Coila Bradford v. State of Indiana

• Court: Indiana Court of Appeals
• Decided: May 22, 2023
• Docket: 22A-MI-02112
• Status: Published

Opinion

FILED May 22 2023, 8:37 am

CLERK Indiana Supreme Court Court of Appeals and Tax Court

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE Meggan E. Smith Theodore E. Rokita Amy E. Karozos Indiana Attorney General Indianapolis, Indiana David A. Arthur Deputy Attorney General Indianapolis, Indiana

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

Coila Bradford, May 22, 2023 Appellant-Defendant, Court of Appeals Case No. 22A-MI-2112 v. Appeal from the Parke Circuit Court State of Indiana, The Honorable Samuel A. Swaim, Appellee-Plaintiff. Judge Trial Court Cause No. 61C01-2207-MI-216

Opinion by Chief Judge Altice Judges Riley and Pyle concur.

Altice, Chief Judge.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 22A-MI-2112 | May 22, 2023 Page 1 of 13 Case Summary

[1] Coila Bradford appeals the denial of her petition for habeas corpus, claiming

that the trial court miscalculated the educational credit time she earned while

incarcerated. Bradford contends that had the proper credit time been awarded,

she would have the right to immediate discharge from the Indiana Department

of Correction (the DOC).

[2] We affirm.

Facts and Procedural History

[3] Bradford pleaded guilty to committing three drug-related crimes and was

sentenced to an aggregate term of ten years at the DOC on March 20, 2013.

Although Bradford was placed on probation at some point, she committed a

new criminal offense during that period. As a result, the State filed a petition to

revoke Bradford’s probation. Following a hearing on April 9, 2021, the trial

court revoked Bradford’s probation and sentenced her to an aggregate four-year

term of incarceration.

[4] Bradford opted into a Case Plan Credit Time (CPCT) agreement (the

Agreement) with the DOC on October 21, 2021, to earn educational credit

time. Under that program, the offender’s “individualized case plan [is

considered, along with] a more holistic view of a person’s incarceration

period.” Transcript Vol. II at 44. If it can be demonstrated that recidivism will

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 22A-MI-2112 | May 22, 2023 Page 2 of 13 be reduced and the offender shows progress toward being successful in the

community, “[he or she would be awarded] credit time.” Id.

[5] The Agreement provided that “[Bradford] will not earn credit time upon

completion of [her] current program, but at the first CPCT review.” Exhibit 3.

The Agreement further stated:

Regardless of when the offender opts-in to using an individualized case plan the amount of educational credit time available is capped at the lesser of two (2) years, or one-third (1/3) of the person’s total applicable credit time.

Id. (emphasis added).

[6] After executing the Agreement, Bradford completed a “building trades”

program in November 2021. Appellant’s Brief at 14. That program would have

resulted in an award of ninety days of educational credit time prior to the

DOC’s adoption of the CPCT curriculum in 2020. Bradford did not participate

in any other formal DOC program after completing that course on November

23, 2021. After three CPCT reviews, the DOC awarded Bradford a total of 119

days of credit time, which represented completing the building trades program,

receiving satisfactory DOC reports, and satisfying other goals adopted by the

DOC on or after January 1, 2022.

[7] On July 22, 2022, Bradford filed a “verified application for issuance of writ of

habeas corpus,” claiming that she was being illegally restrained because she has

“served her full sentence if she had been . . . awarded [the proper] credit time.”

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 22A-MI-2112 | May 22, 2023 Page 3 of 13 Appellant’s Appendix Vol. II at 8. Bradford alleged that the DOC erroneously

calculated the amount of educational credit time to which she was entitled

under its policies and the credit time statutes. More specifically, Bradford

asserted that the DOC should have awarded her sixteen months of educational

credit time, i.e., one-third of her four-year sentence, in accordance with the

Agreement, the relevant statutes, and the DOC’s policy. As a result, Bradford

claimed that had her credit time been properly determined, she would have

“already been released.” Id. at 8, 14.

[8] Following a hearing on August 5, 2022, the trial court denied Bradford’s

application for writ of habeas corpus, determining that Bradford’s restraint was

not “illegal.” Id. at 75. The trial court recognized that “just because there are

maximums that are set out in the statute for educational credit, that does not

mean that the DOC ‘shall’ give that credit.” Id. (emphasis added).

[9] Bradford now appeals. Additional facts will be provided as necessary.

Discussion and Decision

[10] At the outset, we note that educational credit time for those incarcerated in the

DOC is not an entitlement or a guarantee. Simply put, offenders have no

constitutional right to receive credit time. Budd v. State, 935 N.E.2d 746, 753

(Ind. Ct. App. 2010). Educational credit time furthers the purpose of

rehabilitative justice only if it is earned by the offender. See Paul v. State, 888

N.E.2d 818, 826 (Ind. Ct. App. 2008) (observing that the intent of the

educational credit time statute, Ind. Code § 35-50-6-3.3, is to enhance

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 22A-MI-2112 | May 22, 2023 Page 4 of 13 rehabilitation by providing incentive to further one’s education while

incarcerated), trans. denied.

[11] Educational credit was initially offered to incarcerated individuals in the DOC

in 1993. See I.C. § 35-50-6-3.3 (1993). At that time, the statutes provided for

completion of academic programs only, including a high school diploma or

general equivalency degree, or an associate or bachelor’s degree. Id. An

additional requirement—that the incarcerated individual had “demonstrated a

pattern consistent with rehabilitation”—was later added. I.C. § 35-50-6-3.3

(a)(2). In 2020, our legislature provided that educational credit could be

awarded to offenders by completing “an individualized case management plan

approved by [the DOC].” I.C. § 35-50-6-3.3(b)(3)(E). And in accordance with

I.C. § 35-50-6-0.5(5):

(5) ‘Individualized case management plan’ means educational credit which consists of a plan designed to address an incarcerated person’s risk of recidivism, and may include:

(A) addiction recovery treatment;

(B) mental health treatment;

(C) vocational education programming;

(D) adult basic education, a high school or high school equivalency diploma, a college diploma, and any other academic educational goal; or

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 22A-MI-2112 | May 22, 2023 Page 5 of 13 (E) any other programming or activity that encourages productive pursuits while a person is incarcerated and that may reduce the person’s likelihood to recidivate after the person’s release from incarceration.

(Emphasis added). The CPCT program specifically considers the offender’s

case plan, job performance, and “how the offender is performing in a given

program.” Transcript Vol. 2 at 44.

[12] Credit time is defined as “the sum of the person’s accrued time, good time

credit, and educational credit.” I.C. § 35-50-6-0.5(3). And pursuant to I.C. §

35-50-6-3.3(i) (effective through June 30, 2014), if a criminal offense was

committed prior to July 1, 2014, the maximum amount of educational credit

that an offender could earn was the lesser of: “(1) four . . . years, or (2) one-third

. . . of the person’s total applicable credit time.”

[13] Consistent with these statutes, the DOC incorporated the above parameters on

credit time into its policies as follows:

The maximum amount of credit time an offender may earn under this provision is the lesser of:

(1) For offenses committed prior to July 1, 2014:

a. Four (4) years; or,

b. One-third (1/3) of the offender’s total applicable credit time.

(2) For offenses committed on July 1, 2014 or after:

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 22A-MI-2112 | May 22, 2023 Page 6 of 13 a. Two (2) years; or,

b. One-third (1/3) of the offender’s total applicable credit time.

Exhibit 1 (emphases added).

[14] Those who arrive at a DOC facility after January 1, 2022, are automatically

placed in CPCT. On the other hand, offenders who were in DOC custody

before that date—like Bradford—could opt into the CPCT program. The

amount of credit time is determined through periodic reviews at the DOC that

measure how the offender has been progressing in meeting individualized case

management plan goals.

[15] The educational credit that is available under the CPCT program is “[a]n

amount determined by the department of correction under a policy adopted by the

department of correction concerning the individualized case management plan,

not to exceed the maximum amount described in subsection (j).” I.C. § 35-50-6-

3.3(d)(9) (emphases added). I.C. § 35-50-6-3.3 does not set forth a minimum

amount of credit time that may be earned; nor is there a guarantee of

educational credit for meeting case plan goals or for completing a program.

Additionally, if an offender completes a traditional program, it is considered at

the CPCT review. The completed program does not result in a separate,

identifiable award of credit.

[16] John Mather, the Executive Director of Programs and Re-Entry Readiness at

the DOC, testified at the habeas corpus hearing that the CPCT was

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 22A-MI-2112 | May 22, 2023 Page 7 of 13 implemented and designed “to make it proportional to the amount of time that

folks were working towards those goals under the new structure.” Transcript

Vol. 2 at 48. The CPCT also takes into consideration that those offenders who

arrive at the DOC after January 1, 2022, “will have their entire sentence to

work on educational credit, yet those who are already in the prison system had

opportunities under the prior scheme to earn educational credit for completing

listed programs.” Id. Mather further testified that “it wouldn’t make sense in a

situation for someone who their statutory maximum is . . . sixteen months, for

them to participate in CPCT for only three months, and the[n] be awarded that

full sixteen months.” Id. To be sure, the DOC sought to “set some parameters

around how that time is awarded to make it proportional to the amount of time

an individual is participating in [CPCT].” Id. at 47, 48.

[17] Against this backdrop, Bradford contends that the credit time statutes and

DOC’s policies entitled her to a total of sixteen months—or 487 days—of

educational credit through CPCT, but the DOC awarded her only 119 days of

credit time. She maintains that the DOC’s erroneous calculation of that time

deprived her of the statutory ability to earn an additional 368 days. Bradford’s

argument seemingly equates “eligibility” to earn credit time with an actual

“award” of credit time.

[18] Notwithstanding Bradford’s contentions, she presented no evidence that she did

anything to earn additional credit time. Bradford did not acquire a college

degree, high school diploma or the equivalent; nor did she enroll in—or

complete—a technical program other than building trades that was counted

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 22A-MI-2112 | May 22, 2023 Page 8 of 13 toward her credited 119 days, along with “the other goals that she had worked

towards during that time.” Transcript Vol. 2 at 49. Indeed, Bradford’s

satisfactory job evaluations and her progress toward meeting various clinical

review goals were factored into her earned credit time. Moreover, the evidence

established that had Bradford not opted into the CPCT program, she would

have earned only a maximum of ninety days for her completion of the building

trades program. However, due to Bradford’s decision to opt into CPCT, she

was awarded the additional days. Id. At no time was Bradford informed by

any DOC representative that she would receive the maximum statutorily

permitted credit time simply for opting in to CPCT.

[19] Even assuming that Bradford may have been “eligible” to earn additional credit

under the statutes and DOC’s policies, she has made no showing that she was

entitled to extra days. To illustrate, in Fuller v. Meloy, 848 N.E.2d 1172 (Ind. Ct.

App. 2006), the petitioners, who were incarcerated at the DOC, sought six

months of credit time—which was the maximum amount of credit that could be

earned under the statute—for completing a vocational program. When the

DOC awarded the petitioners only three months of credit time, they sued, and

the trial court upheld the DOC’s determination.

[20] On appeal, a panel of this court affirmed the trial court’s decision, agreeing that

the amount of educational credit to be awarded for completion of a vocational

program is left to the DOC’s discretion. Id. at 1174. As the Fuller court

determined, the DOC decides the amount of educational credit that is to be

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 22A-MI-2112 | May 22, 2023 Page 9 of 13 awarded to an offender, so long as the maximum allowed under the statute is

not exceeded. See I.C. § 35-50-6-3.3(d)(9). 1

[21] As there is no minimum amount of time that the DOC is required to award,

and there is no requirement that credit time must be awarded to all who

participate in the CPCT program, Bradford has failed to demonstrate that she

was automatically entitled to additional credit under the statutes or the DOC’s

policies. See, e.g., Indiana Dep’t of Correction v. Haley, 928 N.E.2d 840, 844 (Ind.

Ct. App. 2010 (recognizing that the DOC determines what programs qualify for

awarding credit). Neither the Agreement nor the relevant statutes promise that

487 days—or even one day—will be awarded. And nothing in the educational

credit time statute automatically grants the statutory maximum to each offender

who opts into the CPCT.

[22] As a result, Bradford is entitled to an amount of credit determined by the DOC,

which is exactly what she received—an award of 119 days during her first year

of participation in the CPCT under the statutes and the DOC’s policy. See

Fuller, 848 N.E.2d at 1174. Bradford has failed to show that she is entitled to

additional credit time.

1 I.C. § 35-50-6-3.3(d)(9) specifically states that “the amount of educational credit a person may earn under this section is an amount determined by the [DOC] under a policy adopted by the [DOC] concerning the individualized case management plan, not to exceed the maximum amount described in subsection (j).”

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 22A-MI-2112 | May 22, 2023 Page 10 of 13 II. Constitutional Claims

[23] Notwithstanding our conclusion above, Bradford argues that the DOC’s

implementation of CPCT for those who opted into the program violated her

due process rights. Bradford further maintains that the Agreement and DOC’s

policies regarding those offenders who opt in to the CPCT program violate the

ex post facto clauses of the United States and Indiana Constitutions. 2

[24] We initially observe that Bradford did not raise any constitutional challenges at

trial. Thus, we may consider a party’s constitutional claim waived when raised

for the first time on appeal. See, e.g., B.Z. v. State, 943 N.E.2d 384, 394 (Ind. Ct.

App. 2011) (declining to address the defendant’s state privileges and immunities

clause challenge to the expungement statute because the issue was raised for the

first time on appeal). Moreover, Bradford does not make a cogent argument on

appeal regarding any alleged due process violations. For this additional reason,

that issue is waived. See Ind. Appellate Rule 46(A)(8)(a) (argument must be

supported by cogent reasoning and citations to authorities and the record); see

also Loomis v. Ameritech Corp., 764 N.E.2d 658, 668 (Ind. Ct. App. 2002).

[25] Although Bradford has also waived her ex post facto claim, we note that

Congress and the State are forbidden from enacting “any law which imposes a

punishment for an act which was not punishable at the time it was committed;

or imposes additional punishment to that then prescribed.” Ramon v. State, 888

2 U.S. Const. art I, § 10; Ind. Const. art 1, § 24.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 22A-MI-2112 | May 22, 2023 Page 11 of 13 N.E.2d 244, 253 (Ind. Ct. App. 2008). The purpose of the ex post facto clause

is to give effect to the fundamental principle that persons have a right to fair

warning of that conduct which will give rise to criminal penalties. Wallace v.

State, 905 N.E.2d 371, 377 (Ind 2009). For the ex post facto prohibition to be

violated, the action in question must apply to events occurring before its

enactment and must disadvantage the prisoner. Weaver v. Graham, 450 U.S. 24,

28 (1981).

[26] Here, the implementation of CPCT did not change the definition of Bradford’s

crime or alter her four-year probation revocation sentence. In Budd, no ex post

facto violation was found because the amendment to the educational credit time

statute did not increase the defendant’s sentence. 935 N.E.2d at 753. And in

this case, Bradford’s ability to seek release from prison was enhanced—not

reduced.

[27] Indeed, Bradford does not dispute that she received more educational credit

under CPCT than she would have under the previous structure, i.e., 119 days

rather than 90 days. As a result, Bradford did not establish that she is adversely

impacted by the maximum credit award when she opted into CPCT because, as

discussed above, she did nothing to earn more than the 119 days she was

awarded. It follows, therefore, that because Bradford has failed to show how

her constitutional rights were substantially prejudiced, there was no ex post

facto violation. See, e.g., Ramon, 888 N.E.2d at 253 (holding that no ex post

facto violation occurred when a revised statute that permitted the State to

amend a charging information at any time did not prejudice the defendant’s

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 22A-MI-2112 | May 22, 2023 Page 12 of 13 substantive rights, did not create any new crimes, change the elements of any

crime, or alter the sentencing statutes). For all these reasons, Bradford’s

constitutional challenges fail.

[28] Judgment affirmed.

Riley, J. and Pyle, J., concur.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 22A-MI-2112 | May 22, 2023 Page 13 of 13