Court Opinion

ID: 4237730
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-01-19 15:09:51.339285+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:42:44.396793
License: Public Domain

IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA
                                 FIFTH DISTRICT

                                                   NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO
                                                   FILE MOTION FOR REHEARING AND
                                                   DISPOSITION THEREOF IF FILED

O.P., A CHILD,

                Appellant,

 v.                                                        Case Nos. 5D17-1210
                                                                 and 5D17-1211

STATE OF FLORIDA,

           Appellee.
________________________________/

Opinion filed January 12, 2018

Appeal from the Circuit Court
for Seminole County,
Melissa Souto, Judge.

James S. Purdy, Public Defender, and
Allison A. Havens, Assistant Public
Defender, Daytona Beach, for Appellant.

Pamela Jo Bondi, Attorney General,
Tallahassee, and Nora H. Hall, Assistant
Attorney General, Daytona Beach, for
Appellee.

PER CURIAM.

       O.P. appeals his sentence, challenging a special condition of probation that

provides there will be no consideration of early termination. We reverse.

       Sixteen-year-old O.P. entered negotiated pleas in two cases that were

consolidated for this appeal. In each case, O.P. pleaded no contest to burglary. 1 The trial

       1   In case no. 17-1210, O.P. also pleaded no contest to petit theft.
court withheld adjudication of guilt and sentenced O.P. to probation until his nineteenth

birthday in accordance with the plea agreement. However, the court orally pronounced

that it would not consider early termination of O.P.’s probation. The oral pronouncement

was included in the written judgment and sentence.

       O.P. filed a motion to correct sentence pursuant to Florida Rule of Criminal

Procedure 3.800(b)(2). He argued that the no early termination condition should be

stricken because “[t]he trial court is not empowered to prevent the Department of Juvenile

Justice from recommending early termination, nor does it have the authority to prevent

the circuit court in the future from discharging the probationer.” At a hearing on the motion,

the State conceded that the probationary condition was improper and requested an

amendment to the court minutes removing the condition. Nonetheless, the court indicated

that it “does not have to accept pleas that are negotiated,” and that O.P. was free to

withdraw his plea and proceed to trial. 2

       In the context of an adult sentence, this Court has previously concluded that a “no

early termination” condition is an invalid special condition of probation. See Harris v.

State, 51 So. 3d 1253, 1254 (Fla. 5th DCA 2011). We explained:

              The Department of Corrections [“DOC”] has discretion to
              recommend early termination under specified statutory
              conditions. The trial court cannot preempt the DOC’s statutory
              right to recommend early termination, nor could DOC’s
              decision to do so constitute a violation of probation condition.
              The State asserts that the early termination condition was
              merely an expression of the sentencing judge’s intent, rather
              than a true “condition.” If this were merely a statement of the
              trial court’s view, we would find no error, as there could be no
              misunderstanding that it might be binding on DOC or on the
              probationer. Here, it is specifically identified as a condition of

       2The record on appeal does not include a written order denying the motion, but
the hearing transcript reflects that the court orally denied the motion.

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               probation. Appellant is entitled to have it removed from the
               judgment and order of probation.

Id. Both the Second and Fourth Districts have also concluded that a trial court is not

authorized to impose a no early termination condition of probation on an adult defendant.

See, e.g., Murphy v. State, 976 So. 2d 1242 (Fla. 2d DCA 2008); Arriaga v. State, 666

So. 2d 949 (Fla. 4th DCA 1996). In Arriaga, the court concluded, “If the probationer has

fulfilled his obligations and has been a ‘model probationer,’ the interests of justice (not to

mention the wise allocation of scarce resources) may require that early termination be

considered.” 666 So. 2d at 950. To allow otherwise would “defeat[] the salutary purpose

of the statute.” Id.

       The only issue, then, is whether this principle applies within the framework of the

juvenile justice system. We conclude that it does. Like in chapter 948, the trial court

retains discretion to terminate probation early under the juvenile rules governing

probation:

               The court may conduct judicial review hearings for a child
               placed on probation for the purpose of fostering accountability
               to the judge and compliance with other requirements, such as
               restitution and community service. The court may allow early
               termination of probation for a child who has substantially
               complied with the terms and conditions of probation.

§ 985.435(7), Fla. Stat. (2017). The State’s argument that the court had discretion to

impose the no early termination condition is unpersuasive because it conflates the court’s

discretionary authority to grant a probationer’s request for early termination and the

court’s authority to impose a special condition that early termination will not be considered

at all. Moreover, the distinction drawn by the State between the statutory provisions

applicable to adults subject to probation versus those that apply to juveniles is unavailing

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because both chapters 948 and 985 permit the trial court to terminate probation early.

Compare § 948.05, Fla. Stat. (“A court . . . when satisfied that its action will be for the best

interests of justice and the welfare of society . . . may discharge the probationer or

offender in community control from further supervision.”), with § 985.435(7), Fla. Stat.

(“The court may allow early termination of probation for a child who has substantially

complied with the terms and conditions of probation.”).

       In addition, the no early termination condition conflicts with the dual purposes of

the juvenile justice system—preventing acts of delinquency and rehabilitating the juvenile.

See § 985.02(3), Fla. Stat. (2017). A probationary condition that does not allow for early

termination runs counter to the purpose of rehabilitation, and it does not allow for the

consideration of the release of a juvenile who has “substantially complied” with the terms

and conditions of his or her probation. See id. § 985.435(7).

       Accordingly, we reverse and remand for the trial court to strike the condition of

probation that prohibits consideration of the early termination of probation.

       REVERSED and REMANDED.

COHEN, C.J., PALMER and WALLIS, JJ., concur.

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