Opinion ID: 1768472
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Prior Confinement

Text: Defendant was previously imprisoned in Iowa. His corrections counselor there would have testified that he behaved well in prison. Defendant contends counsel was ineffective for not contacting the counselor and not introducing his Iowa corrections records. Defendant claims this evidence would (1) rebut the implication he was an escape risk and (2) ameliorate the negative inference from his Iowa offenses. His attorneys introduced evidence of good conduct at a Missouri correctional facility, through two witnesses, a unit manager and a psychologist. They chose not to offer the Iowa evidence, believing the Missouri evidence sufficient. Counsel was not ineffective. The Iowa evidence mirrored the Missouri evidence, which showed that defendant can behave in prison. Also, the Iowa evidence would have emphasized his Iowa convictions. Counsel reasonably chose not to introduce cumulative evidence of defendant's good behavior in prison.