Section 702.3.
Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 702.3.
in effectNotwithstanding any other provision of law:
(a)
When a minor denies, by a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, the allegations of a petition filed pursuant to Section 602 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, and also joins with that denial a general denial of the conduct alleged in the petition, he or she shall first be subject to a hearing as if he or she had made no allegation of insanity. If the petition is sustained or if the minor denies the allegations only by reason of insanity, then a hearing shall be held on the question of whether the minor was insane at the time the offense
was committed.
(b)
If the court finds that the minor was insane at the time the offense was committed, the court, unless it appears to the court that the minor has fully recovered his or her sanity, shall direct that the minor be confined in a state hospital for the care and treatment of the mentally disordered or any other appropriate public or private mental health facility approved by the community program director, or the court may order the minor to undergo outpatient treatment as specified in Title 15 (commencing with Section 1600) of Part 2 of the Penal Code. The court shall transmit a copy of its order to the community program director or his or her designee. If the allegations of the petition specifying any felony are found to be true, the court shall direct that the minor be confined in a state hospital or other public or private mental health facility approved by the community program director for a minimum of 180 days, before the
minor may be released on outpatient treatment. Prior to making the order directing that the minor be confined in a state hospital or other facility or ordered to undergo outpatient treatment, the court shall order the community program director or his or her designee to evaluate the minor and to submit to the court within 15 judicial days of the order his or her written recommendation as to whether the minor should be required to undergo outpatient treatment or committed to a state hospital or another mental health facility. If, however, it shall appear to the court that the minor has fully recovered his or her sanity the minor shall be remanded to the custody of the probation department until his or her sanity shall have been finally determined in the manner prescribed by law. A minor committed to a state hospital or other facility or ordered to undergo outpatient treatment shall not be released from confinement or the required outpatient treatment unless and until the court which committed him or her
shall, after notice and hearing, in the manner provided in Section 1026.2 of the Penal Code, find and determine that his or her sanity has been restored.
(c)
When the court, after considering the placement recommendation for the community program director required in subdivision (b), orders that the minor be confined in a state hospital or other public or private mental health facility, the court shall provide copies of the following documents which shall be taken with the minor to the state hospital or other treatment facility where the minor is to be confined:
(1)
The commitment order, including a specification of the charges.
(2)
The computation or statement setting forth the maximum time of commitment in accordance with Section 1026.5 and subdivision (e).
(3)
A computation or statement setting forth the amount of credit, if any, to be deducted from the maximum term of commitment.
(4)
State Summary Criminal History information.
(5)
Any arrest or detention reports prepared by the police department or other law enforcement agency.
(6)
Any court-ordered psychiatric examination or evaluation reports.
(7)
The community program director’s placement recommendation report.
(d)
The procedures set forth in Sections 1026, 1026.1, 1026.2, 1026.3, 1026.4, 1026.5, and 1027 of the Penal Code, and in Title 15 (commencing with Section 1600) of Part 2 of the Penal Code, shall be applicable to minors pursuant to this section, except that, in cases
involving minors, the probation department rather than the sheriff, shall have jurisdiction over the minor.
(e)
No minor may be committed pursuant to this section for a period longer than the jurisdictional limits of the juvenile court, pursuant to Section 607, unless, at the conclusion of the commitment, by reason of a mental disease, defect, or disorder, he or she represents a substantial danger of physical harm to others, in which case the commitment for care and treatment beyond the jurisdictional age may be extended by proceedings in superior court in accordance with and under the circumstances specified in subdivision (b) of Section 1026.5 of the Penal Code.
(f)
The provision of a jury trial in superior court on the issue of extension of commitment shall not be construed to authorize the determination of any issue in juvenile court proceedings to be made by a
jury.
References
referencesCal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 602.
referencesCal. Penal Code - PEN § 1600.
referencesCal. Penal Code - PEN § 1026.2.
referencesCal. Penal Code - PEN § 1026.
referencesCal. Penal Code - PEN § 1026.1.
referencesCal. Penal Code - PEN § 1026.3.
referencesCal. Penal Code - PEN § 1026.4.
referencesCal. Penal Code - PEN § 1026.5.
referencesCal. Penal Code - PEN § 1027.
referencesCal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 1026.5.
referencesCal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 607.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026