Dees v. State, 44315

Decision Date22 May 1974
Docket NumberNo. 44315,44315
Citation295 So.2d 296
PartiesJames E. DEES, Petitioner, v. STATE of Florida, Respondent.
CourtFlorida Supreme Court

Richard A. Krause, Ormond Beach, for petitioner.

Robert L. Shevin, Atty. Gen., and A. S. Johnston, Asst. Atty. Gen., for respondent.

BOYD, Justice.

We have for consideration a question from the Seventh Judicial Circuit in and for Volusia County relating to constitutionality of Section 947.23, Florida Statutes, as it is incorporated in Sections 949.10, 949.11 and 949.12, Florida Statutes, in light of the holding of the United States Supreme Court in Morrissey v. Brewer, 408 U.S. 471, 92 S.Ct. 2593, 33 L.Ed.2d 484 (1972). At petitioner's habeas corpus hearing, the trial court found that the question presented herein was determinative of this cause and was without controlling precedent in this state, whereupon it withheld its decision certifying the issue to this Court. We have jurisdiction to answer the certified question pursuant to Rule 4.6, Florida Appellate Rules, 32 F.S.A., 1962 Revision. Jaworski v. City of Opa-Locka, 149 So.2d 33 (Fla.1963); Boyer v. City of Orlando, 232 So.2d 169 (Fla.1970).

The question presented by the trial in its Certificate of Great Public Interest is as follows:

'Is Section 947.23 F.S.A. unconstitutional in that the parole revocation proceedings provided for therein does not provide for the minimum due process requirements of the fifth and fourteenth amendments to the Constitution of the United States and as is more particularly set forth in the United States Supreme Court decision in Morrissey v. Brewer, 408 U.S. 471, 92 S.Ct. 2593, 33 L.Ed.2d 484, 1972?'

Initially, we observe that long before the decisions of Morrissey, supra, and Gagnon v. Scarpelli, 411 U.S. 778, 93 S.Ct. 1756, 36 L.Ed.2d 656 (1973), this Court recognized that due process required that a hearing must be accorded to a person charged before parole could be revoked. Brill v. State, 159 Fla. 682, 32 So.2d 607 (1947). Additionally, we point out that in Morrissey, supra, the Supreme Court recognized that in Section 947.23(1), Florida Statutes, Florida had provided for a hearing in parole revocation cases (see footnote 15, Morrissey, 33 L.Ed.2d 484 at 498).

Comparing the standard of due process specified in Morrissey, supra, with that established for parole revocations, in our state statute, we find: (1) in Morrissey there is required an 'opportunity to be heard in person and to present witnesses and documentary evidence' as well as the 'right to confront and cross-examine adverse witnesses' before 'a 'neutral . . .' hearing body, such as a . . . parole board'; § 947.23, Florida Statutes, specifically procides that a person charged with parole violation shall appear personally before the Parole Commission at a hearing at which both the parolee and the state may introduce such evidence as is necessary; implicit therein is the provision that after the evidence is introduced the parolee may confront and cross-examine the state's witnesses; (2) in Morrissey, supra, a 'written statement by the factfinders' is required, while in § 947.23, Florida Statutes, provision is made for the Commission to 'make findings on such charge of parole violation'; and (3) in Morrissey, supra, it is required that the parolee receive 'written notice of the...

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9 cases
  • Collins v. Hendrickson
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Middle District of Florida
    • January 26, 2005
    ...State, 827 So.2d 316 (Fla. 1st DCA 2002) (citing Morrissey, 408 U.S. 471, 92 S.Ct. 2593, 33 L.Ed.2d 484 (1972)). See also Dees v. State, 295 So.2d 296, 297 (Fla.1974). Given that the FPC's "duly authorized representative" made specific findings following the revocation hearing, the FPC was,......
  • Everett v. City of Tallahassee
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Northern District of Florida
    • July 2, 1993
    ... ... of both his substantive and procedural due process rights, the takings clause, and a pendant state law claim for damages caused by the adjoining landowner's unlawful use of property. The court ... ...
  • Fowler v. Cross
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Fifth Circuit
    • January 27, 1981
    ...Brewer, supra, and engrafted them upon the Florida statutory scheme. See Albritton v. Wainwright, 313 So.2d 763 (Fla.1975); Dees v. State, 295 So.2d 296 (Fla.1974); Genung v. Nuckolls, 292 So.2d 587 (Fla.1974); Bernhardt v. State, 288 So.2d 490 (Fla.1974); Oaks v. Wainwright, 305 So.2d 1 (F......
  • Baker v. Wainwright
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Fifth Circuit
    • February 23, 1976
    ...that its relevant statutes require such notice in revocation proceedings occurring subsequent to the Morrissey decision. See Dees v. State, 295 So.2d 296 (Fla.1974).Baker further asserts that the written statement furnished him by the commission of the evidence relied on and reasons for rev......
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