Opinion ID: 2074112
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Probation Detention Reasonable

Text: When Miller informed Officer Kelly that he was on Level III probation, the situation changed from a police investigation of loitering to a probation operation. The State argues that what transpired thereafter was reasonably related to furthering the goals of probation. We conclude that the record supports the State's argument. When Miller told Officer Kelly that he was on probation, Officer Kelly immediately contacted the monitoring center to confirm Miller's probationary status and Miller's current address. [14] Upon learning that Miller was loitering at night in a neighborhood that was quite a distance from his reported residence, Officer Kelly contacted his supervisor to inform him of his (Kelly's) intention to verify Miller's address. Kelly's supervisor had no problem with this plan. Miller was then handcuffed and transported in a van to the address he had previously reported to Probation and Parole. The police officers who accompanied Probation Officer Kelly and Miller were there to provide security for what had become a Probation and Parole operation. Miller argues that Probation Officer Kelly acted unreasonably by detaining and transporting him to verify whether Miller was living at his reported address. The United States and the Delaware Constitutions both protect ordinary citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures. [15] Probationers, however, do not have the same liberties as ordinary citizens. [16] As a condition of release from prison, all probationers are required to furnish the probation authorities with their place of residence and to report any change of address within seventy-two hours. [17] Since Miller was loitering quite a distance from his reported address and given the special nature of probationary supervision, [18] we hold that it was reasonable for Probation Officer Kelly to continue to detain Miller while verifying that Miller was still residing at the location Miller had provided as a condition of his probation.