State ex rel. Brown v. Artison

405 N.W.2d 797, 138 Wis. 2d 350, 1987 Wisc. App. LEXIS 3575
CourtCourt of Appeals of Wisconsin
DecidedMarch 26, 1987
DocketNos. 86-0109, 86-0110
StatusPublished

This text of 405 N.W.2d 797 (State ex rel. Brown v. Artison) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Wisconsin primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State ex rel. Brown v. Artison, 405 N.W.2d 797, 138 Wis. 2d 350, 1987 Wisc. App. LEXIS 3575 (Wis. Ct. App. 1987).

Opinion

SULLIVAN, J.

Warren Hamilton and Gregory Brown appeal from orders dismissing their respective petitions for habeas corpus. Brown, a parolee, and Hamilton, a probationer, were returned to custody following circuit court bindovers on criminal charges. On appeal they assert that (1) their state and federal constitutional due process rights were violated by the failure of the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) to conduct a preliminary revocation hearing, and (2) their equal protection rights were violated by DHSS’s failure to provide a preliminary detention hearing. The cases were consolidated on appeal. We affirm.

The facts are undisputed. While on parole, Brown was arrested for armed robbery. DHSS placed a parole hold on him and commenced revocation proceedings. Following a preliminary hearing in circuit court on the criminal charge, probable cause was found to bind Brown over for trial. Subsequently, the supervisor of Brown’s parole agent determined that Brown should be detained in custody pending his final revocation hearing.

DHSS placed a probation hold on Hamilton for having left the House of Correction where he was to serve the first nine months of his probation sentence. He was also charged criminally with escape. He waived a preliminary hearing on the criminal charge [354]*354and was bound over for trial. The state introduced an exhibit at the habeas corpus hearing purporting to be Hamilton’s written admission. The supervisor of Hamilton’s probation agent decided that Hamilton should be detained pending his final probation revocation hearing.

Brown and Hamilton then sought writs of habeas corpus. The circuit court dismissed their petitions, and they appeal.

They challenge the constitutionality of an administrative rule, Wis. Adm. Code, sec. HSS 31.04, which reads in pertinent part as follows:

(1)... [A] preliminary hearing shall be held in accordance with this section, unless sub. (2) applies, to determine whether there is probable cause to believe that the client violated a rule or a condition of supervision.
(2) EXCEPTIONS. A preliminary hearing need not be held if one of the following is true:
(b) The client has given and signed a written statement which admits the violation;
(c) There has been a finding of probable cause in a felony matter and the client is bound over for trial for the same or similar conduct....
(3) MAGISTRATE. The preliminary hearing. shall be held before a magistrate. The magistrate shall be a supervisor or supervisor’s designee who has not been directly involved in the decision to initiate proceedings to revoke the client’s probation or parole.
(5) DETENTION PENDING FINAL HEARING. (a) When there is a preliminary hearing, the magistrate shall decide if the client is to remain in detention or is to be taken into custody [355]*355and detained pending the outcome of the final hearing. When there is no preliminary hearing because the case meets one of the criteria under sub. (2), the agent’s immediate supervisor shall make that decision.
(b) Detention is advisable and consistent with the goals and objectives of this chapter if one of the following is true:
1. The client is believed to be dangerous;
2. There is a likelihood that the client will flee;
3. The client is likely to engage in criminal behavior before the revocation takes place;
4. The client is likely to engage in an activity that does not comply with the rules and conditions of supervision; or
5. The length of the term to be served upon revocation is great.

An administrative rule made pursuant to statutory authority is presumed to be constitutional. See Josam Mfg. Co. v. State Bd. of Health, 26 Wis. 2d 587, 596, 133 N.W.2d 301, 307 (1965). The challenger must prove unconstitutionality beyond a reasonable doubt. Id. In reviewing a constitutional due process challenge, we must determine whether the rule bears a reasonable relationship to legitimate governmental objectives. Liberty Homes, Inc. v. DILHR, 136 Wis. 2d 368, 375, 401 N.W.2d 805, 810-11 (1987). We determine this question of constitutional fact without deference to the trial court’s conclusion. See State v. Woods, 117 Wis. 2d 701, 715, 345 N.W.2d 457, 465 (1984). We conclude that Hamilton and Brown have failed to meet their burden.

[356]*356The revocation of either parole or probation requires the same guarantee of due process. Gagnon v. Scarpelli, 411 U.S. 778, 782 and n. 3 (1973). We will therefore cite parole and probation cases interchangeably.

Hamilton and Brown do not challenge the promulgation of Wis. Adm. Code sec. HSS 31.04 nor do they assert that it was not complied with. Rather, they argue that they were denied their due process right to a preliminary revocation hearing by sec. HSS 31.04(2)(b) and (c), which provide that a preliminary hearing need not be held if the parolee or probationer has signed a written statement admitting a violation (Hamilton’s situation) or if a finding of probable cause has been made in a felony matter and the parolee or probationer has been bound over for trial (Brown’s situation).

Due process requires that "some minimal inquiry” be conducted after an alleged violation of parole or probation conditions. Morrissey v. Brewer, 408 U.S. 471, 485 (1972). The purpose of this inquiry, or preliminary hearing, is to determine whether there is probable cause to believe that the person arrested has committed acts constituting the alleged violation. Id.

One function of the preliminary hearing is to assure "that there is reasonable justification for the deprivation involved in detaining the parolee [or probationer] for a final revocation hearing.” State ex rel. Flowers v. DHSS, 81 Wis. 2d 376, 391, 260 N.W.2d 727, 736 (1978). This purpose "is served by demonstrating any reasonable ground for incarceration.” Id. [357]*357Once it is found at a preliminary hearing that there is probable cause that a violation occurred, the need to determine whether there is probable cause to detain the arrested person pending a final revocation hearing has been met. See Id. Thus, a preliminary hearing is not required if grounds for detention have been established in some other manner. Id.

Due process also requires that the probable cause determination be made by "someone not directly involved in the case.” Morrissey, 408 U.S. at 485. Revocation does not, however, require a judicial hearing. Flowers, 81 Wis. 2d at 384, 260 N.W.2d at 732.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Morrissey v. Brewer
408 U.S. 471 (Supreme Court, 1972)
Gagnon v. Scarpelli
411 U.S. 778 (Supreme Court, 1973)
Omernik v. State
218 N.W.2d 734 (Wisconsin Supreme Court, 1974)
State v. Aderhold
284 N.W.2d 108 (Court of Appeals of Wisconsin, 1979)
State v. Woods
345 N.W.2d 457 (Wisconsin Supreme Court, 1984)
State Ex Rel. Flowers v. Department of Health & Social Services
260 N.W.2d 727 (Wisconsin Supreme Court, 1978)
Josam Manufacturing Co. v. State Board of Health
133 N.W.2d 301 (Wisconsin Supreme Court, 1965)
Sambs v. City of Brookfield
293 N.W.2d 504 (Wisconsin Supreme Court, 1980)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
405 N.W.2d 797, 138 Wis. 2d 350, 1987 Wisc. App. LEXIS 3575, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-ex-rel-brown-v-artison-wisctapp-1987.