Source: https://www.in.gov/judiciary/opinions/previous/archive/021601.wig.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 02:08:46+00:00

Document:
Brian Rodgers appeals the denial of his petition for education credit time under Indiana Code Section 35-50-6-3.3. We reverse and remand.
Whether the trial court properly denied Rodgers' petition for education credit under Indiana Code Section 35-50-6-3.3 where Rodgers received a general education development ("GED") diploma while in a regional community corrections work release program.
In July 1996, Rodgers pled guilty to charges of theft, a class D felony, and possession of a controlled substance, a class D felony. In August 1996, Rodgers was sentenced to a three year suspended sentence under supervised probation. As a condition of the probation, he was required to complete three years in the Wabash Valley Regional Community Corrections work release program.See footnote 1 In October 1996, Rodgers obtained a GED diploma. Rodgers then petitioned the trial court for education credit pursuant to Indiana Code Section 35-50-6-3.3. The trial court denied Rodgers' petition.
While the State is correct in its general assertion that a person cannot earn credit time while on parole or probation, that restriction does not apply where the person is in a community corrections program. Ind. Code § 35-38-2.6-6. Although Rodgers was on probation when he requested his education credit, he received his GED while he was in a community corrections program. There is no statute requiring that a person request education credit while in the community corrections program. Rather, Indiana Code Section 35-38-2.6-6 states that a person placed in a community corrections program is entitled to earn credit time while in the program. Since Rodgers completed the GED requirements while in the community corrections program, we conclude that his request properly falls under the education credit statute and is not restricted by Indiana Code Section 35-50-6-6. Thus, we turn to the State's second argument -- that Rodgers should be denied credit time because he violated his probation and did not demonstrate a pattern consistent with rehabilitation.
is necessary, as it pertains to "good time" credit because, in order to receive "good time" credit, a person must be imprisoned and cannot earn the credit while on parole or probation. Ind. Code § 35-50-6-6.
State argues that therefore Rodgers did not demonstrate a pattern consistent with rehabilitation and so is not entitled to the education credit. We must thus decide whether the trial court may use the probation violations as evidence of Rodgers' failure to demonstrate a pattern consistent with rehabilitation or whether Indiana Code Section 35-50-6-5, which states that a probation violation may not be used as the basis for deprivation of earned credit time, bars this action. In order to answer this question we must first determine whether Rodgers had already "earned" the credit time, thus making the trial court's actions a deprivation of credit time.
In addition to following the plain language of the statute, our conclusion furthers the purposes of the credit time statutes. The purpose in enacting the "good time" credit statutes was to encourage inmates to behave well while confined and to help prison authorities maintain order and control. State v. Eckhardt, 687 N.E.2d 374, 376 (Ind. Ct. App. 1997). We surmise that the purpose of education credit time is to encourage inmates to educate themselves during their confinement period in the hope that they will be rehabilitated and become more productive members of society upon their release. Encouraging inmates in this regard subsequently furthers the original goals of the "good time" credit statute. Inmates should be rewarded for earning diplomas and degrees and for remaining on good behavior during the time period in which they are working to successfully complete the requirements for the diplomas and degrees.
court. See Miller v. Walker, 655 N.E.2d 47, 49 (Ind. 1995); Ind. Code § 35-50-6-3.3.
BAKER, J. and ROBB, J. concur.
Footnote: 1 In Gardner v. State, 678 N.E.2d 398, 401 (Ind. Ct. App. 1997) the court recognized the anomalies presented by the implementation by the legislature of alternative programs such as community corrections placements while referring to them as forms of probation. See Ind. Code § 35-38-2-2.3. For purposes of this opinion we need not delve into them.
Footnote: 2 This statute also provides that "[a] person placed in a community corrections program under this chapter may be deprived of earned credit time as provided under rules adopted by the department of correction under IND. CODE 4-22-2." Ind. Code § 35-38-2.6-6(b). However, we have not located any rules adopted by the Department of Correction pertaining to credit time.
Footnote: 3 In his petition for credit time, Rodgers stated that he was assigned to credit Class I while at the Wabash Valley Community Corrections Center.
Footnote: 4 Community Corrections filed notice of a probation violation on October 15, 1997, approximately one month before Rodgers filed his petition for credit time. Probation then filed notice of a probation violation on January 9, 1998, four days before the trial court denied Rodgers' petition for credit time.
Footnote: 5 Before a person may be deprived of earned credit time, the person must be granted a hearing to determine his guilt or innocence of certain violations and, if found guilty, whether deprivation of earned credit time is an appropriate disciplinary action for the violation. Ind. Code § 35-50-6-5(b).

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