Document: 482 U.S. 423 107 S.Ct. 2446 96 L.Ed.2d 351 James Ernest MILLER, Petitionerv.FLORIDA. No. 86-5344. Argued April 21, 1987. Decided June 9, Syllabus Florida's sentencing guidelines law assigns points for particular offenses and other factors provides a presumptive sentence range defendant's composite score, within which the judge has unreviewable discretion to fix without written explanation. If wishes depart from range, however, he must give clear convincing reasons based on facts proved beyond reasonable doubt, imposes is subject appellate review. At time petitioner committed sexual battery crimes was convicted, would have resulted in of 31/2 41/2 years' imprisonment. However, were subsequently revised increase number assigned offenses, and, at sentenced, called 51/2 7 years his crimes. The judge, rejecting petitioner's ex post facto argument, applied impose 7-year sentence. State District Court Appeal vacated sentence, but Supreme reversed. Held: Application petitioner, whose occurred before law's effective date, violates Ex Post Facto Clause Article I Federal Constitution. evidences all elements necessary bring it prohibition. Pp. 429-435. (a) retrospective that changes legal consequences acts its date. State's argument there no violation since continuous review thereby gave "fair warning" be sentenced under effect date not persuasive, did warn specific punishment prescribed prohibition cannot avoided merely by adding notice obvious fact might changed. 430-431. (b) more onerous than crimes, substantially disadvantages similarly situated offenders ameliorative features. contention change laws disadvantageous because trial could imposed old departing then existence merit, foreclosed ability challenge new range. 431—433. (c) procedural change, increases quantum offenses. operates only as "procedural guidepost" exercise judicial same statutorily limits persuasive. Appeals decisions cited authority, sustained United States Parole Commission's against claims, are inapposite. Unlike federal guidelines, enacted state legislature force law. Nor do simply provide flexible "guideposts," instead create strict standards met can Moreover, directly adversely affect receives. 433-435. 488 So.2d 820, reversed remanded. O'CONNOR, J., delivered opinion unanimous Court. Anthony Calvello, West Palm Beach, Fla., petitioner. Joy B. Shearer, respondent. Justice O'CONNOR 1 crime prison. court question presented whether application these amended case unconstitutional virtue Clause. 2 * In 1983, Florida Legislature legislation replacing system indeterminate with scheme intended "to eliminate unwarranted variation process." Fla.Rule Crim.Proc. 3.701(b) (1983). See 1983 Fla. Laws, ch. 83-216. Under statute, commission responsible "the initial development statewide guidelines." Fla.Stat. § 921.001(1) Once had made recommendation, develop final guidelines. These become or after October 1, 1983. 921.001(4)(a) 3 statute authorized "meet annually call chairman practices recommend modifications 921.001(3) Before convening each year, make recommendations regarding need revise conform part commission's recommendations. provided, such revisions "only upon subsequent adoption implementing revised." 921.001(4)(b) 4 accordance this legislation, developed went into re Rules Criminal Procedure (Sentencing Guidelines), 439 848 (Fla.1983). scheme, grouped nine "offense categories" (e.g., "robbery" "sexual offenses"). A single "scoresheet" prepared "primary offense," defined "with highest statutory degree" conviction. Rule 3.701(d) scoring primary offense, additional conviction, prior record, status victim injury. total point score compared chart offense category, provided score. 5 "assumed appropriate offender." 3.701(d)(8) Within recommended "without requirement explanation." Ibid. wished guideline writing doing so: 6 "Departures should unless warrant aggravating mitigating Any outside accompanied statement delineating departure. Reasons deviating shall include relating either instant arrests convictions been obtained." 3.701(d)(11) "clear convincing" standard construed requiring "of weight produce mind firm belief hesitancy, departure warranted." v. Mischler, 523, 525 (Fla.1986). Only those sentences fall guidelines' 921.001(5) 8 Petitioner convicted August 1984 counts slight force, second-degree felony, Stat. 794.011(5) (Supp.1984); burglary an assault, felony "first degree punishable . life," 810.02 (1983); petit theft, misdemeanor, 812.014(2)(c) On 25, 1984, when committed, adopted still effect. May 8, proposed several Bar: Amendment (3.701, 3.988—Sentencing 451 824 (1984). changes, see 84-328, became July 1984. When 2, therefore, 9 two relevant here. First, changed definition offense" degree," results most severe range." So.2d, 824, n. This assault—the higher degree—to battery. does argue here itself Tr. Oral Arg. 6. As result definition, affected another law: 20% Florida, comments accompanying described change: "The revision will both increased rates length incarceration offenders." increase, jumped years. App. 12. 10 hearing contended apply determining Alternatively, argued if earlier Id., 8-9. ruled apply. Concluding "stay guidelines," term imprisonment assault count. 10. received concurrent count, served misdemeanor charge. 6, 11. 11 appeal, Appeal, relying Court's decision Weaver Graham, 450 24, 101 960, 67 17 (1981), remanded resentencing committed. 468 1018 (1985). remanding case, noted possible applicable stated writing." 12 820 (1986). summary opinion, concluded Jackson, 478 1054 (Fla.1985), established may defendant pursuant sentencing." 820. emphasized offense." 1056. basis, modification procedure "merely doctrine" Dobbert 432 282, 97 2290, 53 344 (1977). 13 We granted certiorari, 479 455, 93 401 (1986), now reverse. II 14 Constitution neither Congress nor any pass "ex Law." Art. I, cl. 3; 10, 1. Our understanding what meant largely derives Calder Bull, Dall. 386, L.Ed. 648 (1798), first considered scope Calder, Chase, noting expression facto" "had use long revolution," id., 391, summarized fell "within words intent prohibition": 15 "1st. Every makes action done passing law, innocent done, criminal; punishes action. 2d. aggravates crime, greater was, 3d. punishment, inflicts annexed 4th. alters rules evidence, receives less, different testimony, required order convict 390 (emphasis omitted). 16 Accord, supra, 292, S.Ct., 2297, quoting Beazell Ohio, 269 167, 169-170, 46 68, 68-69, 70 216 (1925). Chase explained reason Clauses included assure legislatures restrained enacting arbitrary vindictive legislation. Dall., 389. Justices Paterson Iredell, their separate opinions likewise aimed preventing legislative abuses. 396 (Paterson, J.); 399-400 (Iredell, J.). also Malloy South Carolina, 237 180, 183, 35 507, 508, 59 905 (1915); States, 366 213, 247, 3, 81 1052, 1070 246 (1961) (separate Harlan, addition, Justices' well early authorities, indicate second concern, namely, enactments "give fair warning permit individuals rely meaning until explicitly changed." 28-29, 964. 388 (Chase, W. Blackstone, Commentaries *46. Thus, almost outset, we recognized central concern lack governmental restraint consummated." Weaver, U.S., 30, 965. 18 test criminal principles. prohibition, critical present: first, "must retrospective, is, events occurring enactment"; second, "it disadvantage offender it." 29, held occurs alter "substantial personal rights," "modes matters substance." 293, 2298. 170-171, 69. Respondent contends impermissibly disadvantage; respondent change. consider claims turn. 19 "changes completed date." 31, clearly satisfies standard. nevertheless violated "on face recommendation Brief 27-28. Relying our Dobbert, argues sufficient given 28. 20 view, scant support pinched construction capital murders took place later invalid. imposition death penalty therefore "in effect" concerns satisfied books warned him first-degree murders. 298, 2300. Here, contrast, acted 51/2- crime. law—like law—was revision. constitutional 21 It "axiomatic law." 294, 2299. Looking points, defendants. (the purpose "increas[e] [the] offenders"). Considering whole result. where found "totality wrought work change," 296-297, 2300, able identify feature ameliorative. 22 maintains "cannot show definitively gotten lesser sentence." 29. Lindsey Washington, 301 397, 57 797, 1182 (1937). Lindsey, maximum years, minimum less six months. mandatory 15-year Finding facto, determined "we inquire technically crime," "[i]t plainly substantial petitioners deprived opportunity receive them freedom custody control expiration term." 401-402, 799. establishes "that one barred challenging penal code grounds old." 300, 2302. 23 "substantially disadvantaged" laws. To 31/2-41/2 result, departure, determination reviewable appeal. By reasons, otherwise, imposing unreviewable. even "technically [petitioner's] 401, 799, longer 24 Finally, detriment, restrict "legislative remedies modes Hence, "not ingredients offence ultimate establish guilt." Hopt Utah, 110 574, 590, 202, 210, 28 262 (1884). 293-294, 2298 ("The altered methods employed imposed; attached crime"). hand, right "even takes seemingly form." 12, 964, 25 Although distinction between substance sometimes prove elusive, issue appears little about deemed procedural. wise method followed sentence; inserts larger equation. acknowledge sole punish sex heavily: amendment to, did, "quantum punishment" category 26 objects misleading view apart whole. Courts sustaining urges guide channel" judge's discretion. 35. See, e.g., Wallace Christensen, 802 F.2d 1539 (CA9 1986) (en banc); Yamamoto Comm'n, 794 1295 (CA8 1986); Dufresne Baer, 744 1543 (CA11 1984), cert. denied, 474 817, 106 61, 88 49 (1985); Warren 212 U.S.App.D.C. 137, 659 183 455 950, 102 1454, 71 665 (1982). Portley Grossman, 444 1311, 100 714, 62 723 (1980) (REHNQUIST, chambers). Invoking reasoning cases, limits. 27 find parole cases courts upheld articulated why majority "laws" purposes 1553-1554 (citing cases). Other rationalize discretion, thus violate 149, F.2d, 195; 1312, 714. some constitute violation. 1549-1550. None arguably applies Legislature, Cf. Williams State, 500 501, 503 (Fla.1986) (departure supported erroneous though consented, "a confer authority illegal sentence"). "guideposts" discretion: instead, they high hurdle cleared exercised, so finding reasons" "credible," "proven doubt," factor already weighed arriving 525; 492 1308, 1309 Compare S.Rep. 98-225, p. 38 (1983) (describing "unfettered discretion" Commission guidelines). conclude, "[t]he present indicted, therefor, quantity proof guilt, remained unaffected statute." III 29 like "makes enactment." 36, 968. Accordingly, void reverse judgment remand further proceedings inconsistent opinion. 30 ordered.

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