Opinion ID: 2430181
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: restraints

Text: The appellants next argue the trial court erred in requiring Townsend to wear leg restraints in the presence of the jury. We agree, and reverse on this basis. Prior to trial, the bailiff of the court stated he had heard, secondhand, from one of the deputies, that Townsend stated he would flee if given the opportunity. The bailiff wished to place Townsend in leg irons. Townsend's attorney objected, stating Townsend was currently in the penitentiary on a parole violation stemming from a prior burglary conviction, a non-violent offense, and that Townsend had shown no dangerous propensities. Earlier, Townsend had been allowed to walk down the hallway, unrestrained, without incident. The trial court overruled the objection, stating it was not willing to take the risk, and that we always live in danger of some inmate getting a female hostage. We'd just be stymied because we couldn't do anything. The trial court stated another option would be to place six or seven police officers around the courtroom, which would be even more obstrusive. The trial court further denied Townsend's attorney's request that the courtroom be cleared before Townsend was brought in wearing the restraints or, in the alternative, that Townsend not be restrained until the jury left on break, following voir dire. The trial court conceded that it had made such an allowance in the past, but refused to do so here. The trial court did offer to instruct the jury to disregard the restraints for purposes of determining guilt or innocence. Townsend was escorted into the courtroom, through the front door and wearing the leg irons, after the jury was seated. A second request, that Townsend be allowed to walk back into the courtroom, unrestrained, prior to jury instructions and closing arguments, was also denied. It is not prejudicial, per se, when the defendant is brought into a courtroom handcuffed (or, in this case, legcuffed), Hill v. State, 285 Ark. 77, 685 S.W.2d 495 (1985), and a trial court may take such reasonable steps as are necessary to maintain order. See Ark.R.Crim.P. 33.1. However, almost without exception, our prior decisions, in which we have upheld the use of restraints, have involved defendants charged with violent offenses or who have engaged in disruptive behavior, or attempted escape. See e.g. Hill v. State, supra (rape, aggravated robbery, and kidnapping); Gillie v. State, 305 Ark. 296, 808 S.W.2d 320 (1991) (capital felony murder); Terry v. State, 303 Ark. 270, 796 S.W.2d 332 (1990) (aggravated robbery); Johnson v. State, 261 Ark. 183, 546 S.W.2d 719 (1977) (escape). Furthermore, in a number of these cases, we noted that there was no evidence of anything but a brief, inadvertent sighting by only some of the jurors. See Gillie v. State, supra ; Williams v. State, 304 Ark. 218, 800 S.W.2d 713 (1990); Hill v. State, supra ; Barksdale v. State, 255 Ark. 272, 499 S.W.2d 851 (1973). Here, we can safely assume that Townsend's comings and goings in leg irons, through the front door of the courtroom and in full presence of the jury, did not go unnoticed. Although there is sufficient circumstantial evidence to convict both Townsend and Baker, we should view the effect, if any, that the placing of Townsend in leg restraints, and parading him in front of the jury, might have had upon the jury's assessment of punishment for the two parties. Under our criminal justice system, we call upon the jury to make findings of guilt and to assess punishment in the same proceeding, Ark.Code Ann. § 5-4-103 (1987), unless there is an exception which is cause for bifurcation. See e.g. Ark.Code Ann. § 5-4-602 (1987). In this instance, each appellant received the maximum sentence of six years for breaking or entering, and fifteen years, out of a range of five to twenty years, for theft of property. Although Townsend had a prior burglary conviction, this information was not disclosed and both appellants were regarded by the jury as first offenders. Obviously, the placing of Townsend in restraints, throughout the trial and for no compelling reason, within full view of the jury, had a telling effect on the jury in assessing punishment. Our reasoning follows that in Moore v. State, 299 Ark. 532, 773 S.W.2d 834 (1989), where policemen who testified against the defendant were seated within the railing normally reserved for parties in closing arguments. We held that the resulting prejudice was clear in that the jury gave the maximum sentences for kidnapping and theft to a first offender. Similarly, the resulting prejudice, here, warrants a new trial for both appellants.