Opinion ID: 1177499
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Cost of Transcripts on Appeal

Text: This is the first appeal to reach us from an order of commitment to the custody of the Director of Corrections for placement in the narcotic addict rehabilitation program. In his notice of appeal, prepared in propria persona, defendant requested transcripts of the commitment proceedings. Apparently treating the matter as an ordinary civil appeal, the reporter presented defendant with a demand for prepayment of the estimated cost ($200) of such transcripts. Defendant filed an affidavit of indigency, stating that he had no funds to prepay such costs. The district attorney thereupon moved to dismiss the appeal for failure to deposit with the clerk the estimated cost of the transcripts. After argument, the court denied the motion to dismiss and ordered that the Record on Appeal be prepared and the cost of it be borne by the County. This ruling was proper. In In re De La O (1963) 59 Cal.2d 128, 156 [20] [28 Cal. Rptr. 489, 378 P.2d 793], we stated that the commitment procedures set up by the subject statute are analogous to the civil commitment procedures of the Sexual Psychopathy Law, and by the same analogy and for the same reasons an original order of commitment under Penal Code section 6450 is `appealable as a final judgment in a special proceeding under section 963 of the Code of Civil Procedure.' ( People v. Gross (1955), supra, 44 Cal.2d 859, 860 [2] [285 P.2d 630], and cases there cited.) In an earlier stage of the Gross case ( Gross v. Superior Court (1954) 42 Cal.2d 816, 821 [5a-5b] [270 P.2d 1025]), the petitioner sought mandate to compel preparation at the state's expense of transcripts of the proceeding in which he was adjudged a sexual psychopath. We granted the relief prayed for, reasoning as follows: The proceeding is not strictly a criminal case ... yet it is to be noted it has some of the features pertinent to such cases. The state is defendant's opponent. The one sought to be declared a sexual psychopath is entitled to bail pending determination. [Citations.] He is entitled to be present at the hearing and if he has no counsel the court may appoint one for him or order the public defender to serve. [Citation.] His liberty is at stake. Since those things are matters pertaining to the protection and rights of a person similar to one involved in a criminal case we believe he falls within the terms of section 69952 of the Government Code [providing for payment of transcript fees out of the county treasury]. See In re Paiva, 31 Cal.2d 503 [190 P.2d 604]; People v. Smith, 34 Cal.2d 449 [211 P.2d 561].) [6] Similar considerations obtain here and lead us to the same conclusion, i.e., that persons involuntarily committed to the custody of the Director of Corrections under this program have the right to a free transcript on an appeal from the order of commitment.