Example of Normalized English Input to NLESB


Normalized English has been developed by Layman E. Allen and his colleagues; see for example, Layman E. Allen, ``Language, Law and Logic: Plain Legal Drafting for the Electronic Age,'' Computer Science and Law (Bryan Niblett ed.), 1980, pp. 75-100. Normalized language has been used in the Tennessee statutes (Tenn. Code Ann. sect. 33-6-104(a) (1991)).

An example of the form of Normalized English used as input to the NLESB system follows. Note that the formatting is for the sake of readability, and is not necessary for NLESB.

Subsection (a). IF AND ONLY IF (1)(A) A person has threatened or attempted suicide or to inflict serious bodily harm on himself, OR (B) The person has threatened or attempted homicide or other violent behavior, OR (C) The person has placed others in reasonable fear of violent behavior and serious physical harm to them, OR (D) The person is unable to avoid severe impairment or injury from specific risks, AND (2) There is a substantial likelihood that such harm will occur, THEN (3) The person poses a "substantial likelihood of serious harm" for purposes of subsection (b). Subsection (b). IF AND ONLY IF (1) A person is mentally ill, AND (2) The person poses a substantial likelihood of serious harm because of the mental illness, AND (3) The person needs care, training, or treatment because of the mental illness, AND (4) All available less drastic alternatives to placement in a hospital or treatment resource are unsuitable to meet the needs of the person, THEN (5) The person may be judicially committed to involuntary care and treatment in a hospital or treatment resource.
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Last updated: 96/06/07