Court Opinion

ID: 9464749
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-04 23:41:20.41476+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:38:47.556608
License: Public Domain

LAY, Circuit Judge,
concurring.
I concur in the result reached. I am satisfied preliminary cause was established for the revocation of Chilembwe’s probation; however, the holding of a final revocation hearing may not justify the denial of a preliminary factual hearing to establish the existence of probable cause at the site of arrest of either a parolee or of an individual on probation.
In Stidham v. Wyrick, 567 F.2d 836 (8th Cir. 1977), we held that a preliminary hearing was not necessary to determine whether probable cause or reasonable grounds exists to find a parole violation when the parolee is found in another state contrary to the condition of his parole. I do not read Gagnon v. Scarpelli, 411 U.S. 778, 93 S.Ct. 1756, 36 L.Ed.2d 656 (1973), or Morrissey v. Brewer, 408 U.S. 471, 92 S.Ct. 2593, 33 L.Ed.2d 484 (1972), to hold, even under these circumstances, that a preliminary hearing is not needed. The purpose of the on-the-site hearing is to avoid the possibility of any mistake or misunderstanding which might arise and the concomitant hardship resulting from returning the parolee to prison. A parolee may be able to show mitigating circumstances which would alter the initial decision to revoke the parole. For example, the inability to notify the officer of a dire emergency or some misunderstanding by the parolee or officer might possibly be aired at the situs of arrest. The burden placed upon the authorities by Morrissey and Gagnon is not so great that their requirements could not be recognized at all times under all circumstances.