226 A.3d 109
Pa. Commw. Ct.2020Background
- Kazickas was paroled on January 13, 2014 (original maximum release date July 2, 2016) after convictions for drug offenses and related charges; his parole conditions warned that a CPV conviction could result in forfeiture of "street time."
- In October 2015 he was arrested on DUI and later failed to report/absconded from a community corrections center; he admitted a parole violation and was recommitted as a technical parole violator (TPV) by decision recorded June 1, 2016 and was given credit for time spent on parole in good standing.
- He reached the then-computed maximum on September 1, 2016 and was released from the Board’s detainer, but later pleaded guilty to separate criminal charges (Northampton County) in September–October 2016.
- The Board re-lodged its warrant and on December 27, 2016 modified its prior action to recommit him as a convicted parole violator (CPV) without credit for street time, recalculating his maximum into 2019; the Board later explained the denial (unresolved drug/alcohol issues).
- Kazickas administratively appealed, arguing (relying on Penjuke) the Board could not revoke street-time credit previously awarded; the Commonwealth Court affirmed the Board, holding Penjuke did not apply because the TPV and CPV conduct occurred in the same parole period.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whether the Board erred by denying credit for time spent on parole in good standing when it later recommitted Kazickas as a CPV after having earlier recommitted him as a TPV and granted street-time credit | Kazickas: Under Penjuke the Board cannot later revoke or "reach back" to take away street-time credit already granted; he thus completed his original sentence on Sept. 1, 2016 | Board: Penjuke is inapplicable because the criminal conduct leading to CPV recommitment occurred during the same parole period as the TPV; the Board may, under §6138, deny credit and recalculate the maximum; Board provided stated reason for denial | Court affirmed: Penjuke does not control where TPV and CPV violations arise in the same parole period; Board lawfully denied street-time credit and recalculated the maximum |
Key Cases Cited
- Penjuke v. Pa. Bd. of Prob. & Parole, 203 A.3d 401 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2019) (Board cannot "reach back" to revoke street-time credit previously granted in a prior parole period)
- Young v. Pa. Bd. of Prob. & Parole, 189 A.3d 16 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2018) (once Board grants street-time credit it is applied to the original sentence and generally cannot later be revoked)
- Smith v. Pa. Bd. of Prob. & Parole, 574 A.2d 558 (Pa. 1990) (Board’s recommitment terms reviewed against presumptive ranges)
- Miskovitch v. Pa. Bd. of Prob. & Parole, 77 A.3d 66 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2013) (Board retains jurisdiction to recommit after maximum term if crime occurred while on parole)
- Dorsey v. Pa. Bd. of Prob. & Parole, 854 A.2d 994 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2004) (definition and treatment of "street time")
