One Click Case Law for § 15-11-151
O.C.G.A. § 15-11-150 <-- --> O.C.G.A. §15-11-152

2010 Georgia Code

TITLE 15 - COURTS

CHAPTER 11 - JUVENILE PROCEEDINGS
ARTICLE 4 - MENTAL HEALTH
§ 15-11-151 - Definitions

O.C.G.A. 15-11-151 (2010)
15-11-151. Definitions


As used in this article, the term:

(1) "Dependent" means a child who is alleged to have committed a delinquent or unruly act, is found not mentally competent to stand trial by the court, and has charges pending which have not been dismissed by the court.

(2) "Judge" means any judge, associate judge, or judge pro tempore of the court exercising jurisdiction over juvenile matters.

(3) "Mental competency plan" means an interagency treatment, habilitation, support, or supervision plan developed at an interagency meeting of state or local agency representatives, parties, and other interested persons, which is achievable within the limits of current resources, following a court's finding that a child is not mentally competent and dependent upon the court and submitted to the court for approval as part of the disposition of the dependency case. The goal of a mental competency plan is supervision, to bring or restore the child to mental competency such that he or she is able to participate in adjudication, a disposition hearing for delinquency or unruliness, or a proceeding regarding transfer to superior court.

(4) "Mental competency proceedings" means hearings conducted to determine whether a child is mentally competent to participate in adjudication, a disposition hearing, or a transfer proceeding held pursuant to this chapter.

(5) "Mentally competent" means having sufficient present ability to understand the nature and objectives of the proceedings, against himself or herself, to comprehend his or her own situation in relation to the proceedings, and to render assistance to the defense attorney in the preparation and presentation of his or her case in all adjudication, disposition, or transfer hearings held pursuant to this chapter. The child's age or immaturity may be used as the basis for determining the child's competency.

(6) "Mentally ill" means having a disorder of thought or mood which significantly impairs judgment, behavior, capacity to recognize reality, or ability to cope with the ordinary demands of life.

(7) "Mental retardation" means a state of significant subaverage general intellectual functioning existing concurrently with deficits in adaptive behavior and originating in the developmental period.

(8) "Plan manager" means a person who is under the supervision of the court and is appointed by the court to convene a meeting of all relevant parties for the purpose of developing a mental competency plan. Said person is responsible for collecting all previous histories of the child including evaluations, assessments, and school records.

(9) "Qualified examiner" means a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist who has expertise in child development and has received training in forensic evaluation procedures through formal instruction, professional supervision, or both.