People v. Robinson

199 N.W.2d 878, 41 Mich. App. 259, 1972 Mich. App. LEXIS 1311
Michigan Court of Appeals·Decided May 30, 1972·No. Docket 11917·Published·Cited by 14 cases

Opinions

Holbrook, J.

Defendant was convicted of escaping from prison,1 and sentenced to a term of two to five years. The pertinent facts are as follows:

On August 24, 1968, defendant was a trustee assigned to work in the kitchen at Jackson Prison. The kitchen is located outside the prison walls. At the 7:30 a.m. count, the officer assigned to the kitchen area discovered defendant was missing. Defendant did not have permission to leave the prison area.

On October 3, 1968, defendant was taken into [261]*261custody in the City of Detroit and transported back to the confines of the Jackson Prison.

On November 8, 1968, defendant was arrested and arraigned on the charge of escape from prison.

On December 2, 1968, a preliminary examination was held.

After several intervening proceedings had taken place, a jury trial took place on April 21, 1970. The jury returned a verdict of guilty, and defendant was sentenced to prison for a term of from two to five years. Defendant appeals from this conviction.

Defendant raises six issues on appeal, which we state and deal with in proper order.

I.

Whether an extended delay in arrest constituted a violation of an accused’s constitutional right to due process?

Thirty-two days passed between the time defendant was returned to prison and his arrest. Defendant asserts that the failure to arrest showed the purpose was to deprive him of the use of his memory to establish witnesses and to arrange a defense, and to impair the will and resistance of the defendant, which resulted in prejudice.

The people argue that defendant was not denied due process because of the delay in arrest. A mere lapse of time did not amount to a denial of a constitutional right.

Defendant relies upon People v Hernandez, 15 Mich App 141 (1968), to place the burden of proof upon the people to show that prejudice had not resulted from the delay in the arrest.

We point out that Hernandez did not place the burden of proof upon the people to justify a delay [262]*262in arrest unless evidence of prejudice which results in a violation of due process is shown by defendant. Defendant, in the instant case, has not shown any evidence of prejudice caused by the delay in arrest. In fact, the first appointed defense counsel requested he be relieved of the appointment because of defendant’s attitude and refusal to cooperate with him in preparation of a defense, and because defendant wanted him discharged. Defendant’s second appointed counsel also noted he could not get any cooperation from defendant and could not adequately prepare a case. Defendant also dismissed this counsel, though the trial judge did request counsel to stay in the courtroom.

Defendant has not offered any evidence of prejudice which would be violative of due process. People v Albert White, 27 Mich App 432 (1970); People v Iaconis, 31 Mich App 703 (1971).

II.

Whether a jury array based on voter registration lists systematically exclude a just proportion of black persons from serving as jurors, contrary to defendant’s constitutional rights?

It is claimed by defendant that in Jackson County black jurors do not serve in the same proportion that they bear to the population; and selection from voter registration lists will assure a disproportionate number of white persons selected to serve on a jury and blacks do not register and vote in the same ratio as do whites.

The people assert that the use of voter registration lists as a source of names for jury duty does not result in an illegally constituted jury unless it is shown that the use of these lists resulted in exclusion of a cognizable group or class of citizens. [263]*263A group of persons who fail to register to vote has never been considered a cognizable group.

Defendant had not presented any evidence of any type of discrimination and he has the burden of proof:

"Defendant’s argument that black people are systematically excluded from jury duty is without merit. A method of jury selection based on political subdivisions does not per se discriminate against blacks. The defendant, without evidence of the actual racial makeup on jury panels previous to the defendant’s, fails to meet the necessary burden of proof. Whitus v Georgia, supra [385 US 545; 87 S Ct 643; 17 L Ed 2d 599 (1967)]; People v Trice, supra [22 Mich App 521 (1970)].” People v Williams, 29 Mich App 420, 424 (1971).

Jurors selected from voter registration lists or tax assessment rolls have been approved by this Court. People v Williams, supra; Robson v Grand T W R Co, 5 Mich App 90 (1966).

Since there has been no showing of discrimination, and the method used in Jackson County has been approved by this Court, this issue is without merit.

III.

Whether prison administration acts and subsequent arrest, conviction and sentencing constitute cruel and unusual punishment for the same crime?

Defendant asserts that solitary confinement, denial of other usual rights prior to conviction for escape, loss of "good time”, and the later sentencing for escape constitute cruel and unusual punishment.

The people answer that the administrative acts of the prison authorities, subsequent to arrest, [264]*264conviction, and sentencing of defendant are not cruel and unusual punishment.

This Court has not held upon the precise issue of whether the forfeiture of good time and a conviction of escaping from prison constitutes cruel and unusual punishment, however, it has noted MCLA 800.33; MSA 28.1403 provides for a disciplinary action which is an administrative proceeding and not a criminal proceeding. Heyman v Kropp, 24 Mich App 231 (1970); People v Shastal, 26 Mich App 347 (1970).

In Shastal the question of double jeopardy was raised. When deciding Shastal, this Court upheld the forfeiture since it was an administrative proceeding. The tenor of these cases is that a warden’s disciplinary action, pursuant to the statute, and a conviction and sentencing pursuant to the escape statute is not cruel and unusual punishment. This Court has recognized the difference between a disciplinary action which results from a prisoner breaking one of the prison rules, and a conviction of a crime established by the Legislature to deter prison escapes (In re Evans, 352 Mich 185 [1958]).

The general rule regarding forfeiture of good time is stated in 72 CJS, Prisons. § 21, Forfeiture of Right, pp 890, 891, where it is said:

"The misconduct of a prisoner may result in the forfeiture, in whole or in part, of his right to a reduction of sentence for good conduct; and this forfeiture may be regulated by statute. * * *

"Statutory provisions control as to the official who has the authority to forfeit a prisoner’s good-time allowance, and, under some statutory provisions, whether or not there shall be a forfeiture of a prisoner’s good time is a matter within the discretion of the designated authorities, and the decision of an authorized board in this respect ordinarily should not be interfered with [265]

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People v. Robinson, 199 N.W.2d 878, 41 Mich. App. 259, 1972 Mich. App. LEXIS 1311 (Mich. Ct. App. 1972).

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