Case: New York v. Consilvio

404172/05 | New York state trial court

Filed Date: 2005

Closed Date: 2007

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

The Mental Hygiene Legal Service (MHLS) filed a lawsuit on behalf of 22 John Does under New York Civil Practice Law and Rules § 70, a state habeas corpus statute, against the Kirby Forensic Psychiatric Facility in the New York County Supreme Court. The plaintiffs were represented by the MHLS and asked for conditional release, claiming that they had been civilly committed in contravention of state law and the United States Constitution. Specifically, the plaintiffs claimed that they were not aff…

The Mental Hygiene Legal Service (MHLS) filed a lawsuit on behalf of 22 John Does under New York Civil Practice Law and Rules § 70, a state habeas corpus statute, against the Kirby Forensic Psychiatric Facility in the New York County Supreme Court. The plaintiffs were represented by the MHLS and asked for conditional release, claiming that they had been civilly committed in contravention of state law and the United States Constitution. Specifically, the plaintiffs claimed that they were not afforded notice or a hearing prior to civil commitment to an inpatient psychiatric facility immediately following their convictions, as required by Corrections Law § 404, and the Due Process Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

Between September 23 and November 22, 2005, the State of New York Department of Correctional Services began civilly committing sex offenders whose sentences were almost expired, without a hearing or notice, to the Kirby Forensic Psychiatric Facility. The timing of the transfer was carefully coordinated so that the actual committal occurred after the prisoner's had been 'released,' but before the prisoners had a chance to be released from custody. Corrections Law § 404 required a committal to a psychiatric facility to be accompanied by a predetermination hearing and notice to the prisoners if they were still serving their sentences. 22 people were committed under this scheme. Thereafter, Mental Hygiene Legal Services, a division of the state created by law, filed two habeas corpus actions the New York County Supreme Court, seeking relief for 22 prisoners who had been committed to secured and unsecured facilities.

On November 15, 2005, the Court (Judge Jacqueline Silbermann) ordered the release of the first 12 plaintiffs, and ordered the defendant to initiate immediate civil commitment proceedings or relinquish custody of the first 12 plaintiffs (809 N.Y.S.2d 836).

On February 6, 2006, the trial Court granted the habeas corpus petitions of the second 11 plaintiffs, finding that the prisoners were entitled to the protections of Corrections Law § 404 and due process (814 N.Y.S.2d 892). The Court ordered the Kirby facility to produce the patients for hearings, or in the alternative, to release them.

On March 30, 2006, the Appellate Division, First Department (Judge Malone) reversed the Supreme Court's order in the first case, finding that the controlling law was not appropriate (812 N.Y.S.2d 496). On July 27, 2006, the Appellate Division also reversed the Supreme Court's finding the in the second case (819 N.Y.S.2d 499).

On March 14, 2007, The New York Legislature intervened and passed Mental Hygiene Law § 10 Sex Offender Management and Treatment Act (SOMTA). The act established a system of civil management to civilly confine and/or closely supervise sex offenders who are about to be released from prison and also improved the treatment available to incarcerated sex offenders. The act also created the Office of Sex Offender Management within the Division of Criminal Justice Services.

On June 5, 2007, the Court of Appeals (Judge Graffeo) reversed the Appellate Division's rulings and found the new § 10 controlling and retroactive to the plaintiffs' case (870 N.E.2d 128). The Court of Appeals then ordered the case remanded to the New York County Supreme Court for § 10 proceedings.

As a result of the June 5, 2007 ruling, 123 individuals, including the plaintiffs, were re-evaluated by the Office of Mental Health under the new procedures. Of these, 60 met the criteria for civil management under § 10 and were referred to the Attorney General's office for possible litigation. The last of these cases was referred in December 2007.

Summary Authors

Blase Kearney (5/15/2012)

Anna Jones (3/14/2016)

People


Judge(s)

Catterson, James M. Jr. (New York)

Ciparick, Carmen Beauchamp (New York)

Friedman, David (New York)

Graffeo, Victoria A. (New York)

Jones, Sheila Rush (New York)

Judge(s)

Catterson, James M. Jr. (New York)

Ciparick, Carmen Beauchamp (New York)

Friedman, David (New York)

Graffeo, Victoria A. (New York)

Jones, Sheila Rush (New York)

Kaye, Judith (New York)

Malone, Bernard J. (New York)

Pigott, Eugene F. Jr. (New York)

Read, Susan P. (New York)

Ready, David T. (Indiana)

Silbermann, Jacqueline W. (New York)

Smith, George Bundy (New York)

Sullivan, Joseph P. (New York)

Tom, Peter (New York)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

404172/05

Opinion

Feb. 8, 2005

Feb. 8, 2005

Order/Opinion

2005 N.Y.Misc.LEXIS 2005

403590/05

Opinion

Nov. 15, 2005

Nov. 15, 2005

Order/Opinion

10 Misc.3d 10

404172/05

Opinion

Feb. 8, 2006

Feb. 8, 2006

Order/Opinion

11 Misc.3d 11

M-1168

M-976

Opinion

New York state appellate court

March 28, 2006

March 28, 2006

Order/Opinion

2006 N.Y.App.Div.LEXIS 2006

403590/05

Opinion

New York state appellate court

March 30, 2006

March 30, 2006

Order/Opinion

812 N.Y.S.2d 812

7 N.Y.3d 782

Opinion

New York state supreme court

July 6, 2006

July 6, 2006

Order/Opinion

853 N.E.2d 853

Opinion

New York state supreme court

July 27, 2006

July 27, 2006

Order/Opinion

819 N.Y.S.2d 819

404172/05

140

Appellate Opinion

New York state appellate court

Nov. 21, 2006

Nov. 21, 2006

Order/Opinion

859 N.E.2d 859

402286/2004

Opinion

New York state appellate court

June 5, 2007

June 5, 2007

Order/Opinion

870 N.E.2d 870

Resources

Docket

Last updated Aug. 30, 2023, 2:30 p.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: New York

Case Type(s):

Criminal Justice (Other)

Key Dates

Filing Date: 2005

Closing Date: 2007

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

The state of New York on behalf of the Deputy Director of the Mental Hygiene Legal Service who seeks the release of former inmates who were civilly committed after release from prison.

Plaintiff Type(s):

State Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

State of New York (New York City, New York), State

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

State law

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Available Documents:

Non-settlement Outcome

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Litigation

Issues

General:

Sex offender regulation