Court Opinion

ID: 9734026
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 17:23:17.115461+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:26:45.183788
License: Public Domain

DeBRULER, Justice
concurring in result
There is no rational inference of a history of criminal activity to be made from a history of arrests. Arrests, without more, simply cannot serve as a basis upon which to enhance criminal punishments. In Griffin v. State, (1980) Ind., 402 N.E.2d 981, evidence was actually presented that the defendant had committed the offense for which he had been arrested, although no conviction had occurred. There we held the prior arrest was properly considered as supporting an enhancement upon a history of criminal activity. In MceNew v. State, (1979) Ind., 391 N.E.2d 607, we sanctioned consideration of such prior arrests which were intermingled with successful prosecution. Such arrests, while failing to demonstrate actual criminal behavior, do show that the exertion of police force has had no deterrent effect upon his antisocial behav-for shown by other convictions, and as such is relevant in assessing his criminal record, character and the risk that he will commit another crime. - Ind.Code § 85-4.1-4-7. This I regard as being a more accurate description of what is taking place when a judge considers prior arrests which have not resulted in convictions for sentencing purposes. I raise this point because I believe the majority opinion is susceptible of being interpreted as permitting judges to infer criminal behavior from a bare arrest. Surely to do so would be a denial of due process of law.
HUNTER, J., concurs.