State ex rel. Lipschutz v. Shoemaker, Director, Adult Parole Authority

551 N.E.2d 160, 49 Ohio St. 3d 88, 1990 Ohio LEXIS 77

• Court: Ohio Supreme Court
• Decided: February 28, 1990
• Docket: No. 88-1914
• Status: Published

Opinions

Per Curiam.

In this action, Lipschutz seeks a writ of mandamus directing respondent to conduct another parole hearing. He claims that, since he was convicted of only one count of murder, the Parole Board should not have treated him as having committed two murders. Because we find no clear legal duty on the Parole Board’s part to disregard crimes not resulting in conviction, we deny the writ in this respect.

Ohio Adm. Code 5120:1-1-08(K) provides:

“In making any [parole] determination under Rule 5120:1-1-07 of the Administrative Code, the parole board may take into consideration * * * (K) The nature of the offense for which the inmate was convicted.”

Lipschutz argues that this provision precludes the board from considering crimes of which he was not convicted. We cannot agree with this assertion. Clearly, Ohio Adm. Code 5120:1-1-08(K) does not authorize consideration of wrongdoing not resulting in conviction. However, nowhere does it forbid the consideration of such wrongdoing.

As respondent points out, Ohio Adm. Code 5120:1-1-08(L) expressly permits consideration of “[t]he inmate’s pattern of criminal or delinquent behavior prior to the current term of imprisonment.” Lipschutz argues that acts not resulting in conviction, by definition, are not “crimes.” However, we have recognized a distinction between crimes and convictions:

“The ordinary meaning of the word ‘offense’ is ‘the doing that which the penal law forbids * * * or omitting to do what it commands.’ On the other hand, a ‘conviction’ is ‘that legal proceeding which ascertains the guilt of the party upon which the sentence or judgment is founded.’ * * * A conviction is not an essential element of an offense although an offense is always a prerequisite to a conviction.” State v. Brantley (1965), 1 Ohio St. 2d 139, 141, 30 O.O. 2d 489, 490, 205 N.E. 2d 391, 393.

Thus, if Lipschutz committed a murder of which he was not convicted, it was nonetheless an offense, and therefore part of his “pattern of criminal * * * behavior.”

Moreover, Ohio Adm. Code 5120: 1-1-08(P) allows consideration of “[a]ny other factors which the board determines to be relevant, except for documents related to the filing of a grievance under rule 5120:9-31 * * The broad sweep of this provision is fully consistent with the Adult Parole Authority’s statutory mandate to “investigate and examine” prisoners concerning “their mental and moral qualities and characteristics * * * and any other matters affecting their fitness to be at liberty without being a threat to society.” R.C. 2967.03. Accordingly, Lipschutz’s argument is not well-taken.

Lipschutz argues that, even if the Parole Board could consider offenses of which he was not convicted, it could not consider such offenses unless it had credible evidence that he had in fact committed them. He alleges that the board had no factual basis for believing that he killed two people.

The record shows that the board had a rational basis for believing that Lipschutz had murdered two people. He was indicted for murdering two people. An indictment is a mere accusation, but it indicates that a grand jury has found probable cause to believe in the truth of the accusation.

Additionally, the postsentence report, citing the files of the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s office and the Adult Parole Authority, states that Lipschutz’s wife and father-in-law were both found shot to death in Lipschutz’s home, that Lipschutz owned the murder weapon, and that he admitted shooting his father-in-law. These circumstances gave the Parole Board a rational basis for concluding that Lipschutz also shot his wife. On this record, Lipschutz’s assertion that the double homicide was a “totally fictitious” event must be rejected as baseless.

Lipschutz also asks that respondent be directed to give him copies of any documents the Parole Board may have reviewed in preparation for the hearing, as well as all documents containing the board’s findings. However, he suggests no theory that would entitle him to the documents he seeks. The documents are not public records, since they are “records pertaining to * * * parole proceedings.” R.C. 149.43(A)(1). We find that Lipschutz has no clear legal right to see them.

In sum, we hold that the Parole Board may consider crimes that an inmate has committed but has not been convicted of. We find that the board’s belief that Lipschutz committed two murders was not, as Lipschutz claims, totally unsupported. We further find that Lipschutz has not proven a clear legal right to the documents he seeks. Accordingly, we deny the writ of mandamus in all respects.

Writ denied.

Moyer, C.J., Holmes, Douglas, Wright and H. Brown, JJ., concur. Resnick, J., concurs in judgment only. Sweeney, J., dissents.