Millett Harrison v. State ( 2004 )

In The

Court of Appeals

Ninth District of Texas at Beaumont

____________________

NO. 09-04-026 CR

____________________

MILLET HARRISON, JR., Appellant

V.

THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

On Appeal from the 252nd District Court

Jefferson County, Texas

Trial Cause No. 66306

O P I N I O N

Millet Harrison, Jr. brings this appeal from an order extending inpatient mental health services for another twelve months. Harrison was found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity on October 21, 1994. See Act of May 25, 1983, 68th Leg., R.S., ch. 454, § 2, 1983 Tex. Gen. Laws 2640 (amended 1989, 2001, 2003) (current version at Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 46.03 (Vernon Supp. 2004)). ⁽¹⁾ Initially, he was transferred to Vernon State Hospital for treatment. See Harrison v. State, No. 09-98-134-CR, 1999 WL 160825 (Tex. App.--Beaumont Mar. 24, 1999, no pet.) (not designated for publication). Subsequently, Harrison was transferred to Rusk State Hospital. See Harrison v. State, No. 07-99-0259-CR, 1999 WL 994378 (Tex. App.--Amarillo Nov. 2, 1999, no pet.) (not designated for publication). This appeal is brought challenging the trial court's most recent order of December 10, 2003, for extended inpatient mental health services.

Harrison raises three issues. In his first two issues, Harrison contends the evidence is legally and factually insufficient to support the trial court's finding that he continues to meet the criteria for court-ordered inpatient mental health services.

Section 4(d)(5) of article 46.03 provides that a person acquitted by reason of insanity and committed to a mental hospital or other appropriate facility may only be discharged in accordance with the procedures specified therein and charges the trial court with determining whether the acquitted person continues to meet the criteria for involuntary commitment. Section 4(d)(2) provides that criteria is found in the Texas Mental Health Code. See Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. §§ 574.031-.037 (Vernon 2003 & Supp. 2004). As noted in Campbell v. State, 118 S.W.3d 788, 793 (Tex. App.--Houston [14th Dist.] 2003, pet. denied), "[T]he court can only recommit appellant if it finds that he meets one of the criteria for commitment specified in Mental Health Code section 574.035." Accord Roland v. State, 989 S.W.2d 797, 798 (Tex. App.--Fort Worth 1999, no pet.); Niswanger v. State, 875 S.W.2d 796, 799 (Tex. App.--Waco 1994, no writ); and In the Interest of G.B.R., 953 S.W.2d 391, 394 (Tex. App.--El Paso 1997, no writ).

Section 574.035(a) sets forth the criteria for court-ordered extended inpatient services. See Act of May 22, 1997, 75th Leg., R.S., ch. 744, §6, 1997 Tex. Gen. Laws 2409 (amended 1999, 2003) (current version at Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. § 574.035 (Vernon Supp. 2004)). ^{(2) Clear and convincing evidence the criteria has been met is required to support such an order. "To be clear and convincing under Subsection (a), the evidence must include expert testimony and evidence of a recent overt act or a continuing pattern of behavior that tends to confirm: (1) the likelihood of serious harm to the proposed patient or others; or (2) the proposed patient's distress and the deterioration of the proposed patient's ability to function." Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. § 574.035(e) (Vernon Supp. 2004).}

Clear and convincing evidence is that measure or degree of proof that will produce in the mind of the trier of fact a firm belief or conviction about the truth of the allegations sought to be established. See State v. Addington, 588 S.W.2d 569, 570 (Tex. 1979). In a case where the burden of proof at trial was by clear and convincing evidence, we review a challenge to the legal sufficiency of the evidence by considering all the evidence in the light most favorable to the finding. See In re S.T., 127 S.W.3d 371, 373 (Tex. App.-- Beaumont 2004, no pet.) (citing In re J.F.C., 96 S.W.3d 256, 266 (Tex. 2002)). We must assume the factfinder resolved disputed facts in favor of the finding, if a reasonable factfinder could do so. Id. Further, we disregard all evidence that a reasonable factfinder could have disbelieved or found incredible, but undisputed facts that do not support the finding cannot be disregarded. Id.

In a challenge to the factual sufficiency of the evidence, we must give due consideration to any evidence the factfinder could reasonably have found to be clear and convincing. Id. The evidence is factually insufficient if, in light of the entire record, the disputed evidence that does not support the finding is so significant that a factfinder could not reasonably have formed a firm belief or conviction. Id.

The record reflects Harrison has received court-ordered inpatient mental health services since 1994. Dr. David Self diagnosed Harrison's illness as paranoid schizophrenia. Dr. Edward Gripon testified Harrison's illness is not considered "curable," but treatable. Dr. Self and Dr. Gripon agreed that Harrison needs to continue taking medication.

Dr. Self testified there have never been any problems with Harrison. In reviewing all of Harrison's records, Dr. Self found he has been consistently cooperative and compliant. Harrison's illness is in full remission and there is no evidence of symptoms. Dr. Self testified he could see Harrison living safely in the community and would have no problem with Harrison living next door to him.

Dr. Gripon testified there has been no evidence of psychotic symptoms for a number of years. Dr. Gripon had reviewed Harrison's records from the last year and had not noticed any evidence of aggressive or assaultive behavior. In all of his interviews and interactions with Harrison, Dr. Gripon had never noticed any assaultive or aggressive behavior. The only violent behavior was the instant offense during a period of severe decompensation. According to Dr. Gripon, "[O]nce [Harrison] was in jail and initially even treated there was nonviolent behavior. And there's been no violent behavior over the ten years that I'm aware of." Dr. Gripon said he would feel safe if Harrison were living next to him and he was not afraid of Harrison. According to Dr. Gripon, Harrison is in a state of remission and would be expected to remain in that state so long as he complied with reasonable treatment recommendations. Dr. Gripon would not say a complete failure of treatment could not happen suddenly, "but it would not happen very often and it wouldn't happen in this case because of his sensitivity and response to treatment that's already been demonstrated for 30 years." Dr. Gripon was asked about the possibility of Harrison committing acts similar to the one in 1994 if he lost "the chemical sanity he's currently under." Dr. Gripon stated Harrison would probably experience some symptoms of illness but could not answer whether it would manifest itself in any type of violent act.

Robert Cheshire, a clinical social worker at Rusk for approximately two years, has been Harrison's social worker for the last year. Over the past year, Harrison has been stable and not shown any signs or symptoms of psychosis or relapse. There have been no disciplinary problems and no problems with compliance. Harrison is compliant with his whole treatment and continues to attend classes, even though he has taken them all before. Harrison patiently goes through the discussions that have to be done with each patient, and continues to offer insight into the questions and discussions.

There is no evidence Harrison is, in his present condition, likely to cause serious harm to others. However, as Dr. Gripon testified, Harrison's current condition requires the continued administration of medication and his improvement is, at least in part, and probably in large measure, based upon the effect of the medication. Dr. Gripon stated, "[A]nd that has been referred to by other people, other than just me, as chemical sanity or chemical mental health because it adjusts some type of chemical substrates in the central nervous system and that's what corrects the problem." If Harrison were to avoid taking antipsychotic medication, there would be the potential, and even the probability, that his mental state would deteriorate. Dr. Gripon could not answer whether it would manifest in any type of violent act.

Dr. Self also testified as to what would happen if Harrison were to stop taking his medication. Typically, he stated, the deterioration begins with very vague things such as a disturbance in sleep, becoming more preoccupied with his own internal thoughts, the emergence of suspicion and paranoid thinking that would evolve into full-blown delusion. According to Dr. Self, in Harrison's case, "Hallucinations are a very, very late occurrence in his exacerbating episodes; and that would come weeks out," along with disordered behavior.

Dr. Self testified that Harrison has always been voluntarily compliant as regards taking his medication. The one exception to Harrison not being on an effective medication regimen was at the instruction of Harrison's psychiatrist at the time. Dr. Self presumed that because of Harrison's complete response to medication, the psychiatrist did not think Harrison needed medication so he advised Harrison to stop taking it. That was when Harrison deteriorated into psychosis.

After stopping medication, Harrison continued to work for some time. Retrospectively, he could tell Dr. Self that he knew he was disturbed when his sleep became troubled, he was distracted, and he became increasingly preoccupied with religious things that at first were conventional but moved into bizarre and delusional thoughts. From reviewing Harrison's records and interviews with him, Dr. Self understood that Harrison recognized it pretty early on when he was taken off medication. Harrison went back to that psychiatrist and complained about his inability to sleep and not feeling well, but was given sleeping medication rather than resuming anti-psychotic medication. For a period of some weeks into the beginning of this relapse, Harrison sought help and was essentially rebuffed.

Dr. Gripon testified that Harrison's illness dates back to his twenties. Now in his mid-fifties, Harrison has a thirty-five year history of mental illness. Harrison did quite well and was very functional on medication. It appeared he no longer needed medication and with the agreement of his treating physician at the time, the medication was discontinued. Harrison became ill again and proper steps were not put in place to prevent the outcome. Harrison is clearly a treatment responder. He responds to small amounts of medicine, and it is expected he will continue to respond. Dr. Gripon stated, "There's no reason to expect that all of a sudden on medication he's gonna relapse into a state of illness. That's not likely to happen."

Dr. Gripon was aware that when sent to Vernon, Harrison questioned the doctors about discontinuing medication. Dr. Gripon stated after Harrison had improved and been substantially better for a period of time, he questioned the need for medication. Harrison asked to have the medication reduced and discontinued, and that was done. After Harrison developed some symptoms, medication was restarted with his agreement, and those symptoms dissipated. Dr. Gripon agreed that incident enforced Harrison's belief that he constantly needs medication. Dr. Gripon also said that unlike the noncompliance commonly encountered, he is aware of two periods of time in thirty years when Harrison did not take medication. One was with the doctor's approval, and the second was at Harrison's suggestion, but again with the doctor's approval. Dr. Gripon testified, "So, really he's had 30 years of a history of compliance. Now, there was a period when it was agreed that he could stop medication and it had a tragic outcome. But as far as compliance, he has a better track record of compliance than most people I could bring in here on even long notice." According to Dr. Gripon, no one knows of the need to remain on medication better than Harrison.

Dr. Self also testified that at Vernon, Harrison talked with the psychiatrist about the possibility of stopping medication. Dr. Self did not think it was a unilateral consideration. According to Dr. Self, Harrison's "absolutely complete response" to the medication would tempt a psychiatrist to think Harrison's illness was an episodic disease. On medication, Harrison "completely remits symptoms and is very high functioning." Because of the side effects of these medications, there is an onus on psychiatrists to try to limit their use. Dr. Self testified, "[T]here is something almost compelling about trying to see if the patient really needs that medication." In a highly controlled environment like Vernon, he could understand how a psychiatrist and Harrison might question the need for medication. Dr. Self considered this a turning point because after tapering off the medication Harrison began to have signs of relapse. At that time, Harrison and his psychiatrist made a firm commitment that Harrison had to have the medication, "and there has not been a waiver in him since that date. And that was several years past." Dr. Self further testified, "He probably has a better grasp than the vast majority of people I interact with about the presence of his illness and about the necessity, the absolute necessity for him to maintain medication."

Dr. Self stated that Harrison has been approached about changing his medication to one of the second generation medicines that are better tolerated. Harrison "has adamantly refused to consider that change because Prolixin ^{(3) works and it has worked and it's a consistent delivery system. And he doesn't want to even contemplate changing it because it works so well for him, despite the fact that it causes minor side effects." (4) According to Dr. Self, Harrison has shown insight and knowledge into his illness and current circumstances, and has voiced to Dr. Self the ongoing need for treatment. Dr. Self testified the drugs Harrison takes do not affect his judgment or cognitive abilities except that his psychosis is prevented and holding psychosis in remission improves his judgment. Harrison is able to do some fairly abstract and complex thinking. His rate of thought, ability to initiate thought, and verbal working memory do not seem grossly impacted. Dr. Self thinks Harrison could probably do even better on one of the newer medicines, but Harrison has made "a very reasoned decision to stay with the one that works."}

Dr. Gripon said he would be willing to provide medication management and report any noncompliance. According to Dr. Gripon, if Harrison were to miss an injection, the onset of illness would not be immediate. Dr. Gripon testified,

[T]here's a gradual resumption of symptoms. A person more or less slips into a state of increased psychosis. It's not a dramatic and sudden thing. In fact, the way that medication is distributed through the body or in the system it's actually not completely gone in two weeks. It's just that's [sic] it's substantially less in two weeks. So, another injection is given at that time to give you a flatter, even distribution over the course of a month; and then it's repeated every two weeks. But people who have an exacerbation of the illness of the type that Millet Harrison has, as evidenced by what happened before, it was months before he actually ended up in the state that he was in by early 1994. So, that's not gonna happen over night. It's not gonna happen in two or three days. It's not even gonna happen in a week. But it would happen over a period of a few months.

Dr. Gripon would not say a complete failure of treatment could not happen suddenly, "but it would not happen very often and it wouldn't happen in this case because of his sensitivity and response to treatment that's already been demonstrated for 30 years."

Likewise, Dr. Self testified that if Harrison missed an injection, it was highly unlikely the deterioration would be immediate. The previous deterioration Harrison experienced was a progression over several weeks into very flurried symptoms. Dr. Self stated it is extremely unusual for there to be an abrupt onset of schizophrenic deterioration; it is typically a slow deterioration, unlike some other psychiatric illnesses that can change pretty fast. Dr. Self testified, "Especially with a long-acting medicine, it takes several weeks to wash out that medicine."

Millet Harrison testified he is willing to sign any necessary waivers to allow mental health or medical providers to comply with court orders to report noncompliance of treatment plans. Harrison testified he knows he needs medication and if he ever failed to take it, he would realize something was wrong and want to report it. Harrison said if he thought something was wrong, if he started not sleeping at night, he would immediately contact his doctor because he knows that is a sign of relapse. Harrison said he would go to Spindletop MHMR's ACT program daily if the treatment plan required it. When asked, "What if you didn't like it?", Harrison replied, "I've done many things I didn't like in the past because I knew it would help me eventually." Harrison testified he has not had any symptoms since he has been on medication. He has a side effect from the medication which is a "shake" in his right hand. From the time at Vernon in 1995 when he was taken off medication, Harrison said he learned "that I definitely need my medication." Harrison testified,

[B]efore I went to - before I got sick doctors were telling me they thought I didn't need it. And I told them, I said, 'Well, my doctor told me I need to take it for the rest of my life.' And one doctor said, 'I don't believe that, you know. I think you're doing well enough you don't need it.' So he took me off the medication and he put me on - I started having problems, started having relapse. I didn't realize it was a relapse at first. But what I did, I told the doctor I was having trouble sleeping and he gave me sleeping pills which were experimental sleeping pills. And I thought maybe the sleeping pills might have caused - might have had some affect on my actions back then. I didn't know whether it was lack of medication or the sleeping pills. So, when I got to Vernon I asked the doctor to check it out, take those medications and see whether the lack of medication caused me to do what I did. And I realized that it was the lack of medication. And now I know that and I'll always stay on medication.

Harrison could not foresee any reason why he might just disappear one day; he has family, including a son, in the area. ⁽⁵⁾

If released to a less restrictive environment, Harrison plans to seek gainful employment and would immediately qualify for social security benefits. Harrison is ready and willing to pay whatever portion is needed to participate in a treatment plan. It would be his goal to establish such a compliant, cooperative record that he could assume full responsibility for the cost of his treatments or expenses. Harrison would plan, under whatever cooperative treatment plan would be ordered, to participate in counseling with Dr. Gripon as soon as he is financially able. Harrison is willing to comply with any reporting requirements to maintain a cooperative treatment plan.

Harrison read a statement to the Court in which he expressed his regret. He further stated,

Before doctors in Houston took me off medication I had never heard voices before. And the voices did not come all at once. There were several warning signs that preceded the voices, warning signs that I have since come to recognize. First I had trouble sleeping. Then I became paranoid, thinking that they were out to get me. Then came the delusional thinking, thinking that the world was coming to an end or that people were trying to communicate with me through television or radio. Then came the voices. I do not think that I will ever allow the voices to affect me in the way it had in my mother's case. I will never allow it to get to the voices. I will contact my doctor the moment I start having trouble sleeping or getting paranoid in any sense whatsoever. As a matter of fact, I have not experienced any warning signs of my illness since September, '95, which is when I was placed back on medication.

Harrison said he was hospitalized prior to 1994. The first time was after reporting that he was having trouble sleeping. He went to the Beaumont psychiatric hospital and was told he needed medication, which was given. At that time, he did not realize he had an illness. When he started going back to college at Lamar, he stopped taking his medication for a few days. Harrison informed his doctor he was doing fine and had not taken medication for a couple of days. The doctor told him he should never stop the medication. Harrison started taking the medication again that day. But the next day, he was taken out of classes at Lamar and put back in Beaumont Neurological Hospital. Harrison said he never stopped taking his medication since that time, that he was put back on medication and took it.

Harrison stated he went to a psychiatric hospital one other time. This was after the doctor had taken him off the medication. Harrison was hospitalized after hearing voices while riding on a bus from Dallas to Houston. He did not go back on medication following that incident, and it was after that he killed his mother. Harrison says he recognizes he has to stay on medication the rest of his life.

According to Harrison, it was eighteen or nineteen years from the time of the incident at Lamar until the one with his mother. In that time, Harrison lived a normal life, earned a college degree, a graduate degree, was employed, got married, and got divorced. He was taken off his medication, leading to the deterioration that resulted in the killing of his mother. Harrison testified that while at Vernon, he tried to determine, in that controlled environment, whether the doctors were telling the truth when they thought he did not need medication, or whether it was the sleeping pills that caused him to do what he did. He wanted to find out, he did, and now he knows he needs his medication. Harrison said that since 1995, he has been totally compliant with the medication and will continue to do so for the rest of his life.

The evidence indicates that if Harrison were off his medication, his condition is expected to deteriorate. However, Dr. Self testified Harrison voluntarily takes his medication and Dr. Gripon testified Harrison has a thirty-year history of compliance. Furthermore, the method of delivery ensures objective verification that he has received medication and Dr. Gripon testified he would administer Harrison's medication and report any failure to comply. The evidence established the medicine is long-acting and any degeneration would not be immediate.

Taken as a whole, the evidence supports finding Harrison continues to the meet the criteria for involuntary commitment. He is mentally ill, his condition is expected to continue for more than ninety days, he has received court-ordered inpatient mental health services under article 46.03 for at least sixty consecutive days during the last twelve months, and, without treatment, is likely to cause serious harm to others, or suffer severe and abnormal mental emotional or physical distress and experience deterioration of his ability to function independently and make a rational and informed decision as to whether or not to submit to treatment. Thus, under section 4(d)(5) of article 46.03, the next question is "whether an order should be issued requiring the person to participate in a prescribed regimen of medical, psychiatric, or psychological care or treatment on an out-patient basis as provided in Subdivision (4) of this subsection. If the court determines that the acquitted person continues to meet the criteria for involuntary commitment and that out-patient supervision is not appropriate, the court shall order that the person be returned to a mental hospital. . .."

Both Dr. Self and Dr. Gripon testified that Harrison no longer needs inpatient mental health services. ^{(6) In his report for the year 2003, Dr. Self recommended that Harrison no longer requires the highly restrictive environment of a state hospital in order to be safely and effectively managed in regard to his mental illness and behavior. Dr. Self further recommended placement with family members under the provision that Harrison be provided regular and frequent contact with trained mental health professionals for monitoring of his condition, as well as assistance and support functions. Dr. Self indicated the inclusion of Assertive Community Treatment Team services, which are offered by Spindletop MHMR, would satisfy such a provision. Dr. Self testified the ACT team offers the ability to actually see a patient daily, or several times a day if needed. The team is composed of a nurse, social worker, and case worker, has ready access to a psychiatrist, is capable of furnishing a broad array of support services, and can provide early detection of any signs of relapse, or things that might threaten relapse, such as stressful events.}

According to Dr. Self, support would come not only from the professionals at Spindletop MHMR and Harrison's treating psychiatrist, but also from family members. Dr. Self agreed that family members would be in a unique position to observe and notice any changes in Harrison. Dr. Self testified it is common to have to rely on collateral sources, such as family, friends, or close associates, to help detect early changes.

At Rusk, Harrison resides on a ward where the door remains locked. Someone has to lock and unlock that door for people to come and go, but for patients in which there is a great deal of confidence, some degree of freedom is given. One level of freedom is to have a client-worker job where patients are allowed to perform some task around the hospital for a few hours a day in exchange for minimum wage. Harrison has had a job washing dishes for quite some time, which necessitates his egress from the unit unsupervised on two occasions a day, six days a week. Another level of freedom is unescorted access to the grounds. For several months, Harrison has been granted about an hour and a half to two hours a day when he can go out and walk the park and go to the canteen without someone in attendance.

According to Dr. Self, Harrison does not require inpatient treatment but needs continued medication. The required supervision could be provided through Spindletop MHMR and a supervising psychiatrist, and through family members and friends. Dr. Self stated he believed Harrison capable of obtaining gainful employment, that Harrison is highly motivated, and he would be amazed to see Harrison stay out of the work force. Dr. Self certainly would not encourage him to refrain from working. Dr. Self could see him living safely in the community and would have no problem with Harrison living next door. Dr. Self did recommend Harrison reside with family members at this time. Dr. Self also recommended Harrison receive intensive outpatient monitoring by the ACT team through Spindletop MHMR. Dr. Self would want Harrison to have regular and frequent psychiatric assessments either through Spindletop MHMR or Dr. Gripon, though Dr. Self favored Harrison having access to a private psychiatrist. Dr. Self recommended the treatment plan be ordered and monitored very closely by the court. Dr. Self could think of no reason to return Harrison to Rusk.

Dr. Gripon stated that Harrison has been treated in a less restrictive facility than a maximum security mental health facility for a good while. Harrison was for some period at Vernon. When he reintegrated his thought processes and significantly improved in regard to his mental state, he was transferred to Rusk, where he has been for a number of years. The area of Rusk where he is housed is an open facility. Harrison is allowed to come and go with passes. In Dr. Gripon's opinion, based on reasonable psychiatric probability, Harrison no longer requires inpatient treatment and has "well-compensated" his illness. There has been no evidence of psychotic symptoms for a number of years. In Dr. Gripon's opinion, as long as Harrison remains under appropriate psychiatric care, he is ready to be released to a less restrictive facility, such as living with family. Dr. Gripon testified, "Harrison can reside with any responsible adult individual who was willing to observe and use general common sense in helping him on a day to day basis."

Dr. Gripon had no differences with or objections to Dr. Self's recommendations and report on Harrison. Rusk has very little to offer and over the last several years has consistently recommended discharge to some kind of supervised setting. That setting could involve living with a responsible family member, daily contact with mental health providers, either at MHMR or in the private field, continuing counseling contact and observations on a daily and semi-daily basis, and continuation of biweekly injections. Dr. Gripon testified "there has to be some type of monitoring in which noncompliance would be immediately reported." Dr. Gripon acknowledged that for the most part, the burden of taking medication, compliance with treatment, and follow-up with treatment recommendations would lie with any patient and the patient's family.

Diane Randle is Harrison's niece. She has known Harrison her whole life and is aware of his past and his problems. Diane has been to Rusk to see Harrison. She has no hesitation in allowing Harrison to live with her and said it would not cause a problem with her neighbors. She does not fear for her safety and her family is supportive of Harrison living with her.

It is Diane's understanding that were Harrison released, he would be under specific court orders. Diane was asked what she would do if she were made aware of those orders and saw Harrison fail to comply. Diane said she would call his doctor, Dr. Gripon. If the order said to call the trial judge, Diane said she would do that; she would do whatever the order required. Diane testified that for over six years Harrison had never exhibited to her any thought of stopping his medication, but if he did, she would report it, just as she would if she noticed Harrison were not sleeping at night. According to Diane, there are family members beyond those testifying on Harrison's behalf that would assist and do whatever is necessary to help Harrison comply with the court order.

Diane lives alone and works a full-time job as the secretary at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Beaumont from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday. On Sunday she would have church activities; there would be periods of time during the day Harrison would be unsupervised. Her house is not fenced in and people could come and go from the yard. Diane did not know if she could physically stop Harrison from leaving the house or overpower him. At the time of the killing, Harrison's sister and another niece were in the house. Diane was asked, "[W]ith all those people in the house [Harrison] still did those things . . ." Diane replied, "It was a much larger house than mine."

Diane said she would not allow Harrison to deteriorate to the point of danger to anyone. Other than this incident when Harrison was off his medication, Diane has never known Harrison to be violent or assaultive in any way.

Isaac Randle, Sr., is the father of Diane Randle and Harrison's brother-in-law. Isaac has known Harrison "about all of his life." Isaac is aware of Harrison's mental illness and the treatment he received. Isaac knows of the time period when Harrison was ordered to stop taking his medication and he did so, and the subsequent deterioration that resulted in the death of his mother. Isaac understands that were Harrison allowed to live with Diane she might need some help and is ready and willing to do whatever is necessary to help not only her but also Harrison. Isaac said he would visit Harrison "pretty regular" and if he noticed something odd or different, he would report it. Isaac would report if Harrison said he was not sleeping well or if Isaac noticed Harrison becoming overly anxious. Isaac is willing to assist Harrison in "getting the daily treatments he might need a ride or transportation to." Isaac lives "some distance" from Diane. Isaac did not think there would ever be a time when Harrison might become assaultive to Diane. Isaac has been to Rusk to visit Harrison. They would check him out and spend the whole day in a house Rusk provided for such visits, watch T.V., cook and eat, "basically just spending time with him." Isaac never noticed anything abnormal about Harrison.

Isaac Randle, Jr., is the son of Isaac Randle, Sr. Isaac Jr. is thirty-nine and has known Harrison all his life. Isaac Jr. lives in Corpus Christi. He has not been to see Harrison at Rusk. Isaac Jr. attends family gatherings and functions and said that if in the future he noticed anything out of the ordinary with Harrison he would immediately report it to the doctor. Isaac Jr. said that is the sentiment of the rest of the family.

Rodney Haynes has been a friend of Harrison for several years and knows Diane Randle. Haynes is aware of all the facts regarding Harrison's mental illness and the death of Harrison's mother. Haynes is aware of the conditions and symptoms of Harrison's mental illness and witnessed them for himself during the period of deterioration. If Harrison were released to a less restrictive environment, Haynes would have contact with him, "talk and visiting, more or less." Haynes would be willing to assist in whatever treatment plans were ordered for Harrison. Haynes would be willing to report any symptoms or exhibition of illness. Haynes is ready and willing to assist Diane in whatever she might need. Haynes has seen Harrison at Rusk and observed him interacting with individuals and has no hesitation for the safety of the community if Harrison were allowed to live with Diane. Haynes works straight days at DuPont in Beaumont as an engineer. Haynes would see Harrison evenings or weekends, but not every day.

The evidence set forth above constitutes a scenario for outpatient services consistent with the recommendations of both Dr. Self and Dr. Gripon. Both doctors recommend Harrison's release from inpatient services and both approve the proposed scheme for outpatient services as will be provided by Dr. Gripon, Spindletop MHMR, and Harrison's family. There was no expert testimony recommending Harrison remain an in-patient at Rusk.

The dissent contends there is contrary evidence to that set forth above. At a hearing in February 2003, Dr. Self testified Barbara Fleming told him "that likely they would not provide that specific service but that they could provide another service that would amount to him being visited twice a week, which meets my requirements for routine observation of him by someone trained and skilled and someone that can facilitate him getting the services should he begin to relapse." Fleming testified, "We have the regular adult and we have the act, which is the accelerated . . . he would be - he's too high functioning for that. That's a daily program where the whole act team is available for that one client. . ." It would appear that Fleming's "act team" and Dr. Self's "ACT team" are one and the same. Furthermore, the State never questioned Dr. Self's assertions in the December hearing that ACT services would be available to Harrison. There is no evidence from that hearing suggesting Dr. Self's testimony is incorrect.

The dissent further points to testimony from Barbara Fleming wherein she admitted that if a person stops reporting for treatment or care, sometimes their file may be set aside or closed out, with no further contact. We first note the monitoring scheme proposed by Dr. Self and Dr. Gripon does not rely solely upon MHMR. Even so, section 4, subsection (d)(6), requires MHMR to notify the court if Harrison fails to comply with the court-ordered regimen of out-patient care, or if Harrison's condition deteriorates to the extent that out-patient care is no longer appropriate. Fleming was unaware of any such requirement and when asked if she would notify the court pursuant to a court order, stated, "that would have to go through people higher than I am." It was not ascertained whether the patients MHMR "loses track of" were involuntarily committed and there is no evidence in the record any of those patients were ever acquitted by reason of insanity. We cannot simply assume that MHMR will fail to comply with a court order.

The dissent also relies upon the evidence that Harrison's niece works four days a week and has church activities on Sunday. There is no evidence in the record that Harrison needs constant supervision.

We are aware, as the dissent points out, that our prior opinion states, "Harrison had a history of not taking his medication." Harrison, 1999 WL 160825, at *3. Our conclusion, however, has since been refuted, as the evidence set forth above clearly demonstrates. When the Amarillo court considered Harrison's case in 1999, it noted that Dr. Gripon testified that Harrison's records indicated his medication was discontinued while under a doctor's care. See Harrison, 1999 WL 994378, at * 3. At the December hearing, Dr. Self testified Harrison voluntarily takes his medication. Dr. Gripon testified Harrison has a thirty-year history of compliance, with two exceptions, both times with a doctor's approval. Our conclusory statement in a prior opinion cannot be relied upon as evidence in light of the uncontested testimony presented last December.

For all these reasons, we conclude the trial court's finding that out-patient supervision is not appropriate is not supported by the record. Therefore, we reverse the judgment of the trial court and remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. ⁽⁷⁾

Our resolution of these issues makes it unnecessary to address Harrison's third issue. REVERSED AND REMANDED.

________________________________

DON BURGESS

Justice

Submitted on July 2, 2004

Opinion Delivered October 27, 2004

Publish

Before McKeithen, C.J., Burgess, and Gaultney, JJ.

DISSENTING OPINION  

The purpose of a civil commitment of a violent insanity acquittee is not only to treat the individual's mental illness but also "to protect him and society from his potential dangerousness." See Jones v. United States, 463 U.S. 354, 368, 103 S. Ct. 3043, 77 L. Ed. 2d 694 (1983). The Texas Legislature has imposed a requirement that a violently insane acquittee "may only be discharged by order of the committing court in accordance with the procedures specified in this subsection." See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 46.03, § (4)(d)(5) (Vernon Supp. 2004). "The concern motivating the judicial release requirement" is "protecting the public from a dangerous and mentally unstable individual." State v. Roland, 973 S.W.2d 665, 667 (Tex. 1998).

The judicial release provision, article 46.03, section (4)(d)(5), says that if the court finds the acquittee meets "the criteria for involuntary commitment" and "outpatient supervision is not appropriate," the court "shall order that the person be returned to a mental hospital or other appropriate inpatient or residential facility." See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 46.03, § 4(d)(5) (Vernon Supp. 2004). Therefore, in considering a judicial release under section 4(d)(5), the committing court must decide 1) whether the acquittee meets the criteria for involuntary commitment, and 2) whether outpatient supervision is appropriate. I agree Harrison meets the criteria for involuntary commitment. I disagree with the majority's reversal of the trial court's decision on the inappropriateness of the outpatient supervision requested by Harrison.

This is not the first time this Court has considered Harrison's argument. See Harrison v. State, 1999 WL 160825 (Tex. App.--Beaumont Mar. 24, 1999, no pet.) (not designated for publication). The Court wrote then as follows:

Harrison has a twenty year history of schizophrenia. In 1993, Harrison strangled his mother, then mutilated her body by cutting off her head, cutting out her heart, and cutting out her eyes.

. . . .

Harrison continues to suffer from chronic paranoid schizophrenia. Harrison had a history of not taking his medication. Although he has responded to treatment with psychotropic medications in an in-patient setting, none of the doctors suggested Harrison is capable of maintaining medication on his own, and no alternative treatment facility was available. Although he recommended outpatient commitment rather than continued in-patient treatment, the facts stated in Dr. Korman's report support the required findings under Health and Safety Code Section 574.035 (a)(1)(2)(C) and (3). None of the doctors suggested releasing Harrison from court-ordered mental health services. Although in the opinion of all three doctors Harrison is not a threat to others so long as he receives treatment, it is clear from the reports and Harrison's patient history that dire consequences would result from a discontinuation of that treatment. The evidence tends to confirm the likelihood that absent treatment Harrison would suffer distress and deterioration of his ability to function or that he would seriously harm others.

Id. at *2, 3.

Harrison meets all the criteria for court-ordered treatment on an inpatient basis. He is mentally ill. See Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. § 574.035(a)(1) (Vernon 2003 & Supp. 2004). Absent treatment, he is likely to cause serious harm to others. Id. at § 574.035 (a)(2)(B). His mental illness is incurable. The condition is "expected to continue for more than 90 days." Id. at § 574.035(a)(3). He has received court-ordered inpatient health services "for a least 60 consecutive days during the preceding 12 months." Id. at § 574.035(a)(4). Under article 46.03, if an acquittee meets the criteria for involuntary commitment, the committing court may nevertheless consider the appropriateness of outpatient supervision. See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 46.03, § 4(d) (5) (Vernon Supp. 2004). But the appropriateness of outpatient supervision is not merely a treatment issue. Rather, the decision includes consideration of the difficulty in monitoring compliance and assuring public safety. See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art, 44.03, § 4(d)(6) (Vernon Supp. 2004).

In determining the appropriateness of outpatient supervision, the committing court's focus is the same as that of the statute: the outpatient supervision must be able to assure compliance with the treatment regimen, monitor the acquittee, and timely detect deterioration of his condition. See id. The majority notes Dr. Self felt that intensive outpatient monitoring of Harrison by the ACT team through Spindletop MHMR would satisfy Harrison's need for regular and frequent contact with trained mental health care professionals. In December 2003, Dr. Self testified ACT services are "services offered by the community health centers, Spindletop in this case." In February 2003, the trial court heard Dr. Self testify Spindletop did not provide the specific ACT service, though one of its other services meets Dr. Self's requirements. And in February 2003, a representative from Spindletop testified MHMR sometimes loses track of patients:

Q. [State's counsel] Ms. Fleming, if I understood you right, you prefer that if Millet Harrison is not reporting to M.H.M.R., that some family member call the Court and notify the Court that he's not in compliance.

A. [Spindletop Representative] Well, we can't.

Q. You can't call the Court and say --

A. Do that.

Q. -- "Millet didn't come for his injection today." Is that correct?

A. We don't normally do that.

Q. Do you experience sometimes at M.H.M.R. that if a person stops reporting to M.H.M.R. for treatment or care that sometimes their files may be just set aside or closed out, just no further contact with M.H.M.R. with this patient? Is that true?

A. Yeah. They usually surface at a state hospital or other psychiatric facilities.

Q. After they've gotten away from the medication, problems come up and they appear somewhere in the system.

A. Uh-huh.

Q. Is that a "yes"?

A. Usually -- well, the one thing that can be done, if he's not in compliance and begins to not show up, is that they would inform me; and then I could pursue attempting to get ahold of him by family and whatever means.

Q. But if you can't get ahold of him or family, you-all can't call the Court and say, "We didn't see Millet today."

A. I'm not saying we absolutely could not.

Q. But you generally don't.

A. We're just so -- we have so many clients and we're so busy, it would be easy at times to overlook that. But we do have secretaries that, if an appointment is missed, they call to find out if it needs to be rescheduled or when they want to reschedule.

Q. But like you said, many times a person does not appear and you don't see them again until they surface somewhere in a mental hospital somewhere down the road; is that correct?

A. Yes.

Q. Thank you, ma'am.

The trial court concluded the Spindletop MHMR facility would not provide adequate supervision for Harrison. Dr. Gripon testified there has to be some type of monitoring in which noncompliance would be immediately reported. Harrison's niece, with whom he would be living, works full-time, and the court concluded she could not provide sufficient supervision. Texas law does not require that the committing court allow inadequate outpatient supervision of a violently insane acquittee.

No expert suggests Harrison should be released from court-ordered treatment. Nevertheless, the majority's decision is grounded in part on a conclusion there is no evidence demonstrating Harrison would not voluntarily take his medication. The majority goes so far as to reject this Court's reference in a prior opinion to Harrison's "history of not taking his medication." See Harrison, 1999 WL 160825, at *3. But even the criteria for court-ordered outpatient treatment under the Health and Safety Code requires a finding, by clear and convincing evidence, that "the proposed patient has an inability to participate in outpatient treatment services effectively and voluntarily . . . ." See Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. § 574.035(b)(2)(D) (Vernon Supp. 2004). I do not believe it is appropriate to rely on voluntary treatment in assessing the adequacy of available supervision to assure Harrison's compliance. The majority does not suggest Harrison should be released from court-ordered treatment and allowed to make his own treatment decisions. Court-ordered treatment is required because voluntary compliance is unreliable. The facts establish Harrison has a mental illness that, when untreated, makes impossible a rational and informed decision by Harrison to submit to voluntary treatment. If he does not take the medication he is a danger to others. He meets the criteria for court-ordered inpatient treatment and he may be ordered to take psychoactive medication. ⁽⁸⁾ The majority errs in reversing the committing court's judgment that outpatient supervision is inappropriate. I believe the committing court charged with the statutory responsibility for the supervision is entitled to deference in making that discretionary judgment. The judge considered the difficulties of the suggested supervision and found the requested outpatient supervision inappropriate. I would affirm. Because the majority does not, I respectfully dissent.

_________________________________

DAVID GAULTNEY

Dissent Delivered

October 27, 2004

1.

¹All references to article 46.03 in this opinion are to this Act.

2. ²The 2003 amendment was effective January 1, 2004, and therefore is not applicable to this case. However, it is not substantive but only reflects the repeal of article 46.02 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and its replacement by Chapter 46B. All references in this opinion to section 574.035(a) are to this Act.

3. ³Harrison takes Prolixin decanoate, the generic name is Fluphenazine, a time-release form of an antipsychotic. Given in an oil immersion that is injected every two weeks, it produces a blood level that is sustained over that two-week period.

4. ⁴The side effects Harrison experiences are tremors in his upper extremities. Harrison takes medicine at night to stop the tremors during sleep; during the daytime he tolerates a mild tremor.

5. ⁵His son is now twenty-one and attending college in Houston.

6. ⁶As both prior opinions indicate, that has not always been Dr. Gripon's position. See Harrison v. State, No. 09-98-134-CR, 1999 WL 160825 (Tex. App.--Beaumont Mar. 24, 1999, no pet.) (not designated for publication); Harrison v. State, No. 07-99-0259-CR, 1999 WL 994378 (Tex. App.--Amarillo Nov. 2, 1999, no pet.) (not designated for publication).

7. ⁷Pursuant to article 46.03, section 4 (d)(4), it is within the trial court's discretion to determine the appropriate regimen of medical, psychiatric, or psychological care or treatment, which could include psychoactive medications. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 46.03, § 4 (d)(4) (Vernon Supp. 2004).

8.

⁸The Heath and Safety Code provides in part, "A judge may advise, but may not compel, the proposed patient to: (1) receive treatment with psychoactive medication as specified by the outpatient mental health services treatment plan . . ." See Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. § 574.035(j)(1) (Vernon Supp. 2004) (emphasis added). But article 46.03, section 4(d) says the committing court may order a prescribed regimen of medical, psychiatric, or psychological care or treatment. Harrison meets the criteria for court-ordered inpatient treatment. He may be ordered to take the medication. See article 46.03, section 4(d).