Source: http://openjurist.org/994/f2d/149/united-states-v-l-voda
Timestamp: 2013-06-20 01:32:50
Document Index: 51646588

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 3563', '§ 5', '§ 5', '§ 3563', '§ 5', '§ 5', '§ 5', '§ 3572', '§ 5', '§ 3569', '§ 3572', '§ 3572', '§ 5']

In other cases, courts rejected prisoners' requests to be sentenced to particular jails, holding that only the Bureau of Prisons has that authority. See, e.g., Johnson v. Moore, 948 F.2d 517, 519 (9th Cir.1991) (rejecting prisoner's section 1983 action challenging decision of Bureau of Prisons to transfer prisoner to new jail); Barden v. Keohane, 921 F.2d 476, 479-83 (3d Cir.1990). It is clear that the district court lacked the authority to designate the place of confinement in sentencing Voda under section 3563(b)(11).
The United States argues that even if the district court lacked the authority to designate the place of incarceration under 3563(b)(11), the designation of Mansfield was permitted under section 3563(b)(12), which, it asserts, allows a district court to designate the community corrections facility at which one is required to reside.5 Section 3563(b)(12) provides that as a condition of probation a convict may be required to "reside at, or participate in the program of, a community corrections facility (including a facility maintained or under contract to the Bureau of Prisons) for all or part of the term of probation." 18 U.S.C. § 3563(b)(12) (West Supp.1993) (emphasis added).
Assuming that a district court may designate the place of confinement when imposing sentences under section 3563(b)(12), nevertheless a community corrections facility is not a jail and the Mansfield Corrections Facility is a jail, not a community corrections facility.6 Although the term "community corrections facility" is not defined by the statute,7 the notes to United States Sentencing Guideline (U.S.S.G. or Guideline) section 5F1.1 define "community confinement" as "residence in a community treatment center, halfway house, restitution center, mental health facility...." The term "community confinement" in the Guidelines is evidently intended to interpret section 12, as reflected by its use in U.S.S.G. § 5C1.1(c)(3). Also, based on its placement in section 3563(b), "community corrections facility" appears to refer to rehabilitation facilities and half-way houses (such as the County Rehabilitation Center where Voda is required to reside after his confinement at Mansfield) and not jails. Section 12 follows section 11 on confinement with the Bureau of Prisons and is contained in a section dealing with conditions of probation, not conditions of imprisonment. Normally, conditions of probation are intended to be less restrictive than imprisonment.8 Thus, the term community corrections facility does not refer to jails.
Because section 3563(b)(11) specifically states that the condition of probation is that one "remain in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons" and because Mansfield is a jail and not a community corrections facility, the district court erred in requiring that Voda's sixty days' confinement be served at Mansfield. On remand, the district court may require Voda to serve a period of confinement under the custody of the Bureau of Prisons with a recommendation as to the place of confinement, may require him to serve at a community corrections facility and perhaps designate the place of such confinement, or may remove this condition of probation altogether.
II. Firearm Prohibition
Prohibition of firearm possession is one of the permissible discretionary conditions of probation expressly listed in section 3563(b). Id. (9). However, section 3563(b) provides that its listed conditions may be imposed "to the extent that such conditions are reasonably related to the factors set forth in section 3553(a)(1) and (a)(2) and to the extent that such conditions involve only such deprivations of liberty or property as are reasonably necessary for the purposes indicated in section 3553(a)(2)."9
"If the instant conviction is for a felony, or if the defendant was previously convicted of a felony or used a firearm or other dangerous weapon in the course of the instant offense, it is recommended that the court impose a condition prohibiting the defendant from possessing a firearm or other dangerous weapon." U.S.S.G. § 5B1.4(b)(14).
Section 5B1.4(b) gives the sentencing court discretion in deciding whether or not to impose this condition. Id. "Discretionary conditions of probation ... must be 'reasonably related' to the goals of sentencing and involve 'only such deprivations of liberty and property as are reasonably necessary.' " United States v. Stafford, 983 F.2d 25, 28 (5th Cir.1993) (citing 18 U.S.C. § 3563(b) (condition that tax evader give probation officer access to any financial information and fully cooperate with IRS in years not subject to litigation was improper); United States v. Prendergast, 979 F.2d 1289 (8th Cir.1992) (condition that wire fraud convict not possess alcohol excessive since no evidence showed convict abused alcohol). The general purpose of the firearm prohibition is to prevent convicts from using firearms to harm others in the future; other purposes may include punishment and deterrence.
III. Imposition of Fine
The PSR shows that Voda has both a negative net worth and a negative current and anticipated cash flow. At age fifty-six, Voda is beginning a new career as a school teacher, a career in which he will likely not receive substantial salary increases over the next several years. Voda is currently supporting his wife and a son who is over eighteen, but currently unemployed. See U.S.S.G. § 5E1.2(d)(3). Voda's future ability to pay a fine is questionable.11 See United States v. Pattan, 931 F.2d 1035, 1044 (5th Cir.1991), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 112 S.Ct. 2308, 119 L.Ed.2d 229 (1992) (fine vacated because it interfered with convict's duty to support his family).12 As the PSR reflected Voda's current and future inability to pay and the government offered no contrary evidence, the imposition of a $3,000 fine appears unusual. See United States v. Rowland, 906 F.2d 621, 623-24 (11th Cir.1990) (fine vacated since no evidence showed current or future ability to pay). See Rivera, 971 F.2d at 895 (fine remanded for expression of reasons in light of confused nature of record).
Because this arrangement better accommodates his work schedule, Voda expressly waived any argument that the imposition of sixty days' confinement served over a sixty day period is "imprisonment," as opposed to intermittent confinement, and thus in violation of section 3563. See United States v. Anderson, 787 F.Supp. 537, 539 (D.Md.1992)
The Sixth Circuit held that district courts have the authority to designate the place of confinement under U.S.S.G. § 5C1.1(d), which corresponds to 3563(b)(12). Jalili, 925 F.2d at 894
Often a sentence to a community corrections facility is a downward departure from a recommended sentence of imprisonment. See United States v. Parker, 902 F.2d 221, 222 (3rd Cir.1990) ("We think it clear that a period of confinement [at a community corrections facility] as a condition of probation ... cannot possibly be equated with an equivalent period of imprisonment.")
Section 3553(a)(1) and (2) provide:
There is also no evidence that Voda may have any hidden assets that he could use to pay the fine or relatives with sufficient assets to help him. See United States v. Hagmann, 950 F.2d 175, 185 (5th Cir.1991), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 113 S.Ct. 108, 121 L.Ed.2d 66 (1992) (that Hagmann was convicted of importing almost seven tons of marihuana suggested that he had access to funds in excess of those listed in his in forma pauperis affidavit and justified $100,000 fine). In his memorandum filed below prior to sentencing, Voda cited the PSR, expressly asserted his complete inability to pay a fine, and requested that no fine be imposed
Voda's situation differs from that in United States v. Matovsky, 935 F.2d 719 (5th Cir.1991). There the defendant was a relatively young, unemployed graduate student, with no dependents, capable of obtaining future employment with a sufficient income to allow him to pay his fine over time. Matovsky, 935 F.2d at 720-723; United States v. O'Banion, 943 F.2d 1422, 1432 & n. 11 (5th Cir.1991) (fine may be based on defendant's future ability to pay). Here, the United States did not offer any evidence below, beyond the PSR, showing Voda's ability to pay
A court may impose a fine, even where a defendant demonstrates the current and future inability to pay it; however, a court generally should not impose a fine in that situation unless the facts show the need for such a punitive or equitable sanction. U.S.S.G. § 5E1.2(d). United States v. Rivera, 971 F.2d 876, 895 (2d Cir.1992); United States v. Fair, 979 F.2d 1037, 1041 (5th Cir.1992); United States v. Matovsky, 935 F.2d 719, 721 (5th Cir.1991); 18 U.S.C. § 3572 (West Supp.1993 at 82); U.S.S.G. § 5E1.2. However, neither the Constitution, nor the applicable sentencing statutes, nor the sentencing guidelines categorically prohibit a court from ever imposing a fine where the defendant has proven his inability to pay it. Prior to the enactment of the Guidelines, ability to pay was not considered as a major factor in a court's decision to impose a fine. Instead, ability to pay was considered later when the government attempted to collect the fine. See e.g., United States v. Merritt, 639 F.2d 254, 257 (5th Cir.1981). Constitutionally, courts are limited in the penalty they can impose for nonpayment of criminal fines because of inability to pay. Bearden v. Georgia, 461 U.S. 660, 663-70, 103 S.Ct. 2064, 2068-71, 76 L.Ed.2d 221 (1983) (indigency no bar to imposing fine); Williams v. Illinois, 399 U.S. 235, 242-43, 90 S.Ct. 2018, 2023, 26 L.Ed.2d 586 (1970) (imprisonment, beyond any already imposed prison sentence, could not be imposed as a penalty for inability to pay a fine.); Tate v. Short, 401 U.S. 395, 399, 91 S.Ct. 668, 671, 28 L.Ed.2d 130 (1971). In 1986, the statute involving fines of indigent prisoners, 18 U.S.C. § 3569, was repealed. New 18 U.S.C. § 3572 states that the ability to pay shall be considered when a court imposes a fine. 18 U.S.C. § 3572. Similarly, Section 5E1.2(f) of the Guidelines provides that if the defendant shows an inability to pay, "the court may impose a lesser fine or waive the fine altogether." U.S.S.G. § 5E1.2(f); Fair, 979 F.2d at 1041
We held in United States v. Fair, that although the defendant normally bears the burden of proof on the issue of inability to pay: "[A] defendant may rely on the PSR to establish his inability to pay.... When a sentencing court adopts a PSR which recites facts showing limited or no ability to pay a fine the government must come forward with evidence showing that a defendant can in fact pay a fine before one is imposed." 979 F.2d at 1041 (emphasis added).
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