Legal Document

529 U.S. 53120 S.Ct. 1114146 L.Ed.2d 39 SyllabusNOTE: Where it is feasible, a syllabus (headnote) will be released, as being done in connection with this case, at the time opinion issued. The constitutes no part of Court but has been prepared by Reporter Decisions for convenience reader. See United States v. Detroit Timber & Lumber Co., 200 321, 337. SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES STATESv.JOHNSON CERTIORARI TO APPEALS FOR SIXTH CIRCUIT No. 98 1696. Argued December 8, 1999.Decided March 1, 2000 Respondent had serving federal prison multiple drug and firearms felonies when two his convictions were declared invalid. As result, he served 2.5 years' too much was once set free, 3-year term supervised release yet to on remaining convictions. He filed motion reduce amount extra served. District denied relief, explaining that commenced upon respondent's actual from incarceration, not before. Sixth Circuit reversed, accepting argument day left prison, lawful imprisonment expired. Held: This bound controlling statute, 18 U.S.C. § 3624(e), which, its necessary operation, does length reason excess prison. Under §3624(e), commence until an individual "is released imprisonment." ordinary, commonsense meaning "release" freed confinement. To say respondent while still imprisoned diminishes concept word intends convey. Section 3624(e) also provides comes "after imprisonment," prisoner "released Bureau Prisons supervision probation officer." Thus, run remains Prisons' custody. phrase "on person released" §3624(e) suggests strict temporal interpretation, some fictitious or constructive earlier time. Indeed, section admonishes "supervised during any period which imprisoned." statute provide concurrent running specific, identified cases, infers Congress limited exceptions forth. Finally, §3583(e)(3) have substantial bearing interpretive issue, directive addresses instances where conditions violated, court orders revocation. While text resolves Court's conclusion accords objectives release, include assisting individuals their transition community life. Supervised fulfills rehabilitative ends, distinct those incarceration. observes statutory structure means address equitable concerns exist incarcerated beyond proper expiration term. trial court, sees fit, may modify individual's conditions, §3583(e)(2), terminate obligations after one year completed service, §3583(e)(1). Pp. 3 7. 154 F.3d 569, reversed remanded. Kennedy, J., delivered unanimous Court. Opinion 1 NOTICE: subject formal revision before publication preliminary print Reports. Readers are requested notify Decisions, Supreme States, Washington, D. C. 20543, typographical other errors, order corrections made goes press. 1696 STATES, PETITIONERv.ROY LEE JOHNSON 2 ON WRIT [March 2000] 4 Justice Kennedy 5 An offender question becomes whether should credited term, reducing length. Bound we hold unaltered. 6 Roy Lee Johnson convicted 1990 counts possession intent distribute controlled substances, 84 Stat. 1260, 21 841(a), use firearm trafficking crime, 924(c) (1994 ed., Supp. IV), count felon, §922(g). received sentence 171 months' imprisonment, consisting three 51-month terms §841(a) §922(g) counts, followed consecutive 60-month §924(c) counts. In addition, imposed mandatory offenses. 841(b)(1)(C) III). Appeals, though otherwise affirming sentence, concluded erred sentencing him Johnson, 25 1335, 1337 1338 (CA6 1994) (en banc). On remand modified prisoner's 111 months. 7 After our decision Bailey 516 137 (1995), under 28 2255 vacate convictions, Government did oppose. May 2, 1996, vacated modifying 51 already more than time, so ordered immediate release. His then went into effect. dispute 8 June requesting years, pursuant Granting credit, observed, would undermine Congress' aim using assist felons transitions 9 A divided Appeals reversed. 569 1998). accepted confines earlier, Id., 571. Awarding credit served, further concluded, meaningful relief because purposes, "punitive nature." Ibid. Judge Gilman dissented, agreeing position 572 573. 10 Courts reached differing conclusions presented. Compare Blake, 88 824, 825 (CA9 1996) (supervised commences date defendants "should rather dates release"), Jeanes, 150 483, 485 (CA5 1998) cannot imprisonment); Joseph, 109 34 (CA1 1997) (same); Douglas, 533, 534 (CA8 (same). We granted certiorari resolve question, 527 ___ (1999), now reverse. 11 3583(a) Title authorizes, mandates, courts following imprisonment. issue presented review begins incarceration due mistaken interpretation law language controls. relevant part: 12 "A whose includes shall officer who shall, imposed, supervise degree warranted specified court. runs concurrently Federal, State, local parole another offense conviction crime unless less 30 days." 13 quoted directs There can little about context It "[t]o loosen destroy force of; remove obligation effect hence alleviate remove; [t]o let loose again; free restraint, confinement, servitude; liberty; go." Webster's New International Dictionary 2103 (2d ed. 1949). these definitions illustrate, 14 first supports construction. custody Prisons. released," second released." third 15 specific cases. operative requires probation, parole, other, separate instructs concurrency permitted sentences only types given mention. next allow counting, days When follow authority create others. inference, adopt here, considered and, end, ones 30-day exception finds application case; each sentences, attached, exceeded 3583(e)(3) 16 Our support 3583(a), authorizes imposition "a provision, too, inconsistent contention confinement same statute's direction clear precise. Release takes place fact 17 reasoned reduction implementation §3624(a), "[a] ." All concede ended did. follow, however, commenced, matter law, sentences. true related, latter begin former expires. Though interrelated, interchangeable. holding otherwise, accommodate rule derived. function ends. Cf. Granderson, 511 39, 50 (1994) (observing "terms up terms"). lenity alter analysis. Absent ambiguity, applicable guide interpretation. Gozlon-Peretz 498 395, 410 (1991). observe purpose design. unfulfilled if offset intended 3553(a)(2)(D); Sentencing Commission, Guidelines Manual §§5D1.3(c), (d), (e) (Nov. 1998); see S. Rep. 225, p. 124 (1983) (declaring "the primary goal [of release] ease defendant's service long particularly serious offense, rehabilitation defendant spent fairly short punishment purposes needs training programs release"). courts, determining required consider, among factors, nature circumstances history characteristics defendant," need afford adequate deterrence criminal conduct; protect public crimes defendant; needed education vocational training, medical care, correctional treatment." 3553(a). instant assistance respondent, avoid possessing transporting participate dependency treatment program. These illustrate unlike postconfinement assistance. Gozlon-Peretz, supra, 407 (describing "[s]upervised [a]s unique method post-confinement invented series reforms"). treating interchangeable 19 doubt considerations great weight large part. 3583(e)(2). Furthermore, "at satisfied such action conduct interest justice." Respondentmay invoke §3583(e)(2) pursuit relief; having seek 20 own judgment case remanded proceedings consistent opinion. ordered.

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