Court Opinion

ID: 4429607
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-08-20 19:27:01.483913+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:25:43.819394
License: Public Domain

RECORD IMPOUNDED

               NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE
              APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION

                                  SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
                                  APPELLATE DIVISION
                                  DOCKET NO. A-3920-17T4

JOSEPH J. NORMAN,
                                        APPROVED FOR PUBLICATION
     Appellant,
                                                 January 14, 2019
v.                                         APPELLATE DIVISION

NEW JERSEY STATE
PAROLE BOARD,

     Respondent.
________________________

          Submitted December 19, 2018 – Decided January 14, 2019

          Before Judges Alvarez, Nugent and Mawla.

          On appeal from the New Jersey State Parole Board.

          Borger Matez, PA, attorneys for appellant (Jonathan
          E. Ingram, on the briefs).

          Gurbir S. Grewal, Attorney General, attorney for
          respondent (Melissa H. Raksa, Assistant Attorney
          General, of counsel; Christopher C. Josephson,
          Deputy Attorney General, on the brief).

     The opinion of the court was delivered by

MAWLA, J.A.D.
      Appellant Joseph J. Norman appeals from March 28 and April 24, 2018,

decisions by the New Jersey State Parole Board (Board).           The primary

question raised on appeal is whether an appellant who has served his sentence

pursuant to the Sex Offender Act (SOA), N.J.S.A. 2C:47-1 to -10, can be

compelled to undergo a psychological evaluation for violation of certain

conditions of parole supervision for life (PSL), and mandatory parole

supervision (MPS), imposed outside the SOA.           We hold the Board cannot

compel such an evaluation and reverse that part of its decision. We affirm the

Board's imposition of a parole eligibility term (PET) for Norman's violation of

a special condition of MPS.

      We take the following facts from the record. Norman was twenty-one

years old when he committed several acts of aggravated sexual assault against

a fourteen-year-old family member. He was arrested in September 2008, and

in December 2008, pled guilty to one count of first-degree aggravated sexual

assault, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2(a)(2)(A).

      Norman was sentenced in the second-degree range to seven years of

incarceration in the Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center (ADTC), subject

to the No Early Release Act (NERA), N.J.S.A. 2C:43-7.2(d)(7).           NERA

requires MPS for all first- and second-degree offenses. N.J.S.A. 2C:43-7.2(c).

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Norman was further sentenced to PSL following service of the custodial

portion of his sentence, as required by N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6.4(a).

       On September 9, 2014, Norman was granted parole and discharged from

the ADTC "by reason of the expiration of his maximum custodial sentence."

Norman had served his entire seven-year sentence through a combination of

jail credits and time served following his conviction.     His final discharge

stated he was "being discharged from the custodial portion of his . . . sentence

only to commence the period of supervision as set forth by . . . [NERA]."

Specifically, Norman was paroled for five years pursuant to MPS, and also

began PSL pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6.4(a). Notably, he was not paroled

pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2C:47-5(a), which governs sex offenders who are paroled

before the expiration of their maximum sentence under SOA.

       In pertinent part, the conditions of MPS required Norman to:

"Immediately notify the assigned parole officer of any change in employment

status. . . . Refrain from initiating, establishing or maintaining contact with

any minor[,] . . . [and] [s]uccessfully complete the EMP[.] [1]" Separately, PSL

also included the same conditions. Notably, the Board stated Norman's "PSL

status was previously continued to the [EMP] in 2016[,] and most recently

continued to the [EMP] in February of 2017[]" because of a prior violation.

1
    Electronic Monitoring Program.

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      In May 2017, Norman was arrested for violating parole by failing to

inform his parole officer that he had been terminated from his job and for

having unsupervised visits with his minor children. On October 18, 2017, a

Board panel found Norman had violated the PSL and MPS conditions of his

parole. The panel revoked Norman's PSL and directed him to serve twelve

months of incarceration. It also revoked MPS and referred him to the ADTC

for a psychological evaluation, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 10A:71-3.54(i)(3) and

10A:71-7.19A.

      On March 28, 2018, the Board affirmed the panel's determination.

According to the Board, the purpose of the psychological evaluation was to

"determine whether to affirm the revocation of the mandatory term of

supervision and, if affirmed, whether . . . Norman's eligibility for future

mandatory supervision consideration will be based on N.J.S.A. 2C:47-5(a) or

the relevant provisions of N.J.S.A. 30:4-123.45 [to -123.88]."

      Norman did not challenge the twelve months of incarceration for

violating PSL.   Rather, he requested the Board revise its determination to

permit his release, effective May 16, 2018, having served the twelve months in

confinement, and to resume parole.         He argued neither the regulation

governing MPS, nor the one governing PSL, granted the Board authority to

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require a psychological evaluation as a condition of resuming parole, and his

continued confinement as a result was unconstitutional.

      On April 24, 2018, the Board denied Norman's request. This appeal

followed.

                                       I.

      The issue on appeal – the Board's interpretation of statutes governing

Norman's sentence and regulations regarding his parole – presents a question

of law. We owe considerable deference to an agency's interpretation of its

own regulations. US Bank, NA v. Hough, 210 N.J. 187, 200 (2012) (quoting

In re Election Law Enf't Comm'n Advisory Op. No. 01-2008, 201 N.J. 254,

262 (2010)).     However, "an agency's interpretations, whether through

regulations or administrative actions, 'cannot alter the terms of a legislative

enactment nor can they frustrate the policy embodied in [a] statute.'" Williams

v. N.J. Dep't of Corr., 423 N.J. Super. 176, 183 (App. Div. 2011) (alteration in

original) (quoting N.J. Ass'n of Realtors v. N.J. Dep't of Envtl. Prot., 367 N.J.

Super. 154, 159-60 (App. Div. 2004)). "Ultimately, reviewing courts are not

'bound by the agency's interpretation of a statute.'" Ibid. (quoting Shim v.

Rutgers, 191 N.J. 374, 384 (2007)).

      On appeal, Norman asserts he was not paroled pursuant to the SOA, and

consequently is not subject to the provisions of N.J.A.C. 10A:71-3.54(i)(3) and

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N.J.A.C. 10A:71-7.19A. He argues subjecting him to a psychiatric evaluation

when he had already served his original sentence placed him in double

jeopardy and constituted ex post facto punishment. He also argues he should

have been released no later than May 17, 2018, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 10A:71 -

3.54(i)(2) and 10A:71-7.17B(a)(2). He asserts a twelve-month PET should not

have been imposed because he did not violate a special condition certified to

by the Board.

                                     II.

     As we noted, the Board revoked Norman's MPS and referred him to the

ADTC for a psychological evaluation, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 10A:71-3.54(i)(3)

and 10A:71-7.19A. The Board's interpretation of the regulation was mistaken.

     "An administrative agency, in construing its regulations, must apply the

same rules of construction as those guiding statutory construction by the

courts." Krupp v. Bd. of Educ. of Union Cty. Reg'l High Sch. Dist. No. 1, 278

N.J. Super. 31, 38 (App. Div. 1994) (citing In re N.J.A.C. 14A:20-1.1, 216

N.J. Super. 297, 306-07 (App. Div. 1987)).     For that reason, a regulation

"should be construed according to the plain meaning of the language." In re

1999-2000 Abbott v. Burke Implementing Regulations, 348 N.J. Super. 382,

399 (App. Div. 2002) (citing Medford Convalescent & Nurs. Ctr. v. Div. of

Med. Assist. & Health Servs., 218 N.J. Super. 1, 5 (App. Div. 1985)); accord

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                                      6
Czar, Inc. v. Heath, 398 N.J. Super. 133, 138 (App. Div. 2008), aff'd as

modified, 198 N.J. 195 (2009).

      "If the plain language leads to a clear and unambiguous result, then [the]

interpretive process is over." Calco Hotel Mgmt. Grp., Inc. v. Gike, 420 N.J.

Super. 495, 503 (App. Div. 2011) (alteration in original) (quoting TAC

Assocs. v. N.J. Dept. of Envtl. Prot., 202 N.J. 533, 541 (2010)). Furthermore,

"courts should avoid a construction that would render 'any word in the statute

to be inoperative, superfluous or meaningless, or to mean something other than

its ordinary meaning.'" Ibid. (quoting Bergen Commercial Bank v. Sisler, 157

N.J. 188, 204 (1999)).

      Criminal statutes are subject to sharper scrutiny for vagueness than civil

statutes because criminal statutes have greater penalties and more severe

consequences. State v. Maldonado, 137 N.J. 536, 562 (1994) (citing State v.

Afanador, 134 N.J. 162, 170 (1993)); State v. Bond, 365 N.J. Super. 430, 438

(App. Div. 2003). This comports with the doctrine that "penal statutes must be

strictly construed against the State." State v. Soltys, 270 N.J. Super. 182, 188

(App. Div. 1994) (quoting State v. Churchdale Leasing, Inc., 115 N.J. 83, 102

(1989)).

      Strict construction is appropriate as long as it is not contrary to the

Legislature's plain intent, State v. Anicama, 455 N.J. Super. 365, 386 (App.

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                                       7
Div. 2018) (quoting State v. Carreker, 172 N.J. 100, 115 (2002)), and as long

as it would not "unduly hinder" the Legislature's "object and purpose." State

v. Marchiani, 336 N.J. Super. 541, 545 (App. Div. 2001) (citing State v.

Rucker, 46 N.J. Super. 162, 167-68 (App. Div. 1957)).

     N.J.A.C. 10A:71-7.19A(a) states "[t]his section applies to offenders who

were sentenced to confinement in the [ADTC] under N.J.S.A. 2C:47-1 [to -10]

for an offense committed on or after December 1, 1998; who were paroled

under the provisions of N.J.S.A. 2C:47-5(a); and who violate parole." Such

individuals are subject to a psychological examination.    N.J.A.C. 10A:71-

7.19A(b). The purpose of the examination is to:

           determin[e] whether the violation(s) of the parole
           conditions reflects emotional or behavioral problems
           as a sex offender that cause the offender to be
           incapable of making any acceptable social adjustment
           in the community and, if so, to determine further the
           inmate's amenability to sex offender treatment and, if
           amenable, the inmate's willingness to participate in
           such treatment.

           [N.J.A.C. 10A:71-7.19A(d).]

           [I]f the report of the examination conducted pursuant
           to . . . [N.J.A.C. 10A:71-7.19A(d)] above reveals that
           the inmate's violation(s) of the parole conditions
           reflects emotional or behavioral problems as a sex
           offender that cause the inmate to be incapable of
           making any acceptable social adjustment in the
           community and further reveals that the inmate is
           amenable to sex offender treatment and is willing to
           participate in such treatment. The inmate shall be

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                                      8
            eligible for parole pursuant to the provisions of
            N.J.S.A. 2C:47-5(a).

            [N.J.A.C. 10A:71-7.19A(i).]

       By its plain language, N.J.A.C. 10A:71-7.19A(a) contemplates an inmate

who was paroled, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2C:47-5(a) before completing his

sentence and committed a parole violation. Indeed, the entire rubric of the

aforementioned regulations contemplates the inmate's return to the State's

custody and an evaluation to determine whether he can safely serve the

remainder of his sentence in the community.            These regulations are

inapplicable to an inmate who has served the entirety of his sentence under the

SOA.

       Our conclusion is further supported by the fact N.J.A.C. 10A:71-7.19A

was enacted to codify our holding in State v. Dalonges, 128 N.J. Super. 140

(App. Div. 1974). In 1957, Dalonges pled non vult to sexually assaulting a

fifteen year old. Id. at 143. He was incarcerated in 1958 and paroled with

conditions in 1962, before completing his sentence. Id. at 143-44. In 1967, he

violated the conditions of his parole by leaving New Jersey without permission

and attempting petit larceny in New York. Id. at 144. Once he was returned to

custody, a psychological evaluation was performed and revealed no issues or

concern he would reoffend as a sexual predator.        Ibid.   Thus, Dalonges

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                                      9
challenged the revocation of parole where he had committed a non-sexual

offense. Id. at 145.

      On appeal, we held the intent of the SOA was to treat sexual offenders.

Id. at 145-46. We concluded Dalonges' parole violations did not relate to his

original offenses and did not justify keeping him in custody for further

treatment. Id. at 147-48. Most importantly, Dalonges' violations occurred

while he was paroled and before he served his sentence. Id. at 143-44.

      In contrast, Norman had already served his sentence. Thus, the facts and

outcome of Dalonges underscore that N.J.A.C. 10A:71-7.19A does not apply

to Norman. Moreover, we note MPS and PSL did not exist at the time of our

holding in Dalonges.2 Therefore, we reject the Board's assertion these parole

supervision and monitoring regimes fall within the SOA, and thus constitute a

continuation of Norman's SOA sentence.

      Furthermore, we reject the Board's argument that it can compel a

psychological evaluation in order to determine Norman's future parole

eligibility under MPS based upon N.J.S.A. 2C:47-5(a). The statute states:

"Any offender committed to confinement under the terms of this chapter shall

2
   "The 2003 Amendment to N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6.4 'replaced all references to
"community supervision for life" with "parole supervision for life."'" State v.
Hester, 233 N.J. 381, 394-95 (2018) (quoting State v. Perez, 220 N.J. 423, 429
(2015)). N.J.A.C. 10A:71-3.54 codified mandatory supervision cases effective
August 3, 1998. 30 N.J.R. 2920(a).

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become eligible for parole consideration upon referral to the State Parole

Board of the offender's case by a special classification review board appointed

by the commissioner."      N.J.S.A. 2C:47-5(a).   Thus, by its plain language,

N.J.S.A. 2C:47-5 does not apply to Norman because he served his SOA

sentence, and is no longer subject to its provisions, and because the PSL and

MPS requirements operate under a different statutory framework.

      Therefore, the Board's argument that N.J.A.C. 10A:71-3.54(i)(3) applies

when an MPS term is revoked, and authorizes the Board to order the

psychological evaluation, misreads the regulation and N.J.S.A. 2C:47-5. In

pertinent part, the regulation states:

             (i) If a term of parole supervision imposed by a court
             pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2C:43-7.2 is revoked by the
             appropriate Board panel and the offender returned to
             custody for violation of a condition of supervision the
             Board panel shall determine:

                   ....

             3. Whether the offender, if originally sentenced
             pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2C:47-1 [to -10] and eligibility
             for parole consideration required the recommendation
             of the Special Classification Review Board, shall be
             eligible for parole consideration pursuant to the
             provisions of N.J.A.C. 10A:71-7.19 or 7.19A, as
             appropriate.

             [N.J.A.C. 10A:71-3.54(i)(3).]

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      The plain language of the regulation demonstrates it does not apply to

Norman. In Norman's final discharge document dated September 9, 2014, the

Board acknowledged he had been released from ADTC because of the

"expiration of his maximum custodial sentence."         Furthermore, the Board

stated: "This offender is being discharged from the custodial portion of his . . .

sentence only to commence the period of supervision as set forth by . . .

[NERA]." Thus, the Board acknowledged MPS was not a continuation of the

SOA sentence, which had already been completed. Moreover, for reasons we

have already discussed, N.J.A.C. 10A:71-3.54(i)(3)'s reference to N.J.A.C.

10A:71-7.19A does not apply to Norman.

      For these reasons, we reverse the Board's finding Norman was required

to undergo a psychological evaluation. 3 We hold that where an individual has

already served his sentence, he cannot be required to undergo a psychological

evaluation pursuant to N.J.A.C. 10A:71-3.54(i)(3) and 10A:71-7.19A. Absent

further comment by the Legislature, these regulations only apply to individuals

who have been released on parole before completing their sentence.

3
   We decline to address Norman's constitutional arguments because the plain
language of the regulations resolve the issue. "Constitutional questions should
not be addressed unless they are imperative for the disposition of the
litigation." Grant v. Wright, 222 N.J. Super. 191, 197-98 (App. Div. 1988)
(citing State v. Salerno, 27 N.J. 289, 296 (1958)).

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                                       12
                                      III.

      Finally, Norman argues that under N.J.A.C. 10A:71-3.54(i)(2) he should

have received a term of nine months PET, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 10:71-

7.17B(a)(2), and no more than twelve months under N.J.A.C. 10A:71-

7.17B(a)(3)(viii).   Norman asserts the Board failed to state its reasons for

imposing a twelve-month PET.       He argues the PET could not have been

established for a violation of a special condition, under N.J.A.C. 10A:71-6.4(e)

or (f), because the former provision only applies when the Board certifies to a

special condition, and the latter concerns a violation where an individual fails

to notify an employer of his parole status and criminal record. Norman argues

neither provision applies here.

      We find no error in the Board's imposition of a twelve-month PET. The

Board has broad discretion in parole release decisions. Trantino v. N.J. State

Parole Bd., 296 N.J. Super. 437, 470 (App. Div. 1997) (citing State v. Lavelle,

54 N.J. 315 (1969)).         N.J.A.C. 10A:71-7.17B(a)(3)(viii) requires the

imposition of a twelve-month PET for a violation of a special condition of

parole imposed under N.J.A.C. 10A:71-6.4(e). The Board's March 28, 2018

decision stated as follows: "The Board finds that . . . Norman was placed on

the [EMP] on February 15, 2017[,] as a result of a Board panel Notice of

Decision dated January 18, 2017[,] that imposed the special condition that . . .

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Norman successfully complete the [EMP]."         Thus, contrary to Norman's

claims, the Board panel had imposed special conditions when it adjudicated a

prior parole violation in 2017 and decided to continue him on parole.

      Separate from the SOA, Norman was subject to MPS as a part of his

original sentence, which he violated. Therefore, the imposition of a twelve-

month PET, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 10A:71-7.17B(a)(3)(viii), for violation of the

special condition was valid.

      Reversed in part and affirmed in part. We do not retain jurisdiction.

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