Document: 333 U.S. 18 68 S.Ct. 376 92 L.Ed. 442 UNITED STATESv.BROWN. No. 100. Argued Jan. 5, 6, 1948. Decided Feb. 2, Rehearing Denied March 8, Mr. Robert W. Ginnane, of Washington, D.C., for petitioner. Elmo B. Hunter, Kansas City, Mo., respondent. Justice RUTLEDGE delivered the opinion Court. 1 The Federal Escape Act requires that a sentence escape or attempt to 'shall begin upon expiration of, legal release from, any under which such person is held at time of' attempt.1 narrow question whether shall particular being served when occurs aggregate term consecutive sentences then in effect, one first. 2 facts are these. Respondent was charged two indictments District Court Western Arkansas. One contained counts, first charging conspiracy escape, second escape. other indictment violation National Motor Vehicle Theft Act. 41 Stat. 324, 59 536, U.S.C.A. § 408. pleaded guilty all three charges. On October 26, 1945, he sentenced as follows: offenses, imprisonment year on count, and years run consecutively order; motor vehicle theft indictment, years, two. Thus five years. 3 November respondent serving ordered by court. date transported custody United States marshal from an Arkansas jail Leavenworth Penitentiary Kansas.2 During journey's progress through Missouri attempted This resulted another Missouri, also guilty. him 'to now serving, be imposed prior this * *.' 4 filed motion correct last sentence. He contended 'held,' within meaning Act, only one-year pronounced Arkansas, required five-year returned commence term. 5 overruled motion. It statute sentencing court could order after service respondent's sentences. 67 F.Supp. 116. Circuit Appeals, however, reversed judgment. Relying canon strict construction criminal statutes, it equated statutory word 'held' 'serving,' concluded must prisoner occurs. Accordingly remanded cause with directions so would 160 F.2d 310. We granted certiorari because importance administration 6 Although prison breach prisoners crime common law,3 there no federal proscribing conduct enactment original 1930, 46 327. That dealt while enacted part program sponsored Attorney General reorganization improved penal system. H.R.Rep.No. 106, 71st Cong. 2d Sess. took its present form 1935, broadened General's request4 cover charge conviction.5 7 legislation reflects unmistakable intention provide punishment superimposed meted out previous offenses. appears face itself. provides persons escaping attempting custody, before conviction, offense. Then follow provisions determining offense felony misdemeanor, corresponding prescriptions penalties. 8 At point had need tog o further if been merely leave court's discretion penalties, limits prescribed, should concurrently accordance generally prevailing practice. assumption complete, without addition But have left make previously effect put into case cases pending occurred. 9 Precisely avoid more added, explicit 'the hereunder independent connection If offense, escape.' (Emphasis added.) 10 These foreclosed, were intended foreclose, what earlier portions open, namely, power sentences.6 Whether additional made mandatory, requirement, 'in imposed; command sentence,' etc. differing verbal formulations necessary meet different 'before' 'after' conviction situations. same purpose, require idea allowing completely inconsistent primary object, well wording concluding clauses. In many concurrent nullify purpose altogether; others, they do partially.7 11 Moreover, imposition prime indeed one, applicable escapes conviction. attempts 'offenses,' punishable not than 'such said originally confined.'8 provision, though object. Concurrent terms those like added fact. 12 Congress, true, did cast specifically relating situation comprehending existing attempt, careful drafting insure achieving object adding cases. Its concentration main aspect apparently led reduced emphasis care definition situations apply. 13 Nevertheless view Act's broad difficult conclude phrasing, confined,' apply sentence, several ones, happened occurred, effective where single perhaps Congress mind. basic reasons rejection either views one. 14 But, event, changed 'after release' clause enacting amended 'The confined' became 'any change significance. For use words held' means something narrowest possible unless taken meaningless. think intended, amendments time, broaden coverage assure coverage,9 therefore include Otherwise reason change. 15 contemplates 'additional' 'independent' both clauses practical sense, technical sense having confine time. very combined And legislative language natural, nicely precise, way stating Granted problem obviated even astute draftsmanship, entirety sufficiently expresses congressional mandate 16 mindful maxim statutes strictly construed. we hesitate, compelling reason, accept restricted interpretation. found here. favor inexorable override evident purpose. does magnified ambiguous give contradictory fair import whole remaining language. As v. Gaskin, 320 527, 530, 64 318, 319, 88 287, 'does distortion nullification legislation.' Nor demand given 'narrowest meaning'; satisfied their accord manifest intent lawmakers. Raynor, 302 540, 552, 58 353, 359, 82 413; Giles, 300 41, 48, 57 340, 344, 81 493; Gooch States, 297 . S. 124, 128, 56 395, 397, 80 522; Corbett, 215 233, 242, 30 81, 84, 54 173. 17 To decision Appeals lead bizarre results. frustrated, least, every effected during prisoner's but sentences, possibly instance, Barring intervention executive clemency, nullified has yet begun serve more. latter number breaks impunity. A powerless impose confinement holding thus places beyond judge superimpose instances most glaringly needed deterrent.10 There striking incongruity. interdicted imposing type unmistakably subject separate punishment, although may direct theretofore imposed. 19 No rule necessitates our acceptance interpretation resulting patently absurd consequences. absence significant history, related, indicative considered sought injected 1935 amendment cured liberty individual scrupulously protected. safeguards cherished rights doctrinaire application tenet construction. Neither system nor proper justice blind clearly reflected 20 judgment reversed. 21 Reversed. 22 BLACK DOUGLAS dissent. 'Any committed his authorized representative, who confined correctional institution pursuant direction General, virtue process issued laws court, judge, commissioner, officer lawful arrest, institution, arrest felony, whatsoever, therefrom constitute convicted thereof punished fine $5,000, both; misdemeanor find $1,000, both. 49 513, U.S.C. 753h, 753h. began await transportation penitentiary. 47 381, 709a. Miller, Criminal Law 463—465. H.R. Rep. 803, 74th Cong., 1st Sess.; 1021, Government's brief aptly summarizes some serious considerations leading adoption acts, 'Escapes institutions official discipline. They often violent, menacing, instant case, lives guards custodians, carry wake crimes attendant procuring money, weapons resisting recapture.' see Rutledge Cir., 146 199. Depending imposition, shorter longer periods unserved. properly representative apprehension confined.' Either eliminating wording's ambiguity rejecting or, thought valid, changing result. $5,000 each supra, deterrent impecunious offender, little empty threat long-incarcerated whose all-consuming interest freedom.

Category: 0