Court Opinion

ID: 9678016
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 06:08:59.474961+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:17:01.317360
License: Public Domain

Robert L. Brown, Justice, dissenting. A revocation hearing is not a trial. Probation, suspension, and revocation are matters that clearly fall within the bailiwick of the General Assembly as part of sentencing and disposition of offenders. See Ark. Code Ann. §§ 5-4-301 through 5-4-323 (Repl. 1997, Supp. 1999). The General Assembly treats revocation hearings as separate and apart from trials and establishes the precise procedure for these proceedings. Ark. Code Ann. § 5-4-310 (Repl. 1997). For example, § 5-4-310 sets these procedures for revocation hearings: • a preliminary hearing to determine if there is reasonable cause for violating suspension or probation shall be held unless waived by defendant; • a hearing shall occur in circuit court as soon as possible after arrest and reasonably near place of violation or arrest; • defendant shall be given full notice of the preliminary hearing and alleged violation; • defendant may offer evidence on his or her behalf; • if reasonable cause is found, then a hearing shall take place before original sentencing court; • original sentencing court is sent summary of the preliminary hearing; • revocation hearing shall occur within 60 days after arrest, after full notice to defendant; and • defendant shall have right to controvert evidence and present evidence on his or her behalf. No where in our Rules of Criminal Procedure do we set procedures for revocation hearings. Now for the first time, this court has included such hearings within the definition of “trials.” Todays opinion expands the requirements of Arkansas Criminal Procedure Rule 33.1 so that the term “trial” now includes revocation hearing. This means that because defense counsel did not move for a directed verdict at revocation hearing, he cannot raise insufficiency of the evidence as an issue on appeal. That is a harsh result, especially when the practicing bar has been legitimately unaware of the fact that a majority of this court believes revocation hearings to be trials. Certainly, our rules do not say that. Revocation hearings and trials are simply two different proceedings. Black’s Law Dictionary defines “trial” as: “A formal judicial examination of evidence and determination of legal claims in an adversary proceeding.” Black’s Law Dictionary 1510 (7 ed. 1999). A revocation hearing on the other hand is a hearing held to determine whether a probation violator should have his or her probation revoked. In such hearings, a trial has already occurred and the potential violator found guilty. As this court has held, the alleged violator at the revocation hearing is not entitled “to the full range of criminal trial safeguards because the court is not dealing with a person who had yet to be convicted of anything.” Pyland v. State, 302 Ark. 444, 446, 790 S.W.2d 178, 179 (1990). The majority clearly has confused apples and oranges. What follows is a sampling of just a few differences between trials and revocation hearings: • Revocation hearings and trials involve different standards of proof. In a revocation hearing, the burden is on the state to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant has violated a condition of probation or suspension. Lewis v. State, 336 Ark. 469, 986 S.W.2d 95 (1999). The burden of proof in a jury trial or a non-jury trial is beyond a reasonable doubt. • The rules of evidence do not apply to a revocation hearing as they do in a trial. Ark. Code Ann. § 5-4-310 (c)(2) (Repl. 1997); Lemons v. State, 310 Ark. 381, 836 S.W.2d 861 (1992). • In a revocation hearing, the trial court may disallow cross-examination and confrontation of adverse witnesses for good cause. Ark. Code Ann. § 5-4-310(c)(l) (Repl. 1997). • The exclusionary rule does not apply to a revocation hearing. Dabney v. State, 278 Ark. 375, 646 S.W.2d 4 (1993). • The privilege against self-incrimination does not apply in the same way in a revocation hearing as it does in a trial. Courts have held that since the rules of evidence need not be strictly adhered to, the privilege against self-incrimination does not prevent consideration of inculpatory statements or a refusal to answer questions. State ex rel. Flowers v. Dept. of Health & Social Services, 81 Wis. 2d 376, 260 N.W.2d 727 (1978). Further, “because a revocation hearing is not a criminal prosecution, the probationer may be called by the government as a witness and may be required to testify regarding his noncriminal conduct even if it amounts to a probation violation or else have his refusal to testify considered against him.” 5 Wayne R. LaFave, Criminal Procedure s 26.10(c) (2d ed.) (citing Minnesota v. Murphy, 465 U.S. 420 (1984)). • The constitutional right to speedy trial does not apply to revocation hearings. White v. State, 329 Ark. 487, 951 S.W.2d 556 (1997); see also 21A Am. Jur. 2d Criminal Law § 920 (1998) (there is no constitutional right to a speedy trial in a revocation hearing). • Ark. Code Ann. § 5-2-305 (Repl. 1997), dealing with psychiatric examination of defendant, is inapplicable to revocation hearings. Pyland v. State, supra. • Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, Rule 11 regarding guilty pleas is not applicable in revocation hearings. Fed. R. Crim. P. Rule 11; U.S. v. Rapert, 813 F.2d 182 (8th Cir. 1987). • Collateral estoppel works differently in revocation hearing and trials. A criminal conviction collaterally estops a criminal defendant from denying his or her acts in a subsequent criminal trial. But collateral estoppel does not apply to issues raised at a revocation hearing. 21 Am. Jur. 2d Criminal Law § 433 (1998). • There is no presumption of innocence in a revocation hearing. Parole revocation, for example, is not part of criminal prosecution. Revocation is remedial rather than punitive because it seeks to protect welfare of parolees and the safety of society. Revocation hearings are not concerned with retribution. 59 Am. Jur. 2d Pardon and Parole § 96 (1987). • Statute regarding failure to appear does not apply to an order to appear issued prior to a revocation hearing. Ark. Code Ann. § 5-54-120(d) (Repl. 1997). The final point made by the majority is that revocation hearings are “criminal proceedings” and, thus, the Criminal Rules apply. But Rule 33.1 does not use the term “criminal proceeding.” It speaks in terms of “trials.” If this court wishes to apply Rule 33.1 to revocation hearings, it should amend the rule to do so. As matters stood until today, no one was on notice that this was the court’s interpretation. This court interprets its rules, using the same means used to interpret statutes. Smith v. Smith, 341 Ark. 590, 19 S.W.3d 590 (2000). And we give words in our statutes their plain meaning. Boyd v. State, 313 Ark. 171, 853 S.W.2d 263 (1993). This was not done in the instant case. I would consider the sufficiency issue on the merits. IMBER, J., joins.