not benefit from further inpatient care or be in need of

such inpatient care. Under a plain reading of the statute, if defendant proves either element,

namely defendant is (1) not reasonably expected to inflict serious physical harm upon

defendant’s self or another or (2) defendant would not benefit from inpatient care or is not in

need of inpatient care, by clear and convincing evidence, the judge must grant the petition for

conditional release. See 730 ILCS 5/5-2-4(a-1)(B) (West 2016). This would only make sense

because, under section 5-2-4 of the Unified Code, the fact that a mentally ill person has

committed a serious criminal offense is, alone, considered a sufficient reason to conclude that

person is a danger to oneself or others, thereby justifying involuntary admission. See Jones v.

United States, 463 U.S. 354, 366 (1983) (a finding of NGRI is a sufficient foundation for

commitment of an insanity acquittee for the purposes of treatment and the protection of society).

The Supreme Court went on to find that, having been found NGRI, a criminal defendant may

continue to be confined in a mental institution “until such time as he [or she] has regained his [or

her] sanity or is no longer a danger to himself [or herself] or society.” Jones, 463 U.S. at 370. As

a matter of due process, “it was unconstitutional for a State to continue to confine a harmless,

mentally ill person.” Foucha v. Louisiana, 504 U.S. 71, 77 (1992). “Once a defendant is

involuntarily admitted, he [or she] may be held only as long as he [or she] is both mentally ill

and dangerous.” People v. Hager, 253 Ill. App. 3d 37, 41, 625 N.E.2d 232, 236 (1993).

“Different considerations underlie commitment of an insanity acquittee. As he was not

convicted, he may not be punished. His confinement rests on his continuing illness and

dangerousness.” Jones, 463 U.S. at 369. Our supreme court, in Jurisec, 199 Ill. 2d at 129, held

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“[t]he primary objective of section 5-2-4 is to insure that insanity acquittees are not

indeterminately institutionalized [citation], and that the intrusion on liberty interests is kept at a

minimum.” (Internal quotation marks omitted.) It is for this reason conditional discharge was

provided as a means to allow for reintegration of NGRI defendants into society. Representative

Katz noted in the legislative debates prior to 1980, section 5-2-4 allowed for NGRIs to be

released without court supervision if they were not in need of mental health treatment currently.

81st Ill. Gen. Assem., House Proceedings, May 17, 1979, at 102 (statements of Representative

Katz). However, after the legislation’s change in 1980, conditional release was made available as

an option to the courts. Representative Katz saw this as a way to monitor the person as the

facility director (known as the superintendent at the time) of the mental health center follows the

individual, and he or she is required to report under the conditions imposed by what was at the

time the Illinois Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities (Department of

Mental Health), and now is the Department of Human Services. The legislature stated this as a

favorable option because “[t]hey are able to determine that the same kind of symptoms are

reocurring [sic] that characterize the original time that the first [a]ct was committed and they

then can reinstitutionalize the individual until the individual is able to work out the problem and

is safe to be released.” 81st Ill. Gen. Assem., House Proceedings, May 17, 1979, at 102

(statements of Representative Katz). In Representative Katz’s discussion about conditional

release, he added as follows:

“I would point out to you that in the State of Illinois, in the cases

involving people found not guilty by reason of insanity that in half

of those cases murder has been what has been committed. For that

reason everyone one [sic] of these case[s] in which we are able to

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 prevent such an individual from going out and committing another

crime, will be indeed, a great contribution to the people of

Illinois.” 81st Ill. Gen. Assem., House Proceedings, May 17, 1979,

at 102 (statements of Representative Katz).

Under section 5-2-4(g) when considering conditional discharge, regardless of who may be

petitioning, the court is permitted to consider the following factors:

“(1) whether the defendant appreciates the harm caused by

the defendant to others and the community by his or her prior

conduct that resulted in the finding of not guilty by reason of

insanity;

(2) Whether the person appreciates the criminality of

conduct similar to the conduct for which he or she was originally

charged in this matter;

(3) the current state of the defendant’s illness;

(4) what, if any, medications the defendant is taking to

control his or her mental illness;

(5) what, if any, adverse physical side effects the

medication has on the defendant;

(6) the length of time it would take for the defendant’s

mental health to deteriorate if the defendant stopped taking

prescribed medication;

(7) the defendant’s history or potential for alcohol and drug

abuse;

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 (8) the defendant’s past criminal history;

(9) any specialized physical or medical needs of the

defendant;

(10) any family participation or involvement expected upon

release and what is the willingness and ability of the family to

participate or be involved;

(11) the defendant’s potential to be a danger to himself,

herself, or others; and

(12) any other factor or factors the Court deems

appropriate.” 730 ILCS 5/5-2-4(g) (West 2016).

¶ 42 It is reasonable to conclude conditional release was understood to come with

some level of risk but that the facility and the court were in the best position to tailor conditions

sufficient to minimize the risk to a level considered manageable and cognizant of society’s

inherent concerns about the release of persons who have committed criminal acts, been found

insane, and were now being considered for some form of release. The legislature realized there is

a careful balance to be struck between the interests of safety to the public, treatment for the

mentally ill individual, and the individual’s liberty interest.

¶ 43 In reviewing a petition for conditional release subsequent to hospitalization under

section 5-2-4 of the Unified Code (730 ILCS 5/5-2-4 (West 2016)), the findings of the court

must be “established by clear and convincing evidence.” 730 ILCS 5/5-2-4(g) (West 2016). Both

the burdens of proof and proceeding remain with the defendant or anyone filing on his or her

behalf. 730 ILCS 5/5-2-4(g) (West 2016). The court must determine whether defendant is “ ‘[i]n

need of mental health services on an inpatient basis.’ ” 730 ILCS 5/5-2-4(a-1)(B) (West 2016).

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“ ‘In need of mental health services on an inpatient basis’ means: a defendant who has been

found not guilty by reason of insanity but who due to mental illness is reasonably expected to

inflict serious physical harm upon himself [or herself] or another and who would benefit from

inpatient care or is in need of inpatient care.” 730 ILCS 5/5-2-4(a-1)(B) (West 2016).

¶ 44 B. Weight of Expert Testimony

¶ 45 Defendant relies on three cases to support her argument: People v. Robin, 312 Ill.

App. 3d 710, 728 N.E.2d 736 (2000), People v. Blumenshine, 72 Ill. App. 3d 949, 391 N.E.2d

232 (1979), and People v. Smith, 126 Ill. App. 3d 5, 466 N.E.2d 1226 (1984). Defendant’s cited

cases either predate the current iteration of the statute or involve substantially different facts and

legal standards. One thing they share in common is reference to a statement regarding how “the

finding [requiring an NGRI defendant to remain in involuntary inpatient treatment] must be

based upon an explicit medical opinion regarding the [defendant’s] future conduct and can not be

based upon a mere finding of mental illness.” (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Smith, 126 Ill.

App. 3d at 9; see also Robin, 312 Ill. App. 3d at 716. This statement lies at the heart of

defendant’s contention that it is manifest error to decline conditional release if the “experts” all

testify in favor of release and, even when they do not, so long as their reasons, individually,

would not constitute the basis for denial. In Robin, the court cited People v. Czyz, 92 Ill. App. 3d

21, 26, 416 N.E.2d 1, 4 (1980), as support for defendant’s position; however Czyz is inapposite.

Robin, 312 Ill. App. 3d at 718. In Czyz, the appellate court reviewed a direct appeal from an

NGRI finding the defendant was in need of mental treatment under the old statute and issued an

order placing him in the custody of the Department of Mental Health for outpatient treatment.

Czyz, 92 Ill. App. 3d at 22. The issue on appeal was whether the State had established by clear

and convincing evidence the defendant was in need of mental treatment. Czyz, 92 Ill. App. 3d at

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22. In that case, one doctor said the defendant was not in need of mental treatment in a hospital

setting, one said he was not in need of mental treatment and was not a danger to himself or

others, and one said he did not have a mental illness. Czyz, 92 Ill. App. 3d at 23-24. At the time,

the statute defined “in need of mental treatment” as anyone with a mental disorder, not including

people who were “mentally retarded” as defined by the Mental Health Code of 1967. Ill. Rev.

Stat. 1977, ch. 91½, § 1-11. If that person, as a result of his or her mental disorder, is “reasonably

expected at the time the determination is being made or within a reasonable time thereafter to

intentionally or unintentionally physically injure himself [or herself] or other persons, or is

unable to care for himself [or herself] so as to guard himself [or herself] from physical injury or

to provide for his [or her] own physical needs.” Ill. Rev. Stat. 1977, ch. 91½, § 1-11. This

definition is much closer to the language necessary for involuntary commitment (405 ILCS 5/1-

119 (West 2016)) than the current language of section 5-2-4 of the Unified Code (730 ILCS 5/5-

2-4 (West 2016)). Without a psychiatric diagnosis that the defendant was suffering from a mental

disorder at the time of the hearing, the appellate court reversed, finding the trial court was in

error for concluding he was “in need of mental treatment” as that phrase was defined at the time.

Czyz, 92 Ill. App. 3d at 27.

¶ 46 In addition, the reference to how the finding must be based on an “explicit

medical opinion regarding the [defendant’s] future conduct and can not be based upon a mere

finding of mental illness” (internal quotation marks omitted) (Czyz, 92 Ill. App. 3d at 25) comes

from People v. Sansone, 18 Ill. App. 3d 315, 323, 309 N.E.2d 733, 739 (1974), which was not

even an NGRI case—it was a civil commitment under the then-Mental Health Code of 1967 (Ill.

Rev. Stat. 1971, ch. 91½, ¶ 1-1 et seq.) and not a commitment hearing under the Unified Code. In

Sansone, the court noted, without evidence of prior harmful conduct, forced hospitalization was

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not the equivalent of preventive detention based on a patient’s status as mentally ill. Sansone, 18

Ill. App. 3d at 323. As such, the burden was different than in an NGRI case. The court in

Sansone said, “[a]gain, we reiterate that a finding must be based upon an explicit medical

opinion regarding the patient’s future conduct and cannot be based upon a mere finding of

mental illness.” Sansone, 18 Ill. App. 3d at 323. The court distinguished criminal detention from

detention under the Mental Health Code of 1967 and noted how an involuntary commitment

required a medical opinion regarding the patient’s future conduct. Sansone, 18 Ill. App. 3d at

323-24. The court in Sansone was making it clear the burden of proof in an involuntary

commitment was not the criminal standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt nor was it the

civil standard of preponderance of the evidence. Sansone, 18 Ill. App. 3d at 325-26. They

concluded, “[t]he facts upon which a medical opinion is based must be established by clear and

convincing evidence, and the medical testimony upon which the decision to commit is based

must be clear and convincing.” Sansone, 18 Ill. App. 3d at 326.

¶ 47 This is relevant because the matter before us is a commitment pursuant to a

finding of NGRI in a criminal proceeding, addressed under the Unified Code, a completely

different proceeding than a petition for involuntary admission under the Mental Health and

Developmental Disabilities Code (Mental Health Code) (405 ILCS 5/1-100 et seq. (West 2016)).

Further, it is not the initial commitment but a petition for conditional release subsequent to a

finding there was a need for commitment, an entirely different proceeding altogether. Section 5-

2-4(k) of the Unified Code provides, “[i]n the event of a conflict between this Section and the

Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code *** the provisions of this Section shall

govern.” 730 ILCS 5/5-2-4(k) (West 2016). In a civil involuntary commitment, section 1-119 of

the Mental Health Code outlines the circumstances that may subject a person to involuntary

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admission, which include elements not found in section 5-2-4 of the Unified Code. Under

sections 1-119 and 3-807 of the Mental Health Code, a person may be subject to involuntary

admission if they are shown by expert testimony (1) to suffer from a mental illness and

(2) because of that illness, the person must be treated on an inpatient basis because the individual

is (a) otherwise reasonably expected to engage in conduct placing the individual or others in

physical harm or the reasonable expectation of harm or (b) unable to provide for his or her basic

needs so as to guard against serious harm without assistance. 405 ILCS 5/1-119(1), 1-119(2), 3-

807 (West 2016). A person may also be subject to involuntary admission if the person (1) suffers

from a mental illness, (2) refuses to adhere adequately to prescribed treatment, (3) is unable to

understand the need for treatment, and (4) unless treated on an inpatient basis is reasonably

expected to suffer mental or emotional deterioration to the point where the individual would

qualify for admission under either of the reasons set forth in section 119(1) and (2) of the Mental

Health Code. 405 ILCS 5/1-119(3) (West 2016). More importantly, section 3-807 of the Mental

Health Code specifically states,

“[n]o respondent [in an involuntary commitment proceeding] may

be found subject to involuntary admission on an inpatient or

outpatient basis unless at least one psychiatrist, clinical social

worker, clinical psychologist, or qualified examiner who has

examined the respondent testifies in person at the hearing. The

respondent may waive the requirement of the testimony subject to

the approval of the court.” 405 ILCS 5/3-807 (West 2016).

In contrast, “ ‘[i]n need of mental health services on an inpatient basis’ ” under section 5-2-4(a-

1)(B) of the Unified Code means (1) a defendant who has been found not guilty by reason of

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insanity but due to a mental illness (2) is reasonably expected to inflict serious physical harm

upon himself or herself or another and (3) would either (a) benefit from inpatient care or (b) is in

need of inpatient care. 730 ILCS 5/5-2-4(a-1)(B) (West 2016).

¶ 48 The Czyz court’s use of the quote from Sansone is out of context and not

particularly applicable to a petition for conditional release in a case under section 5-2-4 of the

Unified Code. It gets repeated, however, in later cases relating to NGRI without any distinction.

As mentioned above, it appears again in Robin, 312 Ill. App. 3d at 716, attributed to People v.

Grant, 295 Ill. App. 3d 750, 758, 692 N.E.2d 1295, 1300 (1998), an NGRI case prior to an

amendment shifting the burden from the State to the defendant, where the trial court denied the

recommendation of the director of the Department of Mental Health to conditionally release the

defendant. At that time, the burden of proof was on the State when reviewing the determination

of the facility director that the defendant was subject to transfer to a nonsecure setting, discharge,

or conditional release. 730 ILCS 5/5-2-4(g) (West 1996). If the defendant was petitioning, the

burdens of proceeding and proof were on the defendant. 730 ILCS 5/5-2-4(g) (West 1996). In

Grant, the facility director sent two letters to the court recommending conditional release, the

second coming almost two months after the court took no action on the first. Grant, 295 Ill. App.

3d at 756. A hearing was not scheduled until almost 10 months later, and in the interim, the

defendant also filed a petition for conditional release. Grant, 295 Ill. App. 3d at 756. As a result,

the State contended on appeal it was confused as to whose burden it was at the hearing since the

defendant had petitioned after the facility director’s recommendation was sent. Grant, 295 Ill.

App. 3d at 757. The appellate court found a number of problems with the hearing ultimately

conducted, including the fact there should have actually been two separate hearings. Grant, 295

Ill. App. 3d at 757. The trial court was found to have initially placed the burden on the State to

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prove by clear and convincing evidence defendant should not be discharged, and therefore they

were found to be proceeding on the director’s request. Grant, 295 Ill. App. 3d at 757. To

compound the problem, the appellate court in Grant also found the trial court, which was

initially correct in its assessment of the applicable standard of clear and convincing evidence,

ultimately decided the case based on a preponderance of the evidence standard. Grant, 295 Ill.

App. 3d at 760-61. At the time, the State was obligated to prove by clear and convincing

evidence the defendant (1) was subject to involuntary admission or (2) in need of mental health

services on an inpatient basis. The previously mentioned Sansone quote originating from Czyz is

found in Grant in relation to a request by the facility director to conditionally release an NGRI

defendant. Grant, 295 Ill. App. 3d at 758. It is cited, however, within the context of what the

State must prove to show a defendant is in need of involuntary admission, a term no longer found

in section 5-2-4 of the Unified Code, but in the Mental Health Code. Confusing the issue further,

this same quote in Grant is attributed to Smith, 126 Ill. App. 3d at 9, another case upon which

defendant relies. In Smith, an NGRI defendant was ordered to undergo inpatient care and

treatment at the Manteno Mental Health Center (Manteno), but the trial court failed to provide

him a Theim date (People v. Theim, 52 Ill. App. 3d 160, 367 N.E.2d 367 (1977)) or maximum

period of commitment to the Department of Mental Health as required by section 5-2-4(b) of the

Unified Code. Smith, 126 Ill. App. 3d at 6. In that case, the appeal was from the initial order of

commitment. Smith, 126 Ill. App. 3d at 6. A consulting psychiatrist who had examined the

defendant four times and observed his interaction with other patients on a number of occasions

gave his opinion that the defendant should be treated on an outpatient basis and that the

defendant needed drug abuse counseling, which was not available at Manteno, and he believed

the defendant “ ‘[did] not need and would not benefit from further hospital treatment’ ” and was

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“ ‘not currently suffering from mental illness.’ ” Smith, 126 Ill. App. 3d at 7. Another

psychiatrist who interviewed the defendant on several occasions found the defendant did not

meet the statutory requirements for involuntary commitment. Smith, 126 Ill. App. 3d at 7. He

agreed the defendant should not be hospitalized and needed outpatient drug treatment instead.

Smith, 126 Ill. App. 3d at 7. When questioned by the court, the doctor said the defendant did not

meet the statutory requirements for involuntary admission and was not a danger to himself or

others. Smith, 126 Ill. App. 3d at 7. A social worker testified she believed the defendant was a

proper candidate for outpatient treatment since the time of his arrival. Smith, 126 Ill. App. 3d at

8. A psychologist at Manteno, who had interviewed the defendant and led his treatment team,

concurred with the recommendations of the psychiatrist. Smith, 126 Ill. App. 3d at 8. The

defendant’s mother said he could live with her if released. Smith, 126 Ill. App. 3d at 8. There was

no other testimony, and the most serious transgression by the defendant while hospitalized of

which the witnesses were aware was gambling. Smith, 126 Ill. App. 3d at 8.

¶ 49 With no other evidence, the trial court ordered the defendant remanded to the

custody of the Department of Mental Health, finding he was not subject to involuntary

commitment but was in need of mental health services on an inpatient basis. Smith, 126 Ill. App.

3d at 8. Then, the pertinent statute defined “ ‘[i]n need of mental health services on an inpatient

basis’ ” as “a defendant who has been found not guilty by reason of insanity who is not subject to

involuntary admission but who is reasonably expected to inflict serious physical harm upon

himself [or herself] or another and who would benefit from inpatient care or is in need of

inpatient care.” Ill. Rev. Stat. 1983, ch. 38, ¶ 1005-2-4(a)(1)(B). The burdens of proceeding and

proof were on the State. Ill. Rev. Stat. 1983, ch. 38, ¶ 1005-2-4(g).

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¶ 50 When discussing the State’s burden of proof, the appellate court said, “ ‘the

finding must be based upon an explicit medical opinion regarding the [defendant’s] future

conduct, and can not be based upon a mere finding of mental illness.’ ” (Internal quotation marks

omitted.) Smith, 126 Ill. App. 3d at 9 (quoting Czyz, 92 Ill. App. 3d at 25). They then outlined a

series of circumstances that would not be sufficient to sustain a finding requiring involuntary

commitment. Smith, 126 Ill. App. 3d at 9-10. These circumstances have served as a road map for

defendant in our case, morphing into bases she contends are insufficient to sustain a finding

denying conditional release for an NGRI defendant. In fact, the statement in defendant’s opening

brief that “speculation that a defendant might resume the use of alcohol or drugs in the

community is an insufficient basis to deny conditional release” is supported by reference to

Smith but not as a quote. The reason is simple: defendant has taken the language from Smith and

replaced the words “not sufficient to sustain a finding requiring involuntary commitment”

(Smith, 126 Ill. App. 3d at 9) with “an insufficient basis to deny conditional release.” This is not

merely inaccurate—it is disingenuous. Clearly the two are not synonymous and would not be

since involuntary commitment is addressed differently in the Mental Health Code.

¶ 51 Under the circumstances that existed at the time of Grant, the need for “an

explicit medical opinion regarding the defendant’s future conduct” is understandable. Grant, 295

Ill. App. 3d at 758. At that time, the director of the mental health facility where the defendant

was housed determined whether the defendant was no longer in need of inpatient services and

should either be transferred to a nonsecure setting, conditionally released, or discharged. 730

ILCS 5/5-2-4(g) (West 1996). Merely finding the defendant to be suffering from a mental illness

would not meet a burden to show he is “ ‘[s]ubject to involuntary admission,’ ” i.e., “mentally ill

and who because of his [or her] mental illness is either reasonably expected to inflict serious

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physical harm upon himself [or herself] or another in the near future” or “is unable to provide for

his [or her] basic physical needs.” 730 ILCS 5/5-2-4(a)(1)(A)(i), (ii) (West 1996). This is a

different burden than currently exists, as “subject to involuntary admission” was expressly

removed from the statute by Public Act 93-473, enacted August 8, 2003. See Pub. Act 93-473,

§ 5 (eff. Aug. 8, 2003) (amending 730 ILCS 5/5-2-4). Alternatively, the State would have had to

show the defendant was “ ‘[i]n need of mental health services on an inpatient basis,’ ” i.e., “a

defendant *** not subject to involuntary admission but who is reasonably expected to inflict

serious physical harm upon himself [or herself] or another and who would benefit from inpatient

care or is in need of inpatient care.” 730 ILCS 5/5-2-4(a)(1)(B) (West 1996). The amendment of

Public Act 93-473 removed “subject to involuntary admission,” leaving “in need of mental

health services on an inpatient basis.” Pub. Act 93-473, § 5 (eff. Aug. 8, 2003).

¶ 52 The removal of the language “subject to involuntary admission” is significant

since, as noted above, involuntary admission requires, by statute, expert testimony in order to

meet the threshold necessary for the court to consider involuntary commitment. Although not

expressly required by statute, it is difficult to envision a situation where an NGRI defendant

petitioning for conditional release could meet his or her burden without such testimony. The

court, however, is not required to accept the expert’s testimony blindly. Unfortunately, the faulty

logic even made it to our supreme court, as many appellate courts have not distinguished the

civil commitment and criminal commitment requirements for experts. See Jurisec, 199 Ill. 2d at

123. “ ‘[I]t is the trier of fact, and not the psychiatrists, who is to consider and weigh all the

evidence in this case.’ ” People v. Cross, 301 Ill. App. 3d 901, 911, 704 N.E.2d 766, 772 (1998)

(quoting People v. Williams, 140 Ill. App. 3d 216, 226, 488 N.E.2d 649, 655 (1986)); see also

People v. Wolst, 347 Ill. App. 3d 782, 808 N.E.2d 534 (2004). When deciding whether defendant

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has met her burden, the trial court is not limited to the testimony of the three experts. See People

v. Hoffmann, 140 Ill. App. 3d 1056, 1065, 489 N.E.2d 460, 466 (1986) (“In making its decision

on the petition, the trial court may consider and give weight to evidence other than the testimony

of the experts.”). In fact, when deciding a petition for conditional release, the conduct of the

defendant that was the subject of the criminal prosecution is highly relevant to the issue of the

reasonable expectation of defendant’s dangerousness. Hoffmann, 140 Ill. App. 3d at 1065 (citing

People v. Gann, 94 Ill. App. 3d 1100, 1107, 419 N.E.2d 613, 618 (1981)).

¶ 53 In Cross, the defendant was found NGRI after killing two women and attempting

to kill a third along with her husband after invading their home to kill “witches and warlords

[warlocks]” while acting under supposed orders from God. Cross, 301 Ill. App. 3d at 903. He

appealed the trial court’s denial of the mental health center director’s recommendation he receive

certain supervised off-grounds passes after 15 years of inpatient treatment at Elgin Mental Health

Center. Cross, 301 Ill. App. 3d at 908. Both the director and the defendant’s treatment team were

recommending these passes. Cross, 301 Ill. App. 3d at 903-04. At the hearing on the

recommendation, the defendant presented two witnesses. Cross, 301 Ill. App. 3d at 904-07.

Albert Stipes, M.D., a forensic psychiatrist, opined the “defendant was not a risk to harm himself

or others, able to ‘provide for his basic physical need as to guard himself from serious harm,’ not

subject to involuntary admission, and ready for the type of passes requested.” Cross, 301 Ill.

App. 3d at 904. He was also of the opinion “the passes would not interfere with defendant’s

medication or treatment, would enhance his treatment, would not lead to a resumption of drug

use, would not lead to an escape, and would provide reasonable assurances of public safety.”

Cross, 301 Ill. App. 3d at 904. The doctor was of the opinion the passes were necessary to assure

defendant’s progress in treatment. Cross, 301 Ill. App. 3d at 904. In fairness, on cross-

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examination, Dr. Stipes acknowledged a number of negative incidents far more serious than any

mentioned about defendant in our case, and the defendant in Cross had, shortly before the date of

the hearing, expressed his opinion he was no longer in need of treatment. Cross, 301 Ill. App. 3d

at 904-05. These facts, although different from our case, are not relevant to the salient points of

the case, however, as will be seen below.

¶ 54 The second and only other witness in that case was the defendant’s individual

counselor who had been working with him for the previous two years, Raymond Sipowicz, a

psychologist. Cross, 301 Ill. App. 3d at 905. After working with the defendant weekly, the

counselor found him to be much more expressive and concerned about what was going on with

himself and his behavior. Cross, 301 Ill. App. 3d at 905. The counselor’s recommendation in

favor of supervised off-grounds passes came as a result of both his direct involvement with the

defendant as well as his review of all the defendant’s records. Cross, 301 Ill. App. 3d at 905. He

also was of the opinion the passes “would not interfere with defendant’s continued medication,

cause him to resume using illegal drugs, cause him to harm himself or others, or pose a threat to

public safety,” and they would further his treatment. Cross, 301 Ill. App. 3d at 905. Sipowicz

said the defendant had already been granted on-grounds passes, and during that time, he followed

the rules and never attempted to escape or injure himself or others and the passes were beneficial

to his integration treatment. Cross, 301 Ill. App. 3d at 905-06. Sipowicz also said the director’s

recommendation came as a result of an evaluation of the defendant by the Isaac Ray Center and

their work with the defendant’s treatment team. Cross, 301 Ill. App. 3d at 906.

¶ 55 Again, on cross-examination, the State was able to bring out a number of negative

incidents, failures to take medication or cooperate with treatment at times, threats to staff, and

lack of involvement or minimal participation in treatment. Cross, 301 Ill. App. 3d at 906.

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¶ 56 The trial court denied the passes based only on the testimony of the defendant’s

witnesses, who, as a basis for their opinions, expressed in much stronger terms than the witnesses

here their professional opinions regarding the positive therapeutic benefits to granting the passes.

In addition, the witnesses in Cross testified far more emphatically about the lack of possible

relapse or return to dangerous behavior by the defendant if granted the passes, including

expressing their opinions that denial of the passes would detrimentally affect the defendant’s

progress in treatment, an opinion noticeably absent here. In the case before us, Dr. Eberhardt

acknowledged defendant’s status was based upon her current circumstances; i.e., where she was

in treatment “at this time,” in a closed, controlled environment, with regimented medication

distribution and no access to outside influences or street drugs.

¶ 57 As in our case, the defendant in Cross sought to argue the trial court’s decision

was against the manifest weight of the evidence “because all the witnesses recommended

granting the passes and because ‘[n]o evidence was presented to indicate that the passes would

put *** [defendant] or the public in danger.’ ” Cross, 301 Ill. App. 3d at 910-11. Further, the

defendant in Cross contended there was no evidence to indicate the passes would have a negative

impact on his treatment and, instead, there was affirmative evidence a denial would interfere

with his continued progress. Cross, 301 Ill. App. 3d at 911. The State argued the trial court was

required to consider all the evidence and make a determination independent of the

recommendations. Cross, 301 Ill. App. 3d at 911.

¶ 58 The First District noted how the statute gave the trial court the discretion to grant

the requested passes and did not mandate the trial court grant pass privileges solely on the basis

of the treatment team’s and director’s recommendations. Cross, 301 Ill. App. 3d at 910.

Correlatively, here, under section 5-2-4(e) of the Unified Code, once a defendant petitions for

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conditional release, the court is required to hold a hearing. 730 ILCS 5/5-2-4(e) (West 2016).

However, subsection (g) provides for the court’s findings to be established by clear and

convincing evidence, considering a nonexhaustive list of factors, which includes “any other

factor or factors the Court deems appropriate.” 730 ILCS 5/5-2-4(g)(1)-(12) (West 2016). The

only mandatory requirements placed on the court are found in subsection (h) and are contingent

on the court making certain findings “consistent with the provisions of this Section.” 730 ILCS

5/5-2-4(h) (West 2016). There is nothing in the statute requiring the court to accept the experts’

testimony. When they discussed this issue, the court in Cross held, “[e]ven though the experts

provided their opinions concerning defendant’s rationale concerning these problems [(the

negative behaviors brought out on cross-examination)], it was for the trial court to weigh these

opinions with the other evidence and draw its own conclusions.” Cross, 301 Ill. App. 3d at 911.

The experts in Cross were unanimous in their opinion the defendant should be granted passes. In

spite of that, the court was free to decide otherwise. The same is true here. Regardless of how

consistent the experts may have been with regard to either element of “risk of harm” or “need or

benefit of further inpatient treatment,” the court in this case was free to decide otherwise if it

reasonably believed there was credible evidence sufficient to preclude a finding for defendant by

clear and convincing evidence.

¶ 59 In Williams, an NGRI defendant was found subject to involuntary admission and

appealed on the same basis as defendant here; there was no “explicit medical opinion” that he

was reasonably expected to harm himself or others. Williams, 140 Ill. App. 3d at 225-26. The

First District found, although the opinions of the doctors were in conflict, it was a matter for the

trial court to determine in weighing all the evidence, citing the language referenced above.

Williams, 140 Ill. App. 3d at 226. It is clear, therefore, the trial court was not bound by the

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testimony of the experts nor does the statute require an expert opinion in order to deny a petition

for conditional discharge, contrary to the assertions of defendant.

¶ 60 In Wolst, 347 Ill. App. 3d at 784, the defendant shot and killed a stranger in a

health club while under the delusion the victim was a federal agent. As the defendant was

suffering from paranoid schizophrenia, he was initially found unfit to stand trial. Wolst, 347 Ill.

App. 3d at 784. After being returned to fitness, he was found NGRI and committed to the Elgin

Mental Health Center. Wolst, 347 Ill. App. 3d at 784. Slightly over four years later, the facility

director recommended transfer to a nonsecure setting, as well as the granting of supervised off-

grounds and unsupervised on-grounds passes. Wolst, 347 Ill. App. 3d at 784-85. The defendant

petitioned for the same. Wolst, 347 Ill. App. 3d at 785. The trial court denied the transfer and

request for supervised off-ground passes but granted the unsupervised on-grounds pass

privileges, and defendant appealed. Wolst, 347 Ill. App. 3d at 785. Among other issues not

relevant to the matter before us, the appellate court was asked to determine whether the court’s

ruling was against the manifest weight of the evidence since each of defendant’s four witnesses

recommended all three privileges. Wolst, 347 Ill. App. 3d at 785. A social worker, two staff

psychiatrists with the Cook County court’s forensic medical services, and one staff psychiatrist

for Elgin Mental Health Center testified the defendant was not a threat to himself or anyone else;

was no longer suffering delusions; and, due to his medication, his paranoid schizophrenia was in

remission. Wolst, 347 Ill. App. 3d at 785-89. He was considered one of the most “stable” and

“appropriate” patients on the unit. Wolst, 347 Ill. App. 3d at 785-89. They did not believe the

transfer or passes posed a risk or danger to the defendant or others and that they would be

beneficial to the defendant’s treatment. Wolst, 347 Ill. App. 3d at 785-89. All of the doctors

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indicated their opinions were contingent on defendant’s continued compliance with medication.

Wolst, 347 Ill. App. 3d at 785-89.

¶ 61 Much like the trial court here, the trial judge in Wolst acknowledged the

defendant’s substantial progress with medication and noted it was an integral part of his

treatment. Wolst, 347 Ill. App. 3d at 789-90. However, the court felt the need to observe how the

defendant did with the unsupervised on-grounds passes before advancing to off-grounds and a

transfer, just as the clinical team did for defendant here. Wolst, 347 Ill. App. 3d at 790. The trial

court in Wolst was also concerned about the lack of information regarding how the transfer and

off-grounds passes would be monitored or supervised and recognized both the need for

continued medication and the risk of “ ‘grave consequences’ ” if there was a relapse, much like

the trial court here. Wolst, 347 Ill. App. 3d at 790.

¶ 62 The First District said the trial court’s determination regarding whether a

defendant has carried his burden under section 5-2-4(g) by clear and convincing evidence “must

be respected unless such determination is against the manifest weight of the evidence.” Wolst,

347 Ill. App. 3d at 790 (citing Cross, 301 Ill. App. 3d at 908-09). For a decision to be “against

the manifest weight of the evidence, it must appear that a conclusion opposite to that reached by

the trier of fact is clearly evident.” Wolst, 347 Ill. App. 3d at 790. The court found the record

provided ample support for the court’s decision in that “[t]he record makes clear that the trial

court’s primary concern was that [the] defendant, when placed in a less secure environment and

charged with taking his own medication, might fail to do so and relapse.” Wolst, 347 Ill. App. 3d

at 791. The court also noted, although all the witnesses supported defendant’s requests, they also

acknowledged the possibility of relapse with the concomitant potential for dangerous behavior if

the defendant stopped taking his medication. The appellate court also found section 5-2-4(g)

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gave the trial court broad discretion in determining whether a defendant remains mentally ill and

dangerous, citing the court’s language in Cross, which found the responsibility for considering

and weighing the evidence lies with the fact finder and not the psychiatrist. Wolst, 347 Ill. App.

3d at 790.

¶ 63 The defendant in People v. Bethke, 2016 IL App (1st) 150555, 55 N.E.3d 244,

citing Blumenshine, 72 Ill. App. 3d 949, contended the trial court should not disregard the

testimony of two expert witnesses who agreed he was suitable for off-grounds pass privileges.

We find Blumenshine as unpersuasive as did the First District in Bethke. Unlike the case before

us, in Blumenshine, all the defendant’s witnesses and the State concurred in the recommendation

for conditional discharge. Blumenshine, 72 Ill. App. 3d 949. Here, as in Bethke, the State

opposed the petition and cross-examined defendant’s witnesses extensively on all aspects of

defendant’s treatment history, progress, and prognosis. Also similar to Bethke, the experts here

had to acknowledge defendant engaged in a series of rule violations created primarily by her

relationship with a male patient and her frustration with how that relationship was being treated

by hospital staff. Although considered small or minor violations, it was significant to the court

that they occurred during the period of time defendant was working toward a conditional

discharge petition. In Bethke, the First District noted similar timing and found it significant not

only to the trial court but to the appellate court as well.

¶ 64 C. Trial Court’s Analysis

¶ 65 In light of the above, we review defendant’s argument the trial court’s judgment

was manifestly erroneous and disagree.

¶ 66 Under section 5-2-4(g) of the Unified Code, a defendant is required to prove by

clear and convincing evidence conditional release is appropriate. 730 ILCS 5/5-2-4(g) (West

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2016). “The trial court’s determination as to whether a defendant has carried his burden under

section 5-2-4(g) by clear and convincing evidence must be respected unless such determination

is against the manifest weight of the evidence.” Wolst, 347 Ill. App. 3d at 790. “A finding is

against the manifest weight of the evidence only if the opposite conclusion is clearly evident or if

the finding itself is unreasonable, arbitrary, or not based on the evidence presented.” Best v. Best,

223 Ill. 2d 342, 350, 860 N.E.2d 240, 245 (2006).

¶ 67 Defendant contends various individual factors addressed by both the experts and

the court cannot, by themselves, be the basis for denying conditional discharge. She does so

without either acknowledging or recognizing the factors she identifies, when considered together

in conjunction with others, may indeed permit the court to conclude defendant should not be

conditionally discharged at this time. Defendant’s primary contention is made clear in her reply

brief when she claims “if all the experts agree that a patient is stable, not dangerous, and likely to

continue treatment in the community—as defendant’s three experts did—the mere possibility

that the patient could stop taking medication or abuse drugs and then engage in dangerous

behavior cannot meet the inpatient standard.” Such an argument erroneously presumes the trial

court’s only basis for declining to accept the recommendations of defendant’s witnesses was “the

mere possibility” defendant might stop taking her medication and return to street drugs.

Defendant ignores completely the fact her treating psychiatrist and her treatment team were not

supportive of conditional release and believed she needed more time with inpatient treatment.

This is so, in spite of defendant’s professed understanding of her circumstances and apparent

commitment to meaningful participation in treatment. Defendant also discounts the possibility

the trial court recognized that even though her treatment providers spoke about her progress in

very positive terms, they were also of the opinion further mental health treatment within the

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hospital setting would be beneficial in assessing the level of her commitment to continued mental

health treatment and abstinence from street drugs.

¶ 68 Recognizing the speed with which defendant’s psychosis and resultant dangerous

or self-destructive behavior could recur upon relapse, the trial court may well have placed greater

weight on the reasoned and unanimous agreement of her treatment team that she should not be

conditionally released yet. When the court considered the average of three hospitalizations per

year over the past 10 years, the court could have concluded the concerns of Dr. Eberhardt and the

treatment team were well-founded, especially in light of the fact Dr. Eberhardt was careful to

qualify her opinions concerning defendant’s mental condition and progress by indicating the

status “at this time.” While in a controlled environment, with the regulated administration of

medication without access to street drugs or alcohol, defendant was progressing well and did not

appear to be likely to be a danger to herself or others at that moment. Even Dr. Finkenbine’s

report was careful to qualify his opinion by noting, “[h]er clinical status is absent any signs or

symptoms of mental illness and therefore the inpatient setting is not ‘needed’ in the same sense

as would be recommended or necessary for the management of acute mania, active delusions,

thoughts of suicide or severe depression or anxiety. Continuous inpatient psychiatric

hospitalization is usually and eventually counterbalanced by the benefits of a less restrictive

setting, personal liberty, and individual freedom.” In effect, he was saying she was not currently

exhibiting the acute symptoms and behavior, which might be the basis for an order of

involuntary admission and therefore the consideration of conditional release. However, that is

not her circumstance, as this is not a case of involuntary admission. As shown above, this

conclusion is based upon a misunderstanding of the criteria for conditional release of an NGRI

defendant.

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¶ 69 It is not unreasonable to believe the trial court recognized the repetitive nature of

defendant’s hospitalizations as caused by her repeated release upon stabilization, only to return

to self-destructive and, at times, seriously dangerous behavior created by her psychosis. Each of

the witnesses noted this forced hospitalization had been her longest and posited it may have

allowed her to begin facing the seriousness of her mental and substance-abuse issues. The refusal

of her psychiatrist and treatment team to recommend immediate conditional release was only an

effort to ascertain whether, with more freedom within the hospital setting, defendant would

continue to exhibit rehabilitative behavior reflecting an understanding and internalization of what

she was learning. They undoubtedly would agree with Dr. Finkenbine’s statement about the

counterbalancing of psychiatric hospitalization with “less restrictive settings, personal liberty,

and individual freedom”; they just did not believe she was ready yet.

¶ 70 Defendant lists “four grounds” that she says were the only bases cited by the trial

court as justification for denial of the petition, without citation to the record. In fact, the court

referenced the four reasons why defendant continues to benefit from mental health services on an

inpatient basis listed by the treatment team in their August 2017 report. However, they are not

the same reasons listed by defendant. In addition, those reasons mentioned by the team were in

no way the only factors considered by the court in its ruling. Defendant listed the first factor

relied upon by the court as “[defendant’s] lack of exposure to a non-controlled environment since

being confined at McFarland.” Instead, the first factor listed by the team and referenced by the

court was defendant’s history of manic and psychotic behavior related to active symptoms of her

bipolar I disorder. It is true the witnesses were asked about defendant’s performance and

behavior in a strictly controlled and monitored environment. It is equally true the trial court was

concerned about how that may translate into the significantly less structured environment of a

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halfway house for perhaps no more than 30 days before being reintegrated into the community.

However, “the current state of the defendant’s illness,” “the length of time it would take for the

defendant’s mental health to deteriorate if the defendant stopped taking prescribed medication,”

and “the defendant’s potential to be a danger to himself, herself, or others” are all specifically

referenced in section 5-2-4(g)(3), (6), and (11) of the Unified Code as factors the court may

consider. 730 ILCS 5/5-2-4(g)(3), (6), (11) (West 2016). Rather than constituting an

unreasonable basis for the ruling, it is expressly provided for by statute. In addition, the court

was permitted to, and did, consider the long history of repeated hospitalizations and defendant’s

history of extensive alcohol and drug abuse—again, a permitted consideration under section 5-2-

4(g)(7) and (12) of the Unified Code. 730 ILCS 5/5-2-4(g)(7), (12) (West 2016).

¶ 71 The second factor listed by defendant was “the potential that [defendant] may

engage in unacceptable behavior once released into the community,” which, in reality, is the

same as her first factor, just worded differently. The second factor of the treatment team was

defendant’s “history of substance abuse,” which has already been discussed and is a listed factor

for consideration by the trial court.

¶ 72 The third factor argued by defendant as one of the four forming the basis for the

court’s denial of her petition was “that [defendant] lacks a finalized conditional release plan.”

Admittedly, this is the fourth factor listed by the team, “[defendant] does not have a feasible plan

for community reintegration.” This was understandable in light of the evidence that until

suggested otherwise, her intention had been simply to return to live in an apartment obtained for

her by her father. The more realistic possibility of residing in a group home had not even

occurred to defendant until suggested by either Dr. Finkenbine or someone else at or around the

evaluation in August 2017, since that is the first time it is referenced in the record. This was also

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noticed by the trial court and evident in its questions regarding her recent acceleration of her

involvement in formulating plans.

¶ 73 Dr. Finkenbine’s report even noted, although defendant was requesting

conditional release, there was no evidence of any significant discharge planning, nor did

defendant have any specific community support plan. This information came from an interview

conducted on August 8, 2017, after her petition was filed and while she awaited a hearing.

Defendant cited Smith, 126 Ill. App. 3d 5, for the proposition that “the lack of a finalized

conditional release plan *** is an insufficient basis to deny conditional release,” once again

juxtaposing “conditional release” with “involuntary commitment,” which was the holding in

Smith. As we have stated, Smith was a direct appeal of an NGRI inpatient care and treatment

order where the State’s witnesses unanimously recommended defendant’s release. Considering

the State had the burden of proof as the defendant was being involuntarily committed, it is

understandable the court found “[e]xpert testimony that defendant may have difficulty adjusting

to the stresses of noninstitutional life is not sufficient to sustain a finding requiring involuntary

commitment.” Smith, 126 Ill. App. 3d at 9 (citing Czyz, 92 Ill. App. 3d at 26-27). There is very

little about Smith that relates to the case before this court. Defendant seeks support in Smith

again regarding her claim the trial court speculated defendant might return to the use of alcohol

or drugs upon her return to the community, contending such speculation is not sufficient, on its

own, to form the basis for denying conditional release. However, once again, she substituted

“conditional release” for “involuntary commitment.” In fact, “the defendant’s history or potential

for alcohol and drug abuse” is one of the nonexclusive factors listed in subsection (g) of the

Unified Code and is therefore relevant to a court’s consideration when hearing a petition for

conditional release. 730 ILCS 5/5-2-4(g)(7) (2016).

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¶ 74 The final factor listed by defendant is actually the one upon which the trial court

gave substantial deference—the fact that defendant’s own treatment team was of the opinion she

would continue to benefit from inpatient mental health services and was not recommending

conditional release. Here, defendant confuses the statute’s provision for alternative methods of

petitioning for conditional release with elements of proof. Whether petitioned by the facility

director or the individual, the trial court is still invested with the responsibility to consider the

evidence. The recommendation of the facility director or the treatment team is merely one factor

to consider. The trial court did not, and should not, consider it dispositive. See Hoffman, 140 Ill.

App. 3d at 1065 (“In making its decision on the petition, the trial court may consider and give

weight to evidence other than the testimony of the experts.”).

¶ 75 As the trial court noted, defendant had only as recently as July 2017 “begun

working on a relapse prevention plan in order to develop a realistic plan on how to maintain

sobriety in the community.” This was only two months before her hearing and coincided with

when she began a parenting course required for her DCFS case. These were all things the court

could reasonably consider when assessing the strength of defendant’s commitment to treatment.

This is especially true when considering defendant had been hospitalized 30 times in the last 10

years because of a continued inability or unwillingness to stop using street drugs and alcohol

coupled with either a failure or inability to fully appreciate the seriousness of her mental issues.

There is enough in the record to find it was not against the manifest weight of the evidence to

find defendant remains a reasonable danger to herself or others and that she continues to benefit

from inpatient treatment. Those factors, which clearly weighed against her, included her long

history of substance abuse, both drug and alcohol; her repeated failures or refusals to comply

with her mental health treatment and medication when not hospitalized; her lack of any

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reasonable plan for her release as well as little evidence of family support; and the fact that, if

she returned to abusing drugs and alcohol as she had so many times in the past, her mental

condition could deteriorate very rapidly, according to at least one doctor, in a matter of one or

two days. This was coupled with the trial court’s reasonable concern defendant’s professed

cooperation and intention to continue treatment on her own was fueled more by her desire to

present a good picture of herself to DCFS because of the impending case involving her daughter

than due to any serious intention to do so.

¶ 76 Based upon the evidence, the trial court gave proper consideration to the factors

listed in section 5-2-4(g) of the Unified Code, weighed the testimony of the experts, and properly

considered the reports and recommendations of the treatment team. This record does not permit

us to find the trial court’s finding was against the manifest weight of the evidence. Could other

fact finders consider the same evidence and reach a different conclusion? Possibly—however,

that is not our standard of review. “[T]he reviewing court must give deference to the trial court’s

decision and cannot set that decision aside because it, applying the [clear and convincing

evidence] standard, would have ruled differently.” (Internal quotation marks omitted.) People v.

Ferguson, 238 Ill. App. 3d 448, 455, 603 N.E.2d 1257, 1261 (1992).

¶ 77 D. Application of Legal Standard

¶ 78 Defendant argues the trial court used a stricter standard than legally required. We

disagree.

¶ 79 By selectively extracting words of the court out of context, defendant contends

this somehow meant the trial court applied a higher or stricter standard than is required under the

Unified Code. Defendant’s argument is unsupported by authority in either brief. She recites no

case law in support of her contention the trial court has somehow applied a different or

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inappropriate standard because it did not expressly use the words “reasonably expected” or

“reasonable expectation” when assessing the potential for harm to herself or others. As such, she

has forfeited this argument under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 341(h)(7) (eff. Nov. 1, 2017). See

In re Addison R., 2013 IL App (2d) 121318, ¶ 31, 989 N.E.2d 224 (an argument raised on appeal

but not supported by citation to relevant authority is forfeited under Illinois Supreme Court Rule

341(h)(7) (eff. July 1, 2008)). However, since this rule is an admonishment to the parties and not

a limitation on this court’s jurisdiction, we may address an issue in order to achieve a just result

and the need for a sound and uniform body of precedent. People ex rel. Resnik v. Curtis & Davis,

Architects & Planners, Inc., 58 Ill. App. 3d 28, 31, 373 N.E.2d 772, 774 (1978). We choose to

do so here.

¶ 80 Just as in Bethke, defendant here contends the trial court applied the wrong legal

standard. In Bethke, the defendant contended the trial court’s decision was based on an

unwillingness to take any risk whatsoever, thereby making it impossible for anyone in the

defendant’s position to secure conditional discharge since psychiatry does not deal in such

absolutes when predicting future behavior. Bethke, 2016 IL App (1st) 150555, ¶ 30. Here,

defendant contended the trial court applied a different and stricter standard for continued

confinement due to comments the court made during its oral ruling from the bench. Contrary to

defendant’s assertion, the court agreed with defense counsel’s representation of the applicable

legal standard:

“You’re right in indicating what the law is to the Court, [defense

counsel], and that is that the court must find that there is a need for

further in-patient treatment, and that whether or not it’s been

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 shown that the Defendant would be at risk to seriously harm

herself or others.”

The trial court also expressly found:

“[T]hat’s not been shown by clear and convincing evidence at this

hearing, that [defendant] is not in danger of seriously injuring

herself or others if she were to be conditionally released from the

McFarland Mental Health Center.”

¶ 81 The trial court, when entering its order, noted, in addition to the opinions

expressed by the doctors, the court had the reports of Dr. Finkenbine, the August 23, 2017,

NGRI 60-day-treatment-plan report, all the reports filed previously, and Dr. Lawrence L.

Jeckel’s fitness report of December 9, 2015. It is true Dr. Eberhardt expressed the opinion

defendant did not meet the criteria for involuntary commitment; however, as we now see, that is

not the standard by which her eligibility for conditional release was to be determined. The doctor

was asked whether defendant was “at this time” “reasonably expected to inflict serious physical

harm upon herself.” She responded, “she’s not in imminent risk to hurt herself or others,”

indicating this was due to defendant’s current compliance with medication and lack of access to

alcohol and street drugs as a result of her inpatient status. When asked specifically if defendant

was “an appropriate candidate for conditional release,” Dr. Eberhardt’s response was, “I think

that she does not meet the criteria for in-patient hospitalization. If [defendant] were a civil

patient, she would have been discharged already.” True as that may be, neither opinion is

sufficient to require the court to order defendant’s conditional release. This is especially so since

Dr. Eberhardt said neither she nor the other members of the treatment team were recommending

conditional discharge and defendant would benefit from continued inpatient treatment.

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Defendant is not being evaluated as a person under a civil commitment through the Mental

Health Code but as a petitioner for conditional release pursuant to the Unified Code.

¶ 82 The treatment team recognized the substantial risk caused by early release in an

essentially unstructured environment, especially in light of the fact that as late as August 2017,

one month before the hearing on her petition, defendant “continued to struggle with

inappropriate boundaries with a male peer from another unit with whom she stated she was in a

relationship with,” according to the August 23, 2017, report. She distracted other peers on

numerous occasions, and when required to sit across the room from the male peer, her difficulty

with compliance resulted in, on one occasion, her leaving the group rather than complying.

Defendant had gone so far as to “challenge another unit’s treatment team’s recommendations

regarding the same male patient and when confronted, made inappropriate comments” to staff.

As the trial court noted, although seemingly trivial, in the larger scheme of things, it found

defendant’s behavior troubling as it occurred shortly before the discharge hearing she knew was

coming and after she had supposedly been doing so well with all treatment modalities.

¶ 83 It was not improper for the trial court to consider the fact defendant engaged in

such behavior within the structured environment while on scheduled and monitored medication

and without access to alcohol or street drugs. Defendant had been receiving intensive mental

health and substance-abuse treatment for an extended period of time, longer than she had ever

remained hospitalized before. However, within a month of an upcoming conditional discharge

hearing, she was engaging in behavior that violated rules within the facility. As Dr. Eberhardt

noted in her testimony, “if they don’t follow the small rules at McFarland, they won’t follow the

big rules outside.” The fact that defendant had failed to show she could follow rules in a

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controlled setting undoubtedly contributed to the opinion of Dr. Eberhardt and the treatment

team that defendant “continues to benefit from mental health services on an inpatient basis.”

¶ 84 By parsing the words of the court, defendant argued application of an

inappropriate or incorrect standard of proof. Instead, the court made clear its concerns about

defendant’s behavior should she be released prematurely. The court expressly found defendant

had failed to show by clear and convincing evidence she would not be in danger of seriously

injuring herself or others if she were conditionally released at this time. This is the proper

standard applicable to the defendant’s burden of proof in these proceedings. Section 5-2-4(g) of

the Unified Code provides the only standard of review applicable to this section, requiring “[t]he

findings of the Court shall be established by clear and convincing evidence.” 730 ILCS 5/5-2-

4(g) (West 2016). Clear and convincing evidence has been defined as “the quantum of proof

which leaves no reasonable doubt in the mind of the trier of fact as to the truth of the proposition

in question.” In re Estate of Ragen, 79 Ill. App. 3d 8, 14, 398 N.E.2d 198, 203 (1979).

¶ 85 The trial court agreed the burden was on defendant to show by clear and

convincing evidence she was not “at risk” to seriously harm herself or others and was not in need

of further inpatient treatment. This is consistent with the case law. See People v. Gunderson,

2017 IL App (1st) 153533, ¶ 19, 82 N.E.3d 677 (section 5-2-4(g) of the Unified Code requires a

defendant who seeks discharge to prove by clear and convincing evidence that he or she has no

mental illness or that he or she is not dangerous). Subsection (g) makes no distinction between

the burden for discharge and that for conditional release. In our case, after explaining the

rationale underlying its ultimate finding, the court concluded, “that’s not been shown by clear

and convincing evidence at this hearing, that [defendant] is not in danger of seriously injuring

herself or others if she was to be conditionally released from the McFarland Mental Health

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Center.” The court had already noted how all of the experts acknowledged defendant would

benefit from further mental health treatment but her treatment team was of the opinion she was

not ready for conditional release just yet.

¶ 86 Defendant is troubled by certain words the court used when making its ruling:

“[t]he Court has to be absolutely sure in its mind that when a Defendant is

released from the McFarland Center, or any center that has that much of a

controlled environment, that there is in the court’s mind no risk that any future

serious harm may be committed.

***

The Court, in my mind, has to be sure this type of thing [defendant

relapsing on drugs and alcohol, thereby exacerbating her bipolar 1 disorder

symptoms and engaging in behavior dangerous to herself or others] is not going to

happen.”

Defendant contends this means the court used a higher, inappropriate legal standard, an argument

which, as we noted, defendant has forfeited. However, defendant’s argument misses the point.

The reason the burden remains on the defendant is because there has already been a

determination the defendant was dangerous. She committed a serious felony offense and had

been found NGRI. In other words, the trier of fact has determined she committed the criminal

offense charged and she was suffering from a mental illness. “[T]he insanity verdict in and of

itself supports the conclusion that the insanity acquittee continues to be mentally ill and

dangerous.” (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Gunderson, 2017 IL App (1st) 153533, ¶ 21.

¶ 87 In spite of this language, the trial court specifically set forth the standard under

which it was to decide the case, and it stated on the record its finding was by “clear and

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convincing evidence.” Our supreme court has said a reviewing court “presume[s] that the trial

judge knows and follows the law unless the record indicates otherwise.” People v. Gaultney, 174

Ill. 2d 410, 420, 675 N.E.2d 102, 107 (1996). We presume the same, and nothing in the record

affirmatively rebuts that presumption. The language of concern to defendant must be looked at in

context. The trial court engaged in a thoughtful analysis of the evidence, outlining many of its

concerns about defendant’s history, progress in treatment, recent troubling behavior, and

repeated hospitalizations for the same reasons over a 10-year period. The court properly

considered the testimony of the experts and, understandably, gave great weight to the fact

defendant’s treatment team was not ready to recommend conditional discharge until they had an

opportunity to observe defendant’s behavior in a less supervised setting, in light of her previous

violations in the facility. The court noted, “the problem I have here is that this Defendant’s

history has shown that when she goes off, she goes off fast and her actions as a result of that are

dangerous,” as a significant and reasonable concern. We cannot say the court used the wrong

legal standard.

¶ 88 III. CONCLUSION

¶ 89 For the reasons stated, we affirm the trial court’s judgment. As part of our

judgment, we award the State its $50 statutory assessment (55 ILCS 5/4-2002(a) (West 2016)).

¶ 90 Affirmed.

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