Michael J. Thorson v. David H. Schwarz
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2004 WI 96 SUPREME COURT CASE NO.: COMPLETE TITLE: OF WISCONSIN 02-3380 State of Wisconsin ex rel. Michael J. Thorson, Petitioner-Appellant-Petitioner, v. David H. Schwarz, Administrator, Division of Hearing & Appeals, Respondent-Respondent. REVIEW OF A DECISION OF THE COURT OF APPEALS Reported at: 267 Wis. 2d 961, 671 N.W.2d 717 (Ct. App. 2003-Unpublished) OPINION FILED: SUBMITTED ON BRIEFS: ORAL ARGUMENT: March 24, 2004 SOURCE OF APPEAL: COURT: COUNTY: JUDGE: Circuit Eau Claire William M. Gabler JUSTICES: CONCURRED: DISSENTED: NOT PARTICIPATING: July 1, 2004 ABRAHAMSON, C.J., dissents (opinion filed). ROGGENSACK, J., dissents (opinion filed). SYKES, J., did not participate. ATTORNEYS: For the petitioner-appellant-petitioner there were briefs and oral argument by Jefren E. Olsen, assistant state public defender. For the respondent-respondent the cause was argued by Christopher G. Wren, assistant attorney general, with whom on the brief was Peggy A. Lautenschlager, attorney general. 2004 WI 96 NOTICE This opinion is subject to further editing and modification. The final version will appear in the bound volume of the official reports. No. 02-3380 (L.C. No. 02 CV 492) STATE OF WISCONSIN : IN SUPREME COURT State of Wisconsin ex rel. Michael J. Thorson, FILED Petitioner-Appellant-Petitioner, JUL 1, 2004 v. David H. Schwarz, Administrator, Division of Hearing & Appeals, Cornelia G. Clark Clerk of Supreme Court Respondent-Respondent. REVIEW of a decision of the Court of Appeals. ¶1 ANN WALSH BRADLEY, J. The Affirmed. petitioner, Michael J. Thorson, seeks review of an unpublished decision of the court of appeals affirming a circuit court order denying sentence credit.1 He argues that he is entitled to sentence credit for time spent at the Wisconsin Resource Center while awaiting evaluation and trial on a petition to commit him as a sexually violent person 1 State ex rel. Thorson v. Schwarz, No. 02-3380, unpublished slip op. (Wis. Ct. App. September 3, 2003) (affirming an order of the circuit court for Eau Claire County, William Gabler, Judge). No. under Chapter 980 (1999-2000).2 Because we 02-3380 determine that Thorson's detention under Chapter 980 satisfies neither the "in custody" nor "in connection with" requirements of Wis. Stat. § 973.155, the sentence credit statute, we conclude that he is not entitled to receive the requested credit. Accordingly, we affirm the decision of the court of appeals. I ¶2 On November 1, 1991, Thorson was convicted of attempted second-degree sexual assault and false imprisonment. He was sentenced to 13 years in prison, with a mandatory release date of April 4, 2000. ¶3 commenced Shortly an before action to his scheduled commit Thorson person pursuant to Chapter 980. release, as a the sexually State violent Thus, instead of being released from custody, Thorson was transferred to the Wisconsin Resource Center (WRC) for further evaluation. He remained there awaiting trial on the Chapter 980 petition. ¶4 On September 16, 2000, a jury determined that Thorson was not a proper candidate for a Chapter 980 commitment because his mental disorder did not make it substantially probable that he would commit future acts of sexual violence. On September 20, 2000, Thorson was released on parole after being detained at the WRC for 170 days. 2 All statutory references are to the 1999-2000 version of the Wisconsin Statutes unless otherwise noted. 2 No. ¶5 02-3380 While on parole, Thorson made substantial progress in his rehabilitation. Corrections began In April 2002, however, the Department of revocation of parole proceedings, alleging that he had unauthorized contact with a child. ¶6 judge At found the revocation that Thorson hearing, had the violated supervision and revoked his parole. administrative the rules law of his Accordingly, he ordered Thorson to be reincarcerated for a period of ten months. ¶7 After the revocation, Thorson requested that he be granted 170 days of credit toward his term of reincarceration for time spent at the WRC awaiting his Chapter 980 trial. administrative law judge denied the request. The In doing so, he explained that he was not aware of any law that allowed "custody credit"3 in a criminal case for detention in a civil commitment proceeding. ¶8 Thorson subsequently appealed Division of Hearings and Appeals (DHA). the decision to the The DHA administrator sustained the conclusion of the administrative law judge. He reasoned that the commitment proceeding was a separate legal matter and "[t]he fact that the court ordered [Thorson] confined pending the outcome of that proceeding 3 [did] not make that Although the parties, along with the circuit court and court of appeals, describe the issue in this case as one of "sentence credit," the administrative law judge used the term "custody credit" instead. At oral argument, the State Assistant Attorney General explained that because Thorson's proceeding arises out of revocation, "this is not a true sentence credit case. This is actually what the Department of Corrections calls a custody credit case." 3 No. 02-3380 custody part of this case or entitle him to sentence credit for that confinement." ¶9 On July 23, 2002, Thorson filed a petition for a writ of certiorari, challenging the denial of sentence credit for his time spent at the WRC. The circuit court concluded that "[t]he Chapter 980 proceeding was commenced against Mr. Thorson for a wide variety of reasons, only one of which was his conviction for second-degree sexual assault in 91CF68. The reincarceration . . . had its roots in the criminal conviction from 91CF68 and had nothing to do with the Chapter 980 proceeding." Accordingly, the court dismissed the writ on the ground that Thorson's Chapter 980 detention was not "in connection with the course of conduct for which the sentence was imposed." ¶10 The order. court State ex of appeals rel. affirmed Thorson v. the circuit Schwarz, No. court's 02-3380, unpublished slip op. (Wis. Ct. App. September 3, 2003). the circuit court, the court of appeals held that Like Thorson's detention "was not in connection with the course of conduct for which his sentences were imposed." Id., ¶3. It further concluded that Chapter 980 commitments are "a separate civil matter" and that the evaluation process at the WRC determine whether Thorson should be civilly committed.4 4 was to Id., ¶4. The court of appeals also rejected Thorson's due process argument that fundamental fairness required credit for the time he was detained at the WRC. Thorson, unpublished slip op. at ¶5. Because Thorson did not pursue this issue on review, we do not address it here. 4 No. 02-3380 II ¶11 The issue reincarcerated for in a this parole case is whether violation, is a petitioner, entitled to claim sentence credit for time spent in detention during the pendency of a Chapter 980 proceeding. Both the circuit court and court of appeals answered in the negative, affirming the decision of the DHA. ¶12 Our review of a parole revocation by certiorari is limited to four inquiries: (1) whether the agency stayed within its jurisdiction; (2) whether it acted according to law; (3) whether its action was arbitrary, oppressive, or unreasonable, representing its will, not its judgment; and (4) whether the evidence was such that it might reasonably make the order or determination in question. Van Ermen v. DHSS, 84 Wis. 2d 57, 63, 267 N.W.2d 17 (1978). ¶13 In the present case, our inquiry is focused on whether the DHA acted according to law when it rejected Thorson's claim. Resolution of application statute. this of Wis. inquiry Stat. involves § the 973.155, interpretation the sentence and credit It presents a question of law subject to independent appellate review. See State v. Tuescher, 226 Wis. 2d 465, 468, 595 N.W.2d 443 (Ct. App. 1999) (citations omitted). III ¶14 Stat. § We begin our discussion with an examination of Wis. 973.155. The statute provides in relevant part: 5 governs sentence credit and No. 02-3380 973.155 Sentence credit. (1)(a) A convicted offender shall be given credit toward the service of his or her sentence for all days spent in custody in connection with the course of conduct for which sentence was imposed. As used in this subsection, "actual days spent in custody" includes, without limitation by enumeration, confinement related to an offense for which the offender is ultimately sentenced, or for any other sentence arising out of the same course of conduct, which occurs: 1. While the offender is awaiting trial; 2. While the offender is being tried; and 3. While the offender is awaiting imposition of sentence after trial. ¶15 Under the language of the statute, two conditions must be met in order for a defendant to receive sentence credit: (1) the defendant must have been "in custody" for the period in question; and (2) the period "in custody" must have been "in connection with the course of conduct for which the sentence was imposed." Wis. Stat. § 973.155(1)(a). We examine each of these requirements in turn. A. Custody ¶16 The § 973.155. the term "custody" is not defined in Wis. Stat. To fill this void, Wisconsin courts have relied upon definition escape statute. set forth in Wis. Stat. § 946.42(1)(a), the See e.g., State v. Magnuson, 2000 WI 19, ¶¶13- 15, 233 Wis. 2d 40, 606 N.W.2d 536; State v. Gilbert, 115 Wis. 2d 371, 378-79, 340 N.W.2d 511 (1983); State v. Cobb, 135 Wis. 2d 181, 184-85, 400 N.W.2d 9 (Ct. App. 1986). 6 No. ¶17 02-3380 The definition of custody in Wis. Stat. § 946.42(1)(a) provides in relevant part: 946.42 Escape. (1) In this section: (a) "Custody" includes without limitation actual custody of an institution . . . . It does not include the custody of a probationer, parolee or person on extended supervision by the department of corrections or a probation, extended supervision or parole officer or the custody of a person who has been released to aftercare supervision under ch. 938 unless the person is in actual custody or is subject to a confinement order under s. 973.09(4). ¶18 starting Although point the for above definition determining "custody" is for the necessary sentence purposes, it is by no means the only consideration. credit This court has made clear that offenders must also be subject to an escape charge in order to be in "custody" for purposes of sentence credit. ¶19 Magnuson, 233 Wis. 2d 40, ¶¶1, 25, 31. 47. In Magnuson, this court considered whether a person placed on in-home detention with electronic monitoring was in "custody" for sentence credit purposes. that "an offender's status Id., ¶1. constitutes custody We determined for sentence credit purposes when the offender is subject to an escape charge for leaving that status." we concluded that Id. Magnuson's Applying this bright line rule, conditions of release did not subject him to an escape charge and therefore did not render him in custody. ¶20 Id., ¶48. In the present case, both parties agree that Thorson's detention at the WRC satisfies the broad definition of custody under Wis. Stat. § 946.42. We too subscribe to this conclusion. 7 No. While parolees are not normally considered to be 02-3380 in custody under the escape statute, Thorson was in actual custody at the WRC. This is supported by the fact that the Department of Health and Family Services (DHFS) is required to administer the WRC "as a correctional institution." ¶21 subject Where to an authorization. would have the parties escape Wis. Stat. § 46.056(1). disagree charge had is he whether left the Thorson WRC was without Thorson contends that absconding from the WRC subjected him to escape under Wis. Stat. § 946.42(3)(a) so as to entitle him to sentence credit under Magnuson. That statute specifies four situations in which the crime of escape can occur: (1) the defendant was under arrest for a crime; (2) the defendant was lawfully charged with a crime; (3) the defendant was lawfully convicted of a crime; or (4) the defendant was sentenced for a crime. State v. Scott, 191 Wis. 2d 146, 150, 528 N.W.2d 46 (Ct. App. 1995). Because Thorson had not yet been fully discharged from his sentence, he maintains that he could have been charged under the escape statute. ¶22 The problem with Thorson's argument is its underlying premise. Thorson was not detained at the WRC because of his sentence for attempted second-degree sexual assault and false imprisonment. Rather, he was detained as a result of a separate discretionary decision to seek his commitment under Chapter 980. ¶23 Although a sexually violent offense serves as one of the prerequisites for initiating a proceeding under Chapter 980, Wis. Stat. § 980.02 specifies additional allegations that must 8 No. accompany the proceeding. from a petition in order to initiate an 02-3380 independent These include allegations that the person suffers mental disorder and that the disorder "creates a substantial probability that he or she will engage in acts of sexual violence." ¶24 Wis. Stat. § 980.02(2)(b) and (c). Beyond the text of the statute, Thorson offers two more reasons why he was subject to an escape charge. First, Thorson notes that DHFS has adopted rules providing for the use of force, including lethal escapees from the WRC. force, to prevent and capture See Wis. Admin. Code §§ HFS 95.04, 95.05 and 95.06 (March 2004). He argues that it would be highly anomalous to provide that a person who escapes or attempts to escape from the WRC could be subject to lethal force but could not be charged with escape under Wis. Stat. § 946.42. ¶25 statute Second, applies Thorson to contends individuals that because committed under the escape Chapter 971 (mental disease or mental defect) or Chapter 975 (Sex Crimes Law), none of whom has fully passed through all stages of the criminal process, the escape statute must therefore also apply to individuals detained or committed under Chapter 980, all of whom are still subject to the underlying criminal sentence. Neither of these reasons aids Thorson's argument. ¶26 The individuals department's detained or rules committed on the under use of Chapter force 980 do create a contradiction with respect to the escape statute. for not Many of those housed at the WRC have established records of violent behavior. Because of their characteristics, the legislature has 9 No. 02-3380 approved administrative rules that allow, as a last resort, the use of lethal force to protect the public. ¶27 If expansively. similarly anomaly that insistence an this does court exist, it construe rests the in Thorson's escape statute Such a construction would expose himself and other situated defendants to a criminal charge that the statute does not explicitly contemplate. ¶28 Thorson's argument concerning commitments under Chapter 971 and Chapter 975 is similarly unpersuasive. Both Chapter 971 and Chapter 975 are specifically referenced in the escape statute. Wis. Stat. § 946.42(3)(g). Unlike those sections, there is no incorporation of Chapter 980 into Wis. Stat. § 946.42. escape that We refuse to create a prosecutable offense for the clear language of the statute does not authorize. ¶29 In sum, while Thorson's status at the WRC satisfied the definition of custody under § 946.42(1)(a), it did not leave him vulnerable to an escape charge had he absconded from his confinement. Because the State could not prosecute Thorson for escape, his detention at the WRC does not qualify under Magnuson as being in custody for purposes of Wisconsin's sentence credit statute. B. Connection with the Course of Conduct ¶30 credit We address next the second requirement of the sentence statute that the time spent in custody must be "in connection with the course of conduct for which sentence was 10 No. imposed."5 Wis. Stat. § 973.155(1)(a). 02-3380 The administrative law judge, the DHA, the circuit court, and the court of appeals all held that if Thorson were in custody, it was not "in connection with" the offense for which he was sentenced because a Chapter 980 proceeding is a separate civil matter. ¶31 The phrase "course of conduct" was construed by the court of appeals in Tuescher. 465. explicitly 226 Wis. 2d at There, the court considered two possible interpretations of the phrase. One was that it should be read broadly to mean "criminal episode." Id. at 471. The other was that it should be construed narrowly to mean "the specific 'offense or acts' embodied in sentenced." the Id. charge for which the defendant is being Based on the history of the statute and prior case law, the court adopted the narrower interpretation. Id. at 479. ¶32 In his brief, Thorson contends that the specific offense that resulted in his conviction and sentence is the same one on which his Chapter 980 petition and custody in the WRC were based. He notes that no new acts were committed that would enable State the to commence a Chapter 980 proceeding. Furthermore, Thorson asserts that his detention at the WRC was factually connected to the conduct for which he was sentenced. 5 Additionally, Thorson asserts that his detention at the WRC was "related to an offense for which sentence was imposed." Wis. Stat. § 973.155(1)(a). Because Thorson did not previously present this argument to the court of appeals, however, we deem it waived. 11 No. ¶33 Yet, description at of oral the argument, predicate in response offenses, to 02-3380 Schwarz's Thorson's counsel acknowledged that "there are other predicate acts from sentences long ago discharged." petitions the Schwarz conviction for noted which that a in defendant Chapter is 980 serving operates as a predicate offense, but it is not necessarily the only predicate offense. other violations that Chapter 980 petitions often refer to may be qualifying offenses.6 Schwarz concluded: "In Mr. Thorson's case, he has another qualifying conviction. Unfortunately the petition is not part of the record." ¶34 In either instance, argument misses the mark. Thorson's "in connection with" Even assuming that his time at the WRC qualifies as a "sentence," Thorson was not detained for the specific offense that caused his original conviction. Rather, the filing of a Chapter 980 petition was the reason for his detention. Chapter 980 commitments are separate civil matters. See State v. Carpenter, 197 Wis. 2d 252, 258, 541 N.W.2d 105 (1995). ¶35 It "enveloped that proceedings criminal conduct." are It procedural and that such by 980 Burgess, 2003 WI 71, ¶19, 262 Wis. 2d 354, 665 N.W.2d 124. true sides Chapter v. also both true State is on is proceedings constitutional share features 6 many of present in the same criminal A qualifying offense for purposes of Chapter 980 means "sexually violent offense" as the term is defined in Wis. Stat. § 980.01(6). 12 No. prosecutions. 697 (1999). 02-3380 State v. Curiel, 227 Wis. 2d 389, 417, 597 N.W.2d However, these facts do not change the reason why Thorson was at the WRC. ¶36 A fundamental problem with Thorson's argument is that conceptually pretrial there is detention commitment. no from way to time distinguish spent time following spent an in actual In addition to the predicate qualifying offenses, the detention time is based on a probable cause determination that the detainee has a mental disorder, which substantial probability that he or she will reoffend. Stat. § 980.02(2) and (3). creates a See Wis. The commitment time is based upon a beyond a reasonable doubt determination that the detainee has a mental disorder which creates a substantial probability of future reoffense. ¶37 with" If this court were to accept Thorson's "in connection argument, all Chapter 980 confinements, whether for detention or for commitment, in effect become an offset to the criminal sentence. His argument integrates Chapter 980 into the underlying criminal proceedings, a result which the legislature specifically attempted to preclude. ¶38 In sum, we determine that Thorson's detention at the WRC under Chapter 980 satisfies neither the "in custody" nor "in connection with" requirements sentence credit statute. acted according credit. to law of Wis. Stat. § 973.155, the We therefore conclude that the DHA when it rejected Thorson's requested Accordingly, we affirm the decision of the court of appeals. 13 No. By the Court. The decision of the court affirmed. ¶39 DIANE S. SYKES, J. did not participate. 14 of 02-3380 appeals is No. ¶40 SHIRLEY conclude S. ABRAHAMSON, C.J. 02-3380.ssa (dissenting). that under Wis. Stat. § 973.155, the sentence I credit statute, Thorson should be granted 170 days for credit toward his term of reincarceration for time spent in WRC awaiting evaluation and trial under ch. 980. ¶41 Thorson was involuntarily institutionalized in WRC by WRC is listed as a state prison;7 the State for the 170 days. the Department of Health and Family Services is required to administer WRC as a correctional institution and the employees at WRC are employees of the Department of Corrections.8 If Thorson was not in custody during this 170 days, who ever is in custody? If Thorson left would look not kindly on WRC his without move. permission, The the state statute should be possible ch. 980 ch. 980 interpreted as written. ¶42 Although proceedings, committee. the Thorson State was failed held to for prove Thorson a Thorson's period in custody at WRC was in connection with the course of conduct for which his criminal sentence was imposed. justice criminal Chapter 980 proceedings rely heavily on the criminal system. Chapter conviction for 980 a proceedings sexually are violent triggered offense. by a The sexually violent offense was both the course of conduct that resulted in his prison sentence and the course of conduct that was the basis for the ch. 980 petition. 7 See Wis. Stat. § 302.01(1)(a). 8 See Wis. Stat. § 46.056(1)(2). 1 No. ¶43 02-3380.ssa The State sought the opportunity to prove Thorson was sexually violent pursuant to ch. 980 and precluded the parole board from addressing his case for 170 days. I agree with Justice Roggensack's dissent that "[f]undamental fairness should cause the State to be required to grant sentence credit for 170 days that the State caused Thorson to be held at WRC."9 ¶44 9 For the reasons set forth, I dissent. Justice Roggensack's dissent, ¶65. 2 No. ¶45 PATIENCE D. ROGGENSACK, J. 02-3380.pdr In order (dissenting). to receive sentence credit for the period of time between the filing of the ch. 980 petition and Michael J. Thorson's release on parole, which release followed the jury determination that the State failed to prove he was a sexually violent person, Thorson must show that he was in custody in connection with his criminal conviction confinement prior escape charges. and to that parole, if he he walked would have away his subject been from to State v. Magnuson, 2000 WI 19, ¶25, 233 Wis. 2d 40, 606 N.W.2d 536; State v. Gilbert, 115 Wis. 2d 371, 378, 340 N.W.2d 511 (1983). petition provided continued custody, I conclude that the filing of the ch. 980 only an which additional reason did reason not for negate Thorson's the State's custody of Thorson in connection with the course of conduct for which he was imprisoned. Accordingly, Thorson would have been subject to an escape charge if he left his place of confinement without permission. Therefore, I also conclude that he is entitled to sentence credit for the period of time between the filing of the ch. 980 petition and his release on parole. As the majority concludes otherwise, I respectfully dissent. I. ¶46 In 1991, Thorson BACKGROUND was sentenced to a thirteen-year prison sentence for attempted second-degree sexual assault and false imprisonment. 2000. His mandatory release date was April 4, After serving nine years of that sentence, and within 90 days prior to his mandatory release date, the State filed a 1 No. petition pursuant committed as a to Wis. sexually Stat. violent § 980.0210 to person. 02-3380.pdr have Instead Thorson of being released on parole, Thorson was transferred to the Wisconsin Resource Center (WRC). 170 days until its The State held Thorson in custody for ch. 980 petition was resolved. On September 16, 2000, a jury found that the State had not proved Thorson was a sexually violent person, and on September 20, 2000, the State released Thorson on parole. ¶47 In May 2002, the State revoked Thorson's parole and reincarcerated him for a period of ten months. Thorson asked the Division of Hearing and Appeals (DHA) to grant him sentence credit for the time he spent at the WRC. credit. Both the circuit court and court of appeals affirmed that decision. 10 The DHA denied him Thorson petitioned this court for review. Wisconsin Stat. § 980.02(2) provides in relevant part: A petition filed under this section shall allege that all of the following apply to the person alleged to be a sexually violent person: (a) The person criteria: satisfies any of the following 1. The person has been convicted of a sexually violent offense. . . . (ag) The person is within 90 days of discharge or release, on parole, . . . from a sentence that was imposed for a conviction for a sexually violent offense . . . . 2 No. II. A. 02-3380.pdr DISCUSSION Standard of Review ¶48 Whether Thorson is entitled to sentence credit for the time he spent at the WRC requires application of Wisconsin's sentence credit statute, Wis. Stat. § 973.155. Statutory application is a question of law that we review de novo. State v. Tuescher, 226 Wis. 2d 465, 468, 595 N.W.2d 443 (Ct. App. 1999). B. Wisconsin Stat. § 973.155 Sentence Credit Statute ¶49 Deciding Thorson's appeal requires us to apply Wis. Stat. § 973.155. Section § 973.155(1)(a) provides: A convicted offender shall be given credit toward the service of his or her sentence for all days spent in custody in connection with the course of conduct for which sentence was imposed. As used in this subsection, "actual days spent in custody" includes, without limitation by enumeration, confinement related to an offense for which the offender is ultimately sentenced, or for any other sentence arising out of the same course of conduct, which occurs: 1. While the offender is awaiting trial; 2. While the offender is being tried; and 3. While the offender is awaiting imposition of sentence after trial. ¶50 We previously have concluded that the plain meaning of Wis. Stat. § 973.155 requires that sentence credit be granted only for time when an offender is "in custody" that is "in connection with the course of conduct for which sentence was imposed." See Gilbert, 115 Wis. 2d at 376-77 (stating that "Sec. 973.155(1)(a), Stats., is not susceptible to more than one interpretation . . . ."). Our task, 3 then, is to apply the No. 02-3380.pdr concepts of "in custody" and "in connection with," as they have been interpreted, to Thorson's case. Therefore, in order for Thorson to obtain sentence credit for the 170 days he spent at the WRC, he must show that he was actually confined there in connection with the conduct that resulted in his criminal conviction, and that he would have been subject to an escape charge if he left that confinement without permission. 1. In custody ¶51 Wisconsin custody." Stat. § 973.155 does not define "in However, we have examined this portion of the statute previously, and have concluded that the phrase "in custody" for purposes of the sentence credit statute has the same meaning as the definition of "custody" in the escape statute, Wis. Stat. § 946.42. 40, ¶13. Gilbert, 115 Wis. 2d at 378-79; Magnuson, 233 Wis. 2d Section 946.42(1)(a) defines "custody" as follows: "Custody" includes without limitation actual custody of an institution . . . . It does not include the custody of a probationer, parolee or person on extended supervision by the department of corrections or a probation, extended supervision or parole officer or the custody of a person who has been released to aftercare supervision under ch. 938 [the juvenile justice code] unless the person is in actual custody or is subject to a confinement order under s. 973.09(4). (emphasis added). ¶52 There is no question that Thorson was in custody, as defined in Wis. Stat. § 946.42, as the WRC confined him, and therefore he was in "actual custody of an institution." Both parties, and the majority, agree on this point. op., ¶20. Id. Majority However, the majority points out that Thorson's being 4 No. 02-3380.pdr in actual custody does not end the custody analysis. Magnuson, 233 Wis. 2d 40, ¶25, the majority Citing determines that Thorson also must be subject to an escape charge for leaving that custody. ¶53 Majority op., ¶18. In Magnuson, the defendant requested sentence credit for the six months that he was subject to home-confinement and electronic monitoring as part of his bond conditions. We agreed with the circuit court that Magnuson appropriately was denied sentence credit. that "an Magnuson, 233 Wis. 2d 40, ¶1. offender's status constitutes We determined custody for sentence credit purposes when the offender is subject to an escape charge for leaving that status." important custody because we used it in Id. allowed Gilbert The concept of "status" is us to so expand that we the could definition include of "other custodial and restrictive situations" that are not specifically enumerated in the escape statute and that arose after we decided Gilbert.11 Id., ¶¶26-31. Therefore, we concluded that an offender is in custody whenever the offender is subject to an escape charge under Wis. statutory certain provisions situations as in Stat. § 946.42 which the restrictive 11 or under legislature and has custodial by any "other classified attaching Among the other "custodial and restrictive situations" we named in Magnuson were the community residential confinement program (Wis. Stat. § 301.046(1)), the intensive sanctions program (Wis. Stat. § 301.048), home detention (Wis. Stat. § 302.425), county work camp (Wis. Stat. § 303.10), the work release plan for prison inmates (Wis. Stat. § 303.065), and the serious juvenile offender program (Wis. Stat. § 938.538). State v. Magnuson, 2000 WI 19, ¶¶26-31, 233 Wis. 2d 40, 606 N.W.2d 536. 5 No. escape charges situations." ¶54 Thorson for an unauthorized departure 02-3380.pdr from those Id., ¶26. In my view, we need not use Magnuson to conclude that was in custody for purposes of the sentence credit statute because Thorson's custody was of a type specifically listed in Wis. Stat. § 946.42(1)(a). Thorson's circumstances in regard to custody are similar to those in Gilbert, which case controls the question before us regarding the definition of "in custody" for purposes of sentence credit when the offender is a ch. 980 detainee in the actual custody of an institution. Therefore, I would apply Gilbert when the offender is in actual custody, and Magnuson to circumstances where an offender is not in custody of a type listed in § 946.42(1)(a). ¶55 In Gilbert, the defendants each had been incarcerated for short periods of time as part of their probation conditions. Gilbert, 115 Wis. 2d at 374-75. of sentence credit, the We determined for the purposes common meaning of "custody" was applicable to describe the defendants' situation; however, we also relied Criminal on Jury special materials Instruction drafted Committee by that the said Wisconsin that the definition of "custody" in the escape statute could be used to define "custody" in the sentence credit statute. Id. at 378-79. Further, we concluded that confinement even as a condition of probation was still considered "custody." Id. at 380. We made no mention that the defendant must also be subject to an escape charge for leaving custody. defendants in Gilbert We did not need to do so. were actually 6 confined As the within an No. institution, and if they left "without lawful 02-3380.pdr permission or authority," they would have been subject to an escape charge. Wis. Stat. § 946.42(3).12 Accordingly, I would conclude that Gilbert controls the "custody" issue here because Thorson was in custody within an institution in two capacities: as one convicted of a crime and also as a ch. 980 detainee. ¶56 According to our holding in Gilbert, Thorson was in custody under Wis. Stat. § 946.42(1)(a) and therefore, satisfied the "custody" requirement for sentence credit under Wis. Stat. § 973.155. use Furthermore, even though I do not agree that we must Magnuson's situation, were "escape I to requirement" apply Magnuson, to analyze Thorson Thorson's would be "in custody" because he satisfies that requirement as well. ¶57 It is true, as the majority asserts, that Wis. Stat. § 946.42(1)(a) does not list a person who escapes from commitment under ch. 980 as being one who is subject to an escape charge. Majority op., ¶28. ch. 980 committee. However, Thorson was never a This is so because until the ch. 980 process is completed, when the court or jury determines that the person subject to a ch. 980 petition is a sexually violent person and the court actually commits the person to the custody of the 12 Wisconsin Stat. § 946.42(3) provides in relevant part: A person in custody who intentionally escapes from custody under any of the following circumstances is guilty of a . . . felony: (a) Pursuant to a legal arrest for, lawfully charged with or convicted of or sentenced for a crime. 7 No. 02-3380.pdr Department of Health and Family Services, that person is not a civil committee. ¶58 Wis. Stat. § 980.06. Prior to the State's filing a ch. 980 petition, an offender's status is as one in custody due to sentencing for a crime. The petition that the State files to attempt to commit an offender under ch. 980 is based on the conviction for a sexual crime the serving a sentence. very conviction for which the Wis. Stat. § 980.02(2)(ag). offender is That Thorson's status as an incarcerated felon continued during his detention for the ch. 980 proceedings becomes apparent when we notice that even after the State failed to prove violent, Thorson remained incarcerated. that he was sexually He was released several days after the jury reached its verdict, but only after the parole commission authorized the release. See Wis. Stat. § 304.06(1). ¶59 The majority views Thorson's status as if he were only a committed sexual offender and explains that it fears exposing Thorson and those similarly situated to criminal escape charges when it believes there is no statutory authority to do so. majority op., ¶¶27-28. See The basis for exposing violent sexual offenders who are detained due to pending ch. 980 petitions to escape charges, however, is not the ch. 980 petition, but their original criminal convictions. ¶60 I note that in one effort to show Thorson could not be charged with escape, the majority asserts, "the legislature has approved administrative rules that allow, as a last resort, the use of lethal force to protect the public." 8 Majority op. ¶26. No. 02-3380.pdr However, the provision to which I assume the majority refers, Wis. Admin. Code § HFS 95.06(1)(c)1.d. (Feb., 2002), authorizes the amount of force that can be used to prevent an escape from the WRC. The majority does not address the consequences of a successful attempts escape escape notwithstanding, attempt. from the That the WRC majority is, and cannot if a ch. succeeds, argue that 980 detainee lethal the force escaped detainee would suffer no consequences once he is apprehended. Undoubtedly, he would be charged with a criminal offense, which I conclude is escape. Wis. Stat. § 946.42. Section HFS 95.06(1)(c)1.d. is no more than a parallel provision to Wis. Admin. Code § DOC 306.07(4)(d) (Aug., 2001), which permits the use of "deadly force" to prevent an escape of one who is in the custody of the Department of Corrections. ¶61 Accordingly, I would conclude that even under the majority's use of Magnuson, Thorson was in custody as he would have been subject to an escape charge had he left because he had not been released from his original sentence prior to the filing of the ch. 980 petition nor during his detention while that petition was pending. Therefore, Thorson satisfies the first condition Stat. under Wis. § 973.155 for sentence credit. However, in order to receive sentence credit, Thorson's time in custody also must be "in connection with the same course of conduct" for which sentence was imposed. 2. In connection with ¶62 "The clear intent of sec. 973.155, Stats., is to grant credit for each day in custody regardless of the basis for the 9 No. 02-3380.pdr confinement as long as it is connected to the offense for which sentence is imposed." Gilbert, 115 Wis. 2d at 380.13 The majority argues that Thorson's time spent at the WRC was not "in connection with" detention was the specific facts of his offense filing his of because the ch. offense. the 980 reason petition, Majority op., for his not the ¶34. This reasoning fails to acknowledge that the filing of a ch. 980 petition expressly recognizes that an offender is still serving time for a sexual crime. Wis. Stat. § 980.02(2)(ag) (requiring a petition seeking civil commitment against an offender to be made within 90 days of an offender's discharge from a sentence imposed for the conviction of a sexually violent crime). Therefore, the State's ability to file a ch. 980 petition arises directly from the same set of facts from criminal conviction and incarceration arose. which Thorson's In holding that the only reason an offender is subject to a ch. 980 proceeding is because the State filed a petition, the majority's rationale inappropriately severs a ch. 980 13 petition from the original In one instance, this court did provide that a defendant who was charged with attempted kidnapping was entitled to sentence credit for the time he spent in a state hospital pursuant to a court-ordered sex deviate exam under Wis. Stat. § 975.02. Clark v. State, 92 Wis. 2d 617, 642-44, 286 N.W.2d 344 (1979). 10 No. offense.14 the See majority op., ¶34. explicit language of 02-3380.pdr This severance is contrary to § 980.02(2)(ag), which requires connection. ¶63 The majority also points out that ch. 980 proceedings are separate civil matters. Majority op., ¶34. See State v. Carpenter, 197 Wis. 2d 252, 258, 541 N.W.2d 105 (1995). But why this precludes offenders from receiving sentence credit when a ch. 980 petition fails is unclear. Where, as here, the offender has met the requirements of the sentence credit statute and the petition fails, the State should grant the offender sentence credit. ¶64 Furthermore, the majority fears that granting Thorson sentence credit will result in "all Chapter 980 confinement, whether it is for detention or for commitment, [to] in effect become an offset to the criminal sentence." Majority op., ¶37. Once that again, distinguishing criminal. the majority between See id. a demonstrates committed offender and it a is not convicted Once a person is committed under ch. 980, his or her status as a criminal ends, and that individual's 14 The majority asserts the State's petition was warranted because Thorson had committed other predicate offenses, the sentences for which had been discharged, which would have qualified Thorson for a ch. 980 petition had a petition been filed. See majority op., ¶33. According to the majority, then, Thorson's most recent offense was merely another predicate offense on which to base the petition and therefore, Thorson's detention at the WRC was not sufficiently connected to the specific crime for which sentence was imposed. See majority op., ¶¶33, 34. This logic fails to recognize that the event that resulted in Thorson's incarceration was a necessary component of the ch. 980 petition. See Wis. Stat. § 980.02(2)(ag). 11 No. status as a committed sex offender begins. 02-3380.pdr It is at this point, when civil commitment occurs, that sentence credit can no longer be offset against the original criminal sentence because the offender's confinement is no longer as a criminal, but as a committee who is confined for treatment, not punishment. See State v. Keith, 216 Wis. 2d 61, 72, 573 N.W.2d 888 (Ct. App. 1997). ¶65 And finally, as a matter of public policy, which should always be grounded in fairness, I do not understand the State interest that is being served by not crediting the 170 days to the years remaining on Thorson's sentence. The State had the opportunity to attempt to prove Thorson was sexually violent, and in so doing, it precluded the parole board from addressing Thorson's case. Thorson had no say in the matter. Fundamental fairness should cause the State to be required to grant sentence credit for 170 days that the State caused Thorson to be held at WRC. III. ¶66 For the foregoing CONCLUSION reasons, I conclude that Thorson should have been granted sentence credit for the 170 days he spent at the WRC. I would apply this sentence credit against the time remaining on his sentence as a whole. majority concludes otherwise, I respectfully dissent. 12 Because the No. 1 02-3380.pdr
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