Robert M., In re

• Decision Date: 17 January 1985
• Citation: 163 Cal.App.3d 812,209 Cal.Rptr. 657
• Court: California Court of Appeals Court of Appeals
• Parties: , 22 Ed. Law Rep. 253 In re ROBERT M., a minor, on Habeas Corpus. B004265.

Page 657

209 Cal.Rptr. 657

163 Cal.App.3d 812, 22 Ed. Law Rep. 253

In re ROBERT M., a minor, on Habeas Corpus.

B004265.

Court of Appeal, Second District, Division 7, California.

Jan. 17, 1985.

As Modified Jan. 24, 1985.

Hearing Denied April 4, 1985. ^*

[163 Cal.App.3d 814] Timothy M. Moss, Long Beach, for minor.

John K. Van de Kamp, Atty. Gen., Donald F. Roeschke and Beverly K. Falk, Deputy Attys. Gen., for respondent.

FACTS AND PROCEEDINGS BELOW

JOHNSON, Associate Justice.

Robert was declared a ward of the court pursuant to Welfare & Institutions Code section 602 ¹ after he admitted taking part On two occasions Robert has been remanded to juvenile hall to serve "Ricardo M." time ² for failure to comply with the satisfactory grades and citizenship condition of his probation. In the first instance, the probation officer's report showed Robert had received four D's, two F's, had numerous absences and was suspended for a time for refusing to dress for P.E. In the second instance, the report showed one C, two D's, three F's and ten U's in citizenship.

                in a burglary.  He was placed on home probation on various conditions including:  "Attend a school program approved by the Probation Officer without absence unless excused by parent, guardian, school authorities or Probation Officer.  Maintain satisfactory grades and citizenship."   This is a standard probation condition in the Los Angeles County juvenile courts
                

Following his second incarceration, Robert brought this petition for habeas corpus. We issued an order to show cause and stayed future implementation of Ricardo M. time pending our decision. We treat the petition for writ of habeas corpus as a petition for writ of mandate.

ISSUES

The issues raised in this petition can be divided into two groups: procedural and substantive. The procedural issues are whether the March 1984 commitment order violated the prohibition against double jeopardy or the procedural requirements of section 777 and due process. The substantive issues are whether conditioning probation on Robert maintaining "satisfactory grades and citizenship" deprives him of liberty without due process of law because the condition is vague and uncertain or because Robert lacks the capacity to comply.

DISCUSSION

A. Under the Facts of This Case It Would Be Fundamentally Unfair to Revoke Robert's Probation for Failure to Maintain Satisfactory Grades and Citizenship.

In this case of first impression we are not prepared to say a court may never require a certain performance level in school as a condition of probation. When a minor is adjudged a ward of the court under section 602 the court must place the care, custody and control of the minor under the supervision of the probation officer. (Section 727.) When such ward is placed under the supervision of the probation officer "[t]he court may impose and require any and all reasonable conditions that it may determine fitting and proper to the end that justice may be done and the reformation and rehabilitation of the ward enhanced." (Section 730; and see § 727: "[t]he court may make any and all reasonable orders for the ... supervision [and] conduct ... of such minor, ...") Such conditions are valid and enforceable unless they bear no reasonable relationship to the underlying offense, or prohibit conduct neither criminal in nature nor related to future criminality. (In re Gerald B. (1980) 105 Cal.App.3d 119, 124-125, 164 Cal.Rptr. 193 and cases cited therein.)

School attendance has regularly been upheld as a condition of probation reasonably related to rehabilitation and prevention of future criminality. (In re Gerald B., supra, 105 Cal.App.3d at p. 125, 164 Cal.Rptr. 193; In re Mark M. (1980) 109 Cal.App.3d 873, 876, 167 Cal.Rptr. 461; and see, Rosenberg & Rosenberg, Truancy, School Phobia and Minimal Brain Dysfunction (1977) 61 Minn.L.Rev. 543, 547-548.) This is so, not because school attendance keeps juveniles off the streets--commitment to juvenile hall would accomplish this purpose more effectively--but because of the well known correlation between education and the crime rate. (See, Serrano v. Priest (1971) 5 Cal.3d 584, 607, 96 Cal.Rptr. 601, 487 P.2d 1241.) Presumably, mere attendance at school without learning accomplishes Nor do we find it necessary to reach the question whether the requirement of "satisfactory" grades and citizenship is inherently void for vagueness. ³ It is an essential component of due process that individuals be given fair notice of those acts which may lead to a loss of liberty. (United States v. Harriss (1954) 347 U.S. 612, 617, 74 S.Ct. 808, 811, 98 L.Ed. 989.) This is true whether the loss of liberty arises from a criminal conviction or the revocation of probation. (See, People v. Lewis (1978) 77 Cal.App.3d 455, 464, 143 Cal.Rptr. 587.)

little. Accordingly, although we do not reach the question, we recognize an argument can be made that the outside stimulus to learning provided by a probation requirement of satisfactory grades and citizenship is rationally related to rehabilitation and prevention of future criminality.

" 'Fair notice' requires only that a violation be described with a 'reasonable degree of certainty' ... so that 'ordinary people can understand what conduct is prohibited.' ...." (Burg v. Municipal Court, (1983) 35 Cal.3d 257, 270-271, 198 Cal.Rptr. 145, 673 P.2d 732 [citations omitted].) Robert contends the word "satisfactory" is too vague to provide a student fair warning he or she is skating on thin ice. Do "satisfactory grades" mean a C average; a D minus average; promotion to the next grade? What about a student who otherwise makes straight A's but flunks volleyball? Is that student subject to incarceration for having two left feet?

We need not try to answer these semi-intriguing questions. Instead we strike the "satisfactory grades and citizenship" requirement from the conditions on Robert's probation because the uncontradicted evidence shows compliance with that condition is beyond Robert's capacity. Here we have a 13 year old boy attending seventh grade with second grade vocabulary skills, third grade reading skills and third grade math skills. He has an I.Q. of 70. A court-ordered evaluation concluded Robert "is functioning about five years below his current grade level in all academic areas." The evaluator recommended an eye examination and a small, structured classroom setting in which Robert can receive individual remedial help in language development, reading, arithmetic and written expression. So far, all Robert has received is jail time. ⁴

In Bearden v. Georgia (1983) 461 U.S. 660, 103 S.Ct. 2064, 76 L.Ed.2d 221, the court held that once a sentencing court has granted probation on condition the defendant pay a fine and restitution it cannot subsequently revoke probation and imprison the defendant for failure to pay without first determining either that the defendant has not made bona fide efforts to pay or that no adequate alternative form of punishment exists. "[I]f the probationer has made all reasonable efforts to pay the fine or restitution, and yet cannot do so through no fault of his own, it is fundamentally unfair to revoke probation automatically...." (Id., 461 U.S. at p. ----, 103 S.Ct. at p. 2071, 76 L.Ed.2d, at p. 230; cf. People v. McClean (1955) 130 Cal.App.2d 439, 444-445, 279 P.2d 87.) Several courts have indicated it would be unjust to revoke the probation of a person addicted to alcohol for violating a probation condition prohibiting consumption of alcoholic beverages. (See, United States v. Miller (9th Cir.1976) 549 F.2d 105; Sweeney v. United States (7th Cir.1965) 353 F.2d 10; Flinchum v. Commonwealth of Virginia (W.D.Va.1972) 346 F.Supp. 17, 19-20.)

We believe the case before us presents an analogous situation. It is fundamentally unfair to deprive Robert of his liberty for failing to achieve a level of school performance undoubtedly beyond his capacity.

The respondent emphasizes the satisfactory citizenship requirement of the probation order. He argues Robert's absences "I would assume that, one, that he would be failing; two, that [he] would not be paying attention; there would be a great deal of tardies and truancies, based around just shame and unable [sic] to cope with being in the room and not understanding what was going on." (Id., at lines 11-17.)

from school and misbehavior in class adversely affect his grades. (Ibid.) Implicit in this argument is the notion even if Robert cannot make satisfactory grades, at least he can show up for classes and behave himself. This argument would carry some weight if addressed to a student with the capacity to work at least close to grade level. But that is not this case. Dr. Fryer, an educational expert called in by the juvenile court, was asked how he would expect a student to perform in a class that is being taught on a level five grades above what he is capable of performing. Dr. Fryer responded:

Thus, with Robert, grade and deportment are inextricably linked. Ordering Robert to maintain satisfactory grades and citizenship is equivalent to demanding a lame person to run for his freedom. ⁵

We emphasize we are deciding this case on its particular facts. We are not suggesting that, in other contexts a court would be prevented from revoking probation because of the probationer's lack of fault in violating a probation condition. A court would not be required, for example, to continue the probation of a convicted drunk driver once it becomes apparent efforts at controlling chronic drunken driving have failed. (See, Bearden v. Georgia, supra, 461 U.S. at p. ----, fn. 9, 103 S.Ct. at p. 2070, fn. 9, 76 L.Ed.2d at p. 230, fn. 9; People v. Mitchell (1981) 125 Cal.App.3d 715, 719-720, 178 Cal.Rptr. 188; State v. Oyler (1968) 92 Idaho 43, 436 P.2d 709, 713.) Nor are we suggesting a court could not revoke probation for the purpose of...