Court Opinion

ID: 9697546
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-25 19:20:39.389325+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:20:33.569076
License: Public Domain

*570Dissenting Opinion by
Jacobs, J.:
I respectfully dissent.
The appellant, Nathaniel Stratton, raises this appeal from the judgment of sentence in which his probationary status was revoked, and he was sentenced to pay the costs of prosecution, and to undergo imprisonment for not less than two and a half nor more than five years.
Appellant contends, inter alia, that his due process rights as enumerated in Gagnon v. Scarpelli, 411 U.S. 778 (1973), Morrissey v. Brewer, 408 U.S. 471 (1972), and Commonwealth v. Alexander, 232 Pa. Superior Ct. 57, 331 A.2d 836 (1974), have been violated in that, prior to his probation revocation hearing, at which he was represented by counsel, he did not receive written notice of his alleged probation violations. (Appellant’s other contentions are without merit).
There is no evidence in the record that the appellant received written notice. However, there is no evidence in the record that the appellant objected to the want of written notice, nor does the appellant presently allege (nor does the record indicate) consequent prejudice to the appellant.
The majority opinion, relying upon this Court’s recent holdings in Commonwealth v. Henderson, 234 Pa. Superior Ct. 498, 340 A.2d 483 (1975), and Commonwealth v. Alexander, supra, would hold that the appellant does not waive the issue of the lack of written notice of the alleged probation violations by failing to object at the probation revocation hearing. This conclusion comes from the prophylactic rule laid down by our Court in Commonwealth v. Alexander, supra, and followed in Commonwealth v. Henderson, supra at 503, 340 A.2d at 485. In Commonwealth v. Alexander, supra, we said:
“The probation revocation hearing as stated in Kates, supra, [Commonwealth v. Kates, 452 Pa. 102, 118-19, 305 A.2d 701, 710 (1973)] was not intended as the forum in which the strictures of the rules of *571evidence are to be tested, but rather as the forum in which the probative value of evidence produced warrants the continuation of probationary status, or the revocation thereof. Whereas we agree that raising the issue at this early stage would facilitate the legal process, it would be in derogation of the minimum due process rights of the alleged probation violator to require him to raise lack of notice at a less-than-formal hearing or waive his right to do so.” Id. at 62, 331 A.2d at 838-39.
An examination of Commonwealth v. Kates, 452 Pa. 102, 305 A.2d 701 (1973) supports the first sentence quoted above from Commonwealth v. Alexander, supra, but seems to me to be contrary to the second sentence which is the one relied on in this case. Commonwealth v. Kates, supra, emphasizes that in a revocation hearing “... the controlling factor is not whether the traditional rules of evidence or procedure including Fourth and Fifth Amendment exclusionary rules have been strictly observed, but rather whether the probative value of the evidence has been affected.” Id. at 118-19, 305 A.2d at 710. I can find nothing in Commonwealth v. Kates, supra, which says that a properly counseled probationer cannot waive notice of the alleged probation violations by failing to protest. I believe that Commonwealth v. Kates, supra, and the quote from Commonwealth v. Kates, supra, found in Commonwealth v. Alexander, supra at 61-62, 331 A.2d at 838, support just such a waiver by pointing out that the traditional rules of procedure are not controlling.
The United States Supreme Court in Morrissey v. Brewer, supra, in recognition of the potential “grievous loss” id. at 482 to be suffered when parole is revoked, extended minimum due process requirements to parole revocation hearings. In Gagnon v. Scarpelli, supra at 782, the same requirements were extended to probation revocation. These opinions contain no language which suggests that these rights cannot be waived.
*572In Morrissey v. Brewer, supra at 487-88, the Court stated that “[tjhere must also be an opportunity for a hearing, if it is desired by the parolee, prior to the final decision on revocation by the parole authority.” (emphasis added). This suggests, if not clearly indicates, that even the formal hearing itself may be waived. Moreover, in Commonwealth v. Kates, supra at 121, 305 A.2d at 711, the case relied upon in Commonwealth v. Alexander, supra, our Supreme Court held that all constitutional objections must be raised at the probation revocation hearings, or they are waived.
To conclude that one cannot waive rights at a “less than formal hearing” required to revoke parole or probation, ignores the fact that regardless of how- the hearing is characterized, as “formal” or “less than formal”, it is a final hearing on the alleged parole or probation violation. To reject a concept of waiver permits, as in the present appeal, a probationer to raise lack of written notice for the first time on appeal.
I am aware of the presumption against the waiver of constitutional rights, and it is axiomatic that where the parolee or probationer is not represented by counsel, safeguards must exist to insure a knowing and intelligent waiver of due process rights. However, where, as in the instant case, a probationer is represented by counsel, the record contains no objection to the want of written notice, and there is no argument on appeal that the appellant has been prejudiced by the want of such notice, this Court should not hold that under no circumstances can there be a waiver of the Morrissey rights.
Further, to remand this case for a new evidentiary hearing is in my opinion an exercise in futility. It is undisputed that the appellant, while on probation, was arrested for and pleaded guilty to assault and battery. I am mindful that not every probation violation will result in probation revocation, and that the United States Supreme Court in Gagnon v. Scarpelli, supra, in discuss*573ing the rights of a probationer to counsel, recognized that even where the alleged probation violation is a matter of public record the probationer retains the opportunity to persuade the trial court that there are mitigating circumstances which make revocation'-“inappropriate.” Gagnon v. Scarpelli, supra at 790.
However, this Court cannot ignore the discretion of the trial judge to revoke probation when obvious violations of the terms or conditions of probation exist. Commonwealth v. Vivian, 426 Pa. 192, 201, 231 A.2d 301, 306 (1967). Further, in Morrissey v. Brewer, supra, the court pointed out that the “... parolee cannot relitigate issues determined against him in other forums, as in the situation presented when the revocation is based on conviction of another crime.” Id. at 490. Keeping the above considerations in mind, a review of the record compels a conclusion of the obvious. The same result will be reached if written notice is given and a new hearing is held.
This is not to suggest that in the future, failure to comply with the Morrissey and Gagnon requirements should be balanced against the probable outcome of the revocation hearing if the requirements had been followed. The requirement of written notice imposes no great burden on the state. Morrissey v. Brewer, supra at 490. However, on the facts of this appeal, given the failure to raise a timely objection, the absence of an allegation of prejudice to the appellant, and the undisputed plea of guilty by the appellant to a charge of assault and battery which constitutes a clear probation violation, a remand for a new evidentiary hearing does not comport with the reality of the situation.
I would not remand the case for a new evidentiary hearing on the probation violation but would affirm the action of the trial court.
Watkins, P.J., joins in this dissenting opinion.