Acquittal by reason of insanity: Defendant to be examined; hearing to be held to determine whether defendant is mentally ill; procedure for committing defendant to custody of Division of Public and Behavioral Health.
Nev. Rev. Stat. § 175.539
in effect1. Where on a trial a defense of insanity is interposed by the defendant and the defendant is acquitted by reason of that defense, the finding of the jury pending the judicial determination pursuant to subsection 2 has the same effect as if the defendant were regularly adjudged insane, and the judge must:
(a) Order a peace officer to take the person into protective custody and transport the person to a forensic facility for detention pending a hearing to determine the persons mental health;
(b) Order the examination of the person by two psychiatrists, two psychologists, or one psychiatrist and one psychologist who are employed by a division facility; and
(c) At a hearing in open court, receive the report of the examining advisers and allow counsel for the State and for the person to examine the advisers, introduce other evidence and cross-examine witnesses.
2. If the court finds, after the hearing:
(a) That there is not clear and convincing evidence that the person is a person with mental illness, the court must order the persons discharge; or
(b) That there is clear and convincing evidence that the person is a person with mental illness, the court must order that the person be committed to the custody of the Administrator of the Division of Public and Behavioral Health of the Department of Human Services until the person is discharged or conditionally released therefrom in accordance with NRS 178.467 to 178.471 , inclusive.
Ê The court shall issue its finding within 90 days after the defendant is acquitted.
3. The Administrator shall make the reports and the court shall proceed in the manner provided in NRS 178.467 to 178.471 , inclusive.
4. If the court accepts a verdict acquitting a defendant by reason of insanity pursuant to this section, the court shall cause, within 5 business days after accepting the verdict, on a form prescribed by the Department of Public Safety, a record of that verdict to be transmitted to the Central Repository for Nevada Records of Criminal History, along with a statement indicating that the record is being transmitted for inclusion in each appropriate database of the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.
5. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) Division facility has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 433.094 .
(b) Forensic facility means a secure facility of the Division of Public and Behavioral Health of the Department of Human Services or unit thereof, designated by the Division as appropriate for the evaluation and treatment of offenders and defendants with mental disorders as defined in NRS 178.3985 . The term includes, without limitation, Lakes Crossing Center.
(c) National Instant Criminal Background Check System has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 179A.062 .
(d) Person with mental illness has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 178.3986 .
Source: NV Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/NRS-175.htmlFetched: 10/4/2026