Court Opinion

ID: 9739007
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 20:07:10.829136+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:24:09.640473
License: Public Domain

SABERS, Justice
(specially concurring).
Although I agree with the dissent’s position that courts, not legislatures, determine constitutionality, the legislature does determine “parole.” Under SDCL 24-15-1.1, parole is defined as “the discretionary conditional release of an inmate from actual penitentiary custody before the expiration of his term of imprisonment.” (emphasis added). The emphasized language makes it clear that parole does not occur until actual release from penitentiary custody. Defining parole as “release” is a proper legislative function. Pursuant to Article XIV, sections 1 and 2 of the South Dakota Constitution, the state penitentiary is governed by such rules as the legislature shall provide, and an inmate, when incarcerated, “is under the exclusive control and custody of the penitentiary.” State v. Huftile, 367 N.W.2d 193, 196 (S.D.1985). Therefore, Winters was not granted “parole,” but was still in the process of applying and the process could properly produce a negative determination without a hearing.