People v. Williams

314 N.W.2d 769, 111 Mich. App. 818
Michigan Court of Appeals·Decided December 16, 1981·No. Docket 53667·Published·Cited by 7 cases

Opinion

D. E. Holbrook, Jr., P.J.

Defendant, age 16, was charged with two counts of criminal sexual conduct in the first degree, MCL 750.520b(1)(c) and (e); MSA 28.788(1)(c) and (e), armed robbery, MCL 750.529; MSA 28.797, breaking and entering, MCL 750.110; MSA 28.305, and unlawful driving away of a motor vehicle, MCL 750.413; MSA 28.645. The prosecutor petitioned the probate court to waive juvenile jurisdiction over defendant so that he could be tried as an adult. Following phase one and phase two waiver of jurisdiction hearings pursuant to JCR 1969, 11.1(A) and (B), the probate court waived jurisdiction and ordered defendant to *821 be tried under Michigan’s general criminal statutes.

In circuit court, defendant challenged the waiver of jurisdiction by the probate court. Subsequent to a denial of that appeal, defendant pled guilty to a charge of criminal sexual conduct in the first degree in exchange for the dismissal of the other four charges. Thereafter sentenced to not less than 6 nor more than 20 years imprisonment, he appeals as of right.

. On appeal, the sole claim of error is that the circuit court erred in upholding the probate court’s waiver of jurisdiction over the defendant. Defendant asserts that the probate court improperly admitted hearsay evidence to show his prior record and character. He relies on MRE 1101(a), which provides:

"Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (b), these rules apply to all actions and proceedings in the courts of this state.”

Subsection (b) does not expressly exclude a juvenile court waiver of jurisdiction hearing.

MCL 712A.4; MSA 27.3178(598.4) is the waiver of jurisdiction statute. The statutory provisions for waiver are incorporated in rules of practice under JCR 1969, 11. When a petition is filed requesting a waiver of jurisdiction, the hearing consists of two stages. JCR 1969, 11.1 states in pertinent part:

"(A) Phase 1: Showing of Probable Cause. The court shall first determine if a crime has been committed which, if committed by an adult, would be a felony and if there is probable cause to believe that the child committed the crime. The determination must be based on legally admissible evidence.
"(B) Phase 2: Criteria for Waiver. On a showing of *822 probable cause, the court shall conduct a full investigation to determine whether the interests of the child and the public would best be served by granting a waiver of jurisdiction to a court of criminal jurisdiction.
"In making the determination, the following criteria must be considered and the court shall make findings on them before a waiver may be granted:
"(1) the prior record and character of the child, his physical and mental maturity, and his pattern of living;
"(2) the seriousness of the offense;
"(3) even though less serious, if the offense is part of a repetitive pattern of offenses which would lead to a determination that the child may be beyond rehabilitation under the regular statutory juvenile procedures;
"(4) the relative suitability of programs and facilities available to the juvenile and criminal courts for the child;
"(5) whether the best interests of the public welfare and the protection of the public security, generally, require that the juvenile stand trial as an adult offender.”

A panel of this Court has analogized the "probable cause” determination in phase one of a waiver hearing to a preliminary examination. People v Allen, 90 Mich App 128; 282 NW2d 255 (1979). The recognized rules of evidence apply at phase one of a waiver hearing and at a preliminary examination. JCR 11.1(A), People v Washington, 84 Mich App 750; 270 NW2d 511 (1978).

The purpose of phase two is to determine whether the interests of the child and the public would best be served by retaining or waiving jurisdiction. Therefore, this hearing can be characterized as dispositional. The dispositional phase of a delinquency hearing under JCR 1969, 8.1 requires only relevant and material evidence. JCR 1969, 8.3(B). However, unlike a determination in the adjudicative phase of delinquency hearings *823 under JCR 1969, 8.1, guilt or innocence is not determined at a waiver hearing. By distinguishing phase two from the process of determining guilt or innocence and characterizing the hearing as dispositional, we can analogize phase two of a waiver hearing to sentencing. The significance of this is that information which would not be admissible as evidence in an adjudication may be brought before the court to enable it to conduct a "full investigation” on disposition of a child. MRE 1101(b) provides in part:

"The rules other than those with respect to privileges do not apply in the following situations:
"(3) Miscellaneous proceedings. Proceedings for extradition or rendition; sentencing, or granting or revoking probation; issuance of warrants for arrest, criminal summonses, and search warrants; and proceedings with respect to release on bail or otherwise.” (Emphasis supplied.)

Therefore, in waiver hearings, the probate court may consider out-of-court information on the record relative to the criteria which it must weigh under MCL 712A.4; MSA 27.3178(598.4) and JCR 1969, 11.1(B).

Our holding is consistent with the construction that is to be given to MCL 712A.4; MSA 27.3178(598.4) and JCR 1969, 11.1. They are to be liberally construed to the end that each child will receive care conducive to the child’s welfare and the best interests of the state. MCL 712A.1; MSA 27.3178(598.1), JCR 1969, 1.3. The admissibility of records and reports considered or containing hearsay not within an exception may assist the court in making the "full investigation” required under JCR 1969, 11.1(B) and serve to protect the child’s *824 welfare and the interests of the state. JCR 1969, 11.4 shows an intent to allow reports to be relied upon by the judge as a basis for decision in waiver proceedings.

In addition, as previously stated, under JCR 1969, 8.3(A) and 11.1(A), only relevant, competent, and material or legally admissible evidence is permitted. These are adjudicatory or adversarial proceedings. By contrast, in proceedings under JCR 1969, 8.3(B) and 11.1(B), the evidence need only be relevant and material or no type of evidence is specified. These are dispositional proceedings. The difference in the evidence that is admissible in these proceedings indicates an intent to have greater flexibility in the admission and consideration of evidence at disposition than at adjudication.

The Institute of Judicial Administration — American Bar Association (IJA-ABA) Joint Commission on Juvenile Justice Standards, Standards Relating to Transfer Between Courts, Std 2.2 C, p 39 (1980), also treats phase two of waiver proceedings as dispositional proceedings with respect to evidentiary questions.

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People v. Williams, 314 N.W.2d 769, 111 Mich. App. 818 (Mich. Ct. App. 1981).

314 N.W.2d 769 (People v. Williams) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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