Opinion ID: 1655793
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: could the parole imposed by virtue of the gubernatorially commuted suspended sentence be revoked by the circuit court for violation of a condition imposed by a parole officer? we hold the circuit court was without jurisdiction to so revoke.

Text: Appellant contends that since the Governor's Order commuting and suspending his sentence failed to establish conditions for his supervision, his regulated freedom thereunder could not be revoked for violating a condition imposed by his parole officer. More specifically, appellant is asserting that because the Governor's Order did not state that appellant could not drink alcohol, the liberty permitted thereby could not be revoked for drinking. For the reasons hereinafter delineated, however, we hold that the circuit court was without jurisdiction to revoke appellant's parole and we remand to the Board of Pardons and Paroles so as to conduct hearings concerning the propriety of revoking appellant's parole. Initially, we note that this court is required sua sponte to take note of jurisdictional deficiencies, whether presented by the parties or not. Long v. Knight Const. Co., 262 N.W.2d 207 (S.D.1978); Estate of Putnam, 254 N.W.2d 460 (S.D. 1977); Shryock v. Mitchell Concrete Products, 87 S.D. 566, 212 N.W.2d 498 (1973). Huftile, 367 N.W.2d at 195. Therefore, although appellant failed to present a timely objection below and failed to raise the jurisdiction issue on appeal, we are not estopped, and indeed are required to herein address this issue. The powers of government in South Dakota are divided into and among the three branches. S.D. Const. art. II. Control of the penal institutions is by the Board of Charities and Corrections under such rules and regulations as the legislature shall make. S.D. Const. art. XIV, §§ 1 and 2. The Board of Charities and Corrections is an arm of the executive branch of government. Huftile, 367 N.W.2d at 197. The Board of Pardons and Paroles, however, which is under the direction and supervision of the Board of Charities and Corrections, grants parole and imposes parole restrictions. Huftile; SDCL 24-13-3; SDCL 24-13-6; SDCL 24-15-8; SDCL 24-15-11. The Board of Pardons and Paroles also is empowered to revoke parole. SDCL 24-15-20; SDCL 24-15-24. The circuit courts of this state are not empowered to revoke parole. In the present case, appellant was sentenced to a term of years in the Penitentiary by the circuit court. Thereafter, the circuit court suspended part of the original sentence. Governor Janklow then commuted the sentence and suspended a portion thereof, thereby substituting a commuted sentence for the court-imposed sentence. After being committed to the Penitentiarythe executive branchappellant was paroled under the commuted sentence and when this period of parole ended, he was still on parole by virtue of the suspended portion of the gubernatorial commutation. The circuit court had long lost jurisdiction. When appellant's parole officer presented appellant's violations to the circuit court, he presented his revocation application to the wrong authority. Appellant was still on parole and only the Board of Pardons and Paroles could revoke parole. Since appellant was still on parole, he was still bound by the terms and conditions of his parole agreement and the appropriate authority can revoke his parole for violation of its conditions. This case is therefore reversed and remanded to the jurisdiction of the Board of Pardons and Paroles with directions to conduct hearings concerning the propriety of revoking appellant's parole. FOSHEIM, C.J., MORGAN, J., and WUEST, Circuit Judge, Acting as Supreme Court Justice, concur. WOLLMAN, J., dissents.