Opinion ID: 1982496
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Reformation of Original Sentence

Text: We first address the argument that the Superior Court was required by statute to state the date of the commencement and the date of termination of Faircloth's sentence. Faircloth's argument finds support in this Court's decision in James v. State, Del.Supr., 385 A.2d 725 (1978). However, James presented an unusual factual situation. In James, following an escape, the defendant was tried but found not guilty of the escape charge. The issue in James was how to recompute the sentence that was being served at the time of the escape. This Court held that the reforming of a Superior Court sentence, after return from an escape, remains a judicial function which may not be delegated by the court to be performed administratively by the correctional authorities. James v. State, 385 A.2d at 727. The reformation of the sentence which is addressed by James is the sentence that was being served at the time of the escape. In Faircloth's case, the Superior Court did not delegate the reformation of the original sentence to the correctional authorities but specifically ordered that Faircloth's aggregate sentences on the prior convictions which were being served at the time of his escape be extended an additional 41 days for the time he was on escape status. This determination by the Superior Court, i.e., the specific number of days by which the original sentences were to be extended, satisfied the requirement of James for judicial reformation of a sentence being served following recapture after an escape. This form of sentence also satisfied the requirement of the sentencing statute. 11 Del.C. § 3901. The quantum of the sentence, expressed here in days, is always controlling irrespective of the statement of an expiration date. Frye v. State, Del.Supr., 236 A.2d 424 at 425 (1963).