Court Opinion

ID: 9571806
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 20:35:20.078653+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:31:02.362615
License: Public Domain

MARTONE, Justice,
dissenting.
I agree with the court that under Rule 27.1, Ariz.R.Crim.P., conditions of probation imposed by the judge and regulations of probation imposed by the probation officer must be in writing and a copy must be delivered to the probationer. I agree that under Rule 27.5(a), Ariz.R.Crim.P., the violation of a written condition or regulation of probation is a prerequisite to the filing of a petition to revoke probation. I also agree that under Rule 27.7(c)(2), Ariz.R.Crim.P., probation cannot be revoked for the violation of a condition or regulation of which the probationer did not receive a written copy.
But these rules are designed to protect the defendant against the arbitrary actions of those who would revoke probation, and to promote certainty in the process. If the defendant denies the allegations in the petition to revoke, there must be a violation hearing, at which the failure to prove a written regulation of probation would be fatal to the revocation. Thus, in every such case in which the defendant’s rights are jeopardized, the absence of a written copy of the regulation would prevent revocation.
But that is not what we have here. In this case, the defendant wanted to admit the allegations. He had reached agreement. Had he not wanted to, he simply could have insisted upon a hearing at which he would raise the absence of a written copy as a bar to revocation. Nor is he harmed by his admission because, as the court of appeals properly noted, actual notice was beyond dispute.
By reaching a contrary conclusion, the court elevates receipt of a written copy of a regulation to a status not enjoyed by even constitutional rights. I could well understand this if our decision actually promoted the purposes sought to be achieved by the court. The court says that it must insist on written notice because “an honest probationer who admits he received an oral order can have his probation revoked, but a dishonest probationer 'who denies receipt of an oral order cannot be found to be in violation.” Ante, at 545, 869 P.2d at 1198. But this would never happen. The exception to the written copy requirement only applies in the context of an admission by a probationer. If the probationer does not admit, the oral order will always be inadequate. Any denial by the probationer of receipt of written notice would always result in the sort of hearing to which the probationer would be entitled anyway. Oral notice would always be inadequate in that setting. I therefore do not understand the court’s concerns about “honest” and “dishonest” probationers. Every case upon which the court relies, including State v. Stotts, 144 Ariz. 72, 695 P.2d 1110 (1985), involved a violation hearing at which notice was denied, not an admission proceeding at which notice is admitted.
*547Nor do I understand how an admission exception will encourage wrongful revocation filings. When a petition to revoke is filed, a judge must review it before issuing a summons or warrant under Rule 27.5(b), Ariz. R.Crim.P. The judge must first find “reasonable cause to believe that a probationer has violated a written condition or regulation” under Rule 27.5(a), Ariz.R.Crim.P. Unless a written term is alleged, no warrant will issue. Moreover, and perhaps more importantly, today’s decision will not protect against the filing of unsupported petitions to revoke. Under either rule, all that stands between the probationer and jail is the vigilant judge. Indeed, by not allowing a defendant to admit to the violation, written notice of which is disputed, he or she may well be incarcerated for a longer period waiting for the revocation hearing at which the issue of the existence of a writing will be adjudicated.
Because I cannot see how the purposeless application of our rule, even against the will of the defendant, can possibly be fundamental error, let alone reversible error, I dissent.