Opinion ID: 351722
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Proof of Dangerousness: Nature of the Proceedings.

Text: 22 The defendant next contends that § 3575 is not merely a sentencing proceeding, but creates an additional substantive element of the underlying conviction, and that therefore, all procedural safeguards surrounding a formal trial must be afforded the defendant. We disagree, and, like the sixth circuit, hold: 23 (This) statute . . . does not create a new and distinct criminal charge. Rather, the dangerous special offender criteria provide for an increase in the penalty for the offense itself. Under Title X (of the Organized Crime Control Act of 1970), the conduct embraced within the criteria must be factually related to the felony for which sentence is imposed. The Supreme Court has indicated in numerous cases that such facts do not relate to a separate criminal charge . . .. Title X involves . . . (a) distinct issue, but it does not constitute a separate charge. 24 United States v. Stewart, 531 F.2d 326, 332 (6th Cir. 1976). See also United States v. Bowdach, supra. 25 Defendant most strenuously complains that his constitutional rights have been violated in two ways: first, by the use of the preponderance of information standard for determining dangerousness under 18 U.S.C. § 3575(b), 9 and second by the admission of evidence which otherwise would be inadmissible during a formal trial. 26
27 The standard of proving dangerousness by a preponderance of the information has been approved by other courts. We agree and hold that such a standard, when employed in a § 3575 sentencing proceeding, is not constitutionally infirm. United States v. Bowdach, supra; United States v. Neary, supra; United States v. Stewart, supra at 334. 28
29 We further believe that the ordinary evidentiary safeguards which surround a formal criminal trial are not constitutionally mandated in a sentencing proceeding under 18 U.S.C. § 3575 et. seq. See Williams v. New York, 337 U.S. 241, 250-52, 69 S.Ct. 1079, 93 L.Ed. 1337 (1949). Furthermore, Congress expressed its desire to maximize sources of sentencing information, (and) to guard against the unnecessary formalization of sentencing procedures in this proceeding, S.Rep.No.91-617, 91st Cong. 1st Sess. 90 (1969), when it enacted 18 U.S.C. § 3577 which provides: 30 No limitation shall be placed on the information concerning the background, character, and conduct of a person convicted of an offense which a court of the United States may receive and consider for the purpose of imposing an appropriate sentence. 31 Therefore, we hold that under 18 U.S.C. § 3575, et seq., the sentencing court may, in its broad sentencing discretion, consider all information which has a bearing upon proof of the defendant's dangerousness. The formal rules of evidence used in criminal trials do not limit the sources of information which a court may consider in determining what is a proper sentence for a dangerous special offender. However, since such information may be diverse, a court should give it such weight as it deems appropriate, and pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3575(b), the court must place in the record its findings, including an identification of the information relied upon in making such findings, and its reasons for the sentence imposed. We believe that this procedure provides the defendant not only with the reasons for his sentence, but with the assurance that the appellate courts will be able to review the sentence, and the information and factors relied upon by the district court. Such a procedure is not only constitutionally sound, but exceeds the requirements of formal sentencing in the usual case. 32 In the case at bar, we find no error in the manner in which the district court conducted the § 3575 hearing, or in the evidence it considered. The district court not only limited its findings and reasons to information it considered supportive of the sentence imposed, but it even refused to allow the introduction of certain items of information which it considered either resolved in defendant's favor, or illegally acquired. 10 Although the district court may have been wise in not basing its sentence upon this information, we do not believe that error would have resulted from the introduction of such. This evidence, like all other, could be introduced and considered by the court, giving it the weight, if any, it deemed appropriate. 33