Opinion ID: 1385359
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Conduct Credits and YA Commitment

Text: (2) Defendant argues that he is entitled to conduct credits, calculated pursuant to sections 2930 through 2932, for the periods of both presentence ( People v. Sage (1980) 26 Cal.3d 498 [165 Cal. Rptr. 280, 611 P.2d 874]) and YA custody. We will conclude that, although an adult sentenced to YA may not be held in YA confinement for a period exceeding the maximum term for which he would have received state prison confinement ( People v. Olivas (1976) 17 Cal.3d 236 [131 Cal. Rptr. 55, 551 P.2d 375]), he is not entitled to have his term reduced by conduct credits computed under sections 2930 through 2932. Defendant was sentenced to YA under the provisions of section 1731.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and California Rules of Court, rule 453(a). Section 1731.5 permits YA commitment of any person convicted in an adult court of a crime who is under 21 years at the time of apprehension and who is neither sentenced as provided in subdivision (b) of section 1731.5 nor granted probation. Rule 453(a) requires the sentencing court to specify the particular term to which the individual would have been sentenced had he been sentenced to state prison. Sections 2930 through 2932 describe the methods and standards by which the term of confinement of a person sentenced to the Department of Corrections may have his term reduced by up to one-third. The possible reduction is based upon a combination of the prisoner's forebearance from certain specified acts and upon participation in work, educational, vocational, therapeutic or other prison activities. (§ 2931, subds. (b), (c).) The maximum credit which may be lost for each incident involving prohibited behavior or failure to participate is described. An individual may not be penalized if he has made a reasonable effort to partake of the enumerated activities or is unable to do so for reasons beyond his control. (§ 2931, subds. (b)(3), (c); Cal. Admin. Code, tit. 15, § 3043.) A prisoner has the right to notice and hearing whenever the Department of Corrections seeks to deny conduct credits. (§ 2932.) Defendant relies on People v. Olivas, supra , in which we held that a misdemeanant between the ages of 16 and 21, sentenced to YA under Welfare and Institutions Code section 1731.5, could not be held in YA confinement for a term longer than that to which a person, similarly convicted as an adult, could be sentenced if not committed to YA. Invoking equal protection principles, defendant argues that in like fashion an adult youthful offender committed to YA must be entitled to those same conduct credits available to a similar offender sentenced to prison. We disagree. The thesis of our Olivas holding was that personal liberty is a fundamental interest, second only to life itself, as an interest protected under both the California and United States Constitutions. (17 Cal.3d at p. 251.) Accordingly, once it is determined that the classification scheme affects a fundamental interest or right the burden shifts. Thereafter the state must first establish that it has a compelling interest which justifies the law and then demonstrate that the distinctions drawn by the law are necessary to further that purpose. ( Ibid., italics in original.) After agreeing that the state had an interest in rehabilitating youthful offenders we stated we have not been shown how this sentencing scheme is necessary to further that interest. Assuming arguendo that rehabilitation is a compelling state interest, we cannot determine what minimum period of confinement is sufficient to achieve the state's goal of meaningful rehabilitation ( id., at p. 255), and concluded that youthful offenders could not be held for a maximum term in excess of that for which other adult offenders could be confined. The case before us is distinguishable from Olivas. We are not confronted here with the maximum term for which a youthful offender may be held, but rather the method by which he may obtain release prior to expiration of the full term imposed. When Olivas was decided in 1976 youthful offenders were sentenced either to YA or to prison under the Indeterminate Sentence Law (ISL). At that time, the purposes of imprisonment were deterrence, isolation and rehabilitation.... Not the least of these was rehabilitation. ( In re Eric J., supra, 25 Cal.3d 522, 531.) Under the ISL no person, whether in YA or Department of Corrections custody, was entitled to a statutorily prescribed amount of conduct credit. Then the Legislature enacted the Determinate Sentencing Act specifically reciting that it finds and declares that the purpose of imprisonment for crime is punishment. (§ 1170, subd. (a)(1).) No change, however, was made in the declaration of legislative intent regarding the establishment of YA: The purpose of this chapter is to protect society more effectively by substituting for retributive punishment methods of training and treatment directed toward the correction and rehabilitation of young persons found guilty of public offenses. To this end it is the intent of the Legislature that the chapter be liberally interpreted in conformity with its declared purpose. (Welf. & Inst. Code, § 1700.) The state's interest in the treatment and rehabilitation of various categories of criminal offenders is well established. Thus, in People v. Saffell (1979) 25 Cal.3d 223 [157 Cal. Rptr. 897, 599 P.2d 92], we noted that While judicial attention to the [mentally disordered sex offender (MDSO)] is invoked by his commission of a criminal act, the entire statutory scheme providing for the diversion of MDSOs from the mainstream of the criminal justice system clearly indicates that `in MDSO cases, subsequent confinement of the ... person is for purposes of treatment, not punishment.' ( In re Moye [1978] 22 Cal.3d 457 at p. 466 [149 Cal. Rptr. 491, 584 P.2d 1097], italics in original ....) (25 Cal.3d, at p. 229.) Similarly, in In re Eric J., we considered the scheme for commitment of minors to YA, and, in conformity with the legislative declaration, reaffirmed that such commitments were for the purposes of treatment and rehabilitation ( In re Aline D. (1975) 14 Cal.3d 557, 567 ...). (25 Cal.3d at p. 531.) Rehabilitation of youthful offenders benefits the state by assisting those who because of their youth and background may be more amenable to rehabilitation and thereby become productive and law-abiding citizens. In considering the matter of credits, we observed in People v. Sage, supra , language in sections 2930, 2931 and 2932 clearly indicate[s] that the Legislature contemplated the credits governed by these sections would be earned in prison. (26 Cal.3d, at p. 506, italics added.) The primary purposes of conduct credits for prison inmates are to encourage conformity to prison regulations, to provide incentives to refrain from criminal, particularly assaultive, conduct, and to encourage participation in rehabilitative activities. ( People v. Saffell, supra, 25 Cal.3d, at p. 233; People v. Reynolds (1981) 116 Cal. App.3d 141, 147 [171 Cal. Rptr. 461].) In contrast to the rigid rules governing application of conduct credits for those committed to state prison, youthful offenders who are sentenced to YA are entitled to consideration of their in-custody behavior under a different set of guidelines which are consistent with both the indeterminate aspects of YA commitments and the declared legislative intent. In-custody behavior of YA committees is considered as being relevant to the YA rehabilitative and corrective goals, rather than as a mere aid to maintaining order in the facility. (See, e.g., Cal. Admin. Code, tit. 15, §§ 4945, subd. (i) [behavioral factors relevant to deviating from prescribed parole consideration date], subd. (j) [behavioral factors relevant to modifying established parole consideration date], 4995 [honorable discharges from YA supervision].) In passing, we note our concurrence with the Chief Justice's reference to the advantages of being a youthful offender (dis. opn., post, p. 167) because of the less rigid consideration of juvenile conduct while in YA. The case before us fully supports her conclusion. At oral argument defense counsel acknowledged the release of defendant from YA confinement in April 1981, months before he could have obtained discharge from his incarceration had he been sentenced as an adult to prison and had he been afforded every possible applicable conduct credit authorized by the Penal Code. We stressed in In re Eric J. that, under the Determinate Sentencing Act rehabilitation is no longer the standard for term fixing (25 Cal.3d, at p. 532) in adult sentencing. Rehabilitation, however, remains the standard in YA commitments, and YA committees may be released earlier  or later  than their imprisoned counterparts under the behavioral guidelines enumerated in the Administrative Code and the Youth Authority Act. It follows that imposition of the Penal Code provisions for conduct credits upon YA commitments would provide the youthful felon with what he already has: the opportunity to reduce his time in confinement because of his conduct. ( People v. Reynolds, supra, 116 Cal. App.3d at p. 147.) As the Reynolds court aptly put it, The fact that a youthful felon in the Youth Authority is not given Penal Code behavior credit does not mean that he is denied recognition and reward for good behavior. Participation in rehabilitative programs and behavioral conformity is encouraged and rewarded in Youth Authority commitments because of the indeterminate nature of the commitment itself, with release at the discretion of the Youthful Offender Parole Board. ( Ibid. ) So viewed, conduct credits have meaning only within the context of a fixed term. (See People v. Saffell, supra, 25 Cal.3d, at pp. 233-234.) In 1947, this principle was specifically recognized by the Legislature in former section 2926. In connection with the question of similar conduct credits available to prisoners received in state prison after January 1, 1948, the 1947 amendment to the section provided the following: It is the intention of the Legislature, recognizing the inconsistency of applying a statutory system of credits to a prison term fixed under the indeterminate sentence law, to abolish by this act the statutory system of credits now in use in the prisons of this State. (Stats. 1947, ch. 1381, § 1, p. 2944.) The Legislature's continued refusal to apply the fixed system of conduct credits to YA committees is fully consistent with this intent which was legislatively expressed as to the former ISL. Moreover, we note that conduct credits because of the very nature of certain YA commitments would have a limited effect. Thus, while generally persons committed to YA may be released earlier than their state prison counterparts, in some instances, those convicted of felonies and sentenced to YA must be released long before their state prison terms would terminate even if full conduct credits were awarded. Welfare and Institutions Code section 1771 provides that Every person convicted of a felony and committed to the authority shall be discharged when such person reaches his 25th birthday, unless an order for further detention has been made by the committing court pursuant to Article 6 ... or unless a petition is filed under Article 5 of this chapter. (Italics added.) Thus, a 20-year-old, sentenced to a 15-year term, would, if sent to state prison be released at the earliest after serving 10 years, or at age 30. Under the Youth Authority Act, however, he or she must be freed at age 25 unless the Youthful Offender Parole Board petitions the court for further incarceration pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code sections 1780 and 1783. Application of any conduct credits during YA commitment to the maximum term of incarceration, namely, 15 years, accordingly would be an idle act because it would have no effect on the term for which the felon might be held in such confinement. It is significant that the Youthful Offender Parole Board in setting parole dates for committees considers factors which are relevant to the award of conduct credits to state prison inmates. (See Cal. Admin. Code, tit. 15, §§ 4945, subds. (i), (j), 4995.) Because of the indeterminate nature of YA commitments and the discretionary power vested in the parole board to consider behavioral factors combined with the continuing rehabilitative nature of YA confinement, we hold that the refusal to apply sections 2930 through 2932 to YA confinement does not offend equal protection. The compelling state interest in rehabilitation of youth offenders and the flexible and individual consideration given to the conduct of YA committees in determining the length of their YA confinement are necessary to advance the stated purposes of the Youth Authority Act. Our foregoing conclusion relative to behavioral credit applies equally to presentencing conduct credit claimed by those in YA confinement. Although credit is given for actual time spent in presentence custody (Cal. Admin. Code, tit. 15, § 4945, subd. (e); § 2900.5) no automatic conduct credit is authorized for such incarceration. Consideration will be given to the effect that the ward's experiences and behavior while in local custody have on the ward's training and treatment needs in setting the ward's parole consideration date. (Cal. Admin. Code, tit. 15, § 4945, subd. (d).) Our recent holding in People v. Sage, supra, 26 Cal.3d 498, does not require a contrary result. There the concern was whether conduct credits should be given for presentence custody to a person ultimately committed to prison. We determined that such credits were not statutorily mandated. Nonetheless, because of the automatic nature of the application of conduct credits to the length of prison terms, we held that it was a denial of equal protection to deny such credits to persons who were in jail custody before sentencing who would otherwise be required to spend a longer time in actual incarceration than those who only spent time in prison. Sage differs from the present case because, unlike persons sentenced to prison, adults who are committed to YA will not have their custody period in YA modified by any automatic application of conduct credits, so that application of such credits to any presentence period of custody is not required by equal protection. The judgments are reversed and the causes remanded for resentencing in accordance with the requirements of sections 1170 and 1170.1 and the sentencing rules of the Judicial Council. We affirm the trial court's denial of conduct credits for the period defendant was in custody prior to sentencing, and further deny the petition for writ of habeas corpus seeking similar credits for the period of confinement in YA.