Opinion ID: 202211
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Future Drug Testing

Text: 36 Finally, Aitoro challenges one of the terms of supervised release imposed by the court. He contends that the district court ought to have imposed a limit on the number of drug tests that his probation officer will be permitted to require of him during his term of supervised release. It is recognized error not to impose such a limit, leaving the probation officer's discretion unbounded. See United States v. Melendez-Santana, 353 F.3d 93, 102-06 (1st Cir.2003); 18 U.S.C. § 3583(d). Aitoro did not raise the issue below, however, and we do not correct unpreserved Melendez-Santana errors on appeal. See United States v. Padilla, 415 F.3d 211 (1st Cir.2005) (en banc). We do note that the standard conditions worksheet the district court used for specifying the conditions of supervised release lists as a condition one drug test within 15 days of release from imprisonment and at least two periodic drug tests thereafter, as directed by the probation officer, and offers no place for a judge to enter a maximum number of tests as required by Melendez-Santana. 37 While the Melendez-Santana error here does not contribute to our decision to remand, we do find it surprising that five months after Melendez-Santana was decided, the district court was provided a sentencing form whose use, when filled out as intended, guaranteed a violation of the supervised release statute. In resentencing in this case, and, if it has not already begun to do so, in sentencing in future cases, the district court should use a sentencing form that implements § 3583(d) as required by Melendez-Santana.