*79 OPINION ON PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW
On аppellant’s motion for reconsideration on petition for discretionary review, we vacate our judgment of January 20, 1994 and withdraw our opinion of January 20, 1994. The following is now the Court’s opinion and judgment.
Kenneth G. Wright appeals his conviction for theft, a third-degree felony. The trial court found appellant guilty and assessed punishment at ten years’ imprisonment, probated. In a single point of error, appellant contends that the trial court erred in failing to follow a mandatоry statute requiring a presentence investigation report prior to sentencing in felony cases. We affirm.
Robert Kettle is part-owner and manager of Wayne’s Check Cashing Service (Wayne’s). Appellant, who owns a concrete business, cashed personal and company checks at Wayne’s. Several of appellant’s checks, which were returned to Wayne’s for insufficient funds (NSF), were the basis of the felony theft charge.
During the trial before the court held on August 24, 1992 and October 5, 1992, the State presented evidence regarding the total amount of the NSF checks. Defense counsel put on evidence of items appellant believed offset these NSF cheeks. After finding appellant guilty, the trial court asked if either side wanted a presentenee investigation (PSI) report before punishment was assessed. The court noted that a PSI report would be prepared before sentencing. Defense counsel stated that the defense hаd nothing further. During argument at the punishment phase, the prosecutor requested that appellant not be placed on deferred adjudication and defense counsel asked for probation. The trial court then assessed punishment, stating:
Punishment is set at ten years confinement in the Institutional Division, Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Imposition of sentence is suspended for ten years. The defendant is placed on probation for ten years.
We need a PSI report, I guess.
Sir, following the preparation of a PSI report, you will be on probation for a period of ten years. Please go over the terms of probation with the probation officer before you leave the area today. Restitution in the amount of — What did he say, Ms. Jones, twelve? — twelve thousand dollars to be paid by you as a term and condition of probation payable a hundred dollars a month.
After remarks by defense counsel regarding appellant’s offset amounts, the trial court reduced the amount of restitution to $10,000, payable over 120 months. 1 The proceedings then ended. The judgment was signed and imposition of sentence was suspended on October 5, 1992. The probation order was also signed on October 5, 1992. There is no affirmative evidence in the record that the trial court reviewed a PSI report. There is no evidence in the record that appellant filed any motion or made any other attempt to inform the trial court of the grounds for this appeal befоre or after filing his notice of appeal on that same day.
In his sole point of error, appellant asserts that the trial court erred by failing to order and review a PSI report prior to sentencing. Appellant relies on section 9 of article 42.12 of the code of criminal procedure, which stated in pertinent part at the time of trial:
See. 9. (a) Before the imposition of sentence by the court in a felony case, and except as provided by Subsection (b) of this section, before the imposition of sentence by the court in a misdemeanor ease the court shall direct a probation officer to report to the court in writing on the circumstances of the offense with which the defendant is charged, the amount of restitution necessary to adequately compensate a victim of the offense, the criminal and social history of the defendant, and any *80 other information relating to the defendant or the offеnse requested by the court....
(b) The court is not required to direct a probation officer to prepare a report in a misdemeanor case if [either of two events occur].
Act of August 25, 1991, 72nd Leg., 2d C.S., ch. 10, § 16.01, 1991 Tex.Gen.Laws 213, 213, amended by Act of May 29, 1993, 73rd Leg., R.S., eh. 900, § 4.01, 1993 Tex.Gen.Laws 3716, 3722 (current version at Tex.Code CRIM.PROC.Ann. art. 42.12, § 9(a) & (b) (Vernon Supp.1994)) (emphasis added). 2 Appellant argues that this statute is mandatory in all felony cases and that failure of the trial court to require a PSI report is reversible error, not subject to a harm analysis. The State argues that appellant waived any error by not objecting at trial. Alternatively, the State argues that, if preserved, any error was harmless.
Presumption of Regularity
Before deciding the point of error, we must address the substance of the record before us. Absent a showing to the contrary, there is a presumption of regularity attending the proceedings in the trial court.
Ex parte Stacey,
It is clear that the trial court granted probation without reviewing a PSI report. The court stated, however, that probation would not begin until a PSI report was prepared. That same day, a probation order was entered. There is nothing in the record before us that refutes the presumption that the court ordered, the probation officer prepared, and the court reviewed a PSI report before probation began.
3
Where the recоrd does not affirmatively reflect that procedural requirements were violated, the presumption of regularity must prevail.
Jones v. State,
Assuming, arguendo, that appellant has met his burden of rebutting the presumption of regularity, however, we address the merits of his point of error.
Section 9(a) of Article ⅛2.12
Appellant is correct in stating that the provisions of section 9(a) of article 42.12 are mandatory. “The terms ‘must’ and ‘shall’ are synonymous and are usually mandatory when used in statutes. Although the term ‘shall’ may sometimes be construed to be permissive or directory, we understand the rule to be that ‘shall’ should be given the meaning that best expresses the legislative intent.”
Sodipo v. State,
Before Imposition of Sentence
Appellant argues that “the current law mandates a PSI [report] in all cases before a trial judge can assess
punishment.”
Appellant misreads the statute. Under section 9(a) of article 42.12, the trial court must order a PSI report before imposition of
sentence.
The term “sentence” simply means “that part of a judgmеnt ordering 'that the
punishment
be carried into execution in the manner prescribed by law[.]’ ”
State ex rel. Turner v. McDonald,
The imposition of a sentence is
suspended,
however, until the terms and conditions of probation are breached by a probationer and probation is revoked.
See McDonald,
Recently, the court of criminal appeals had an opportunity to interpret another mandatory section of article 42.12. In
Price v. State,
Price is not controlling in our case; 6 however, we believe the reasoning is applicable. Where the legislature has mandated the trial court to order the preparation of a PSI report, yet expressly granted that court the period of time between conviction 7 and impo *82 sition of sentence in which to perform this task, the trial court has discretion to act within this established period. There is no evidence in the record before us that appellant has breached the terms of his probation. We conclude that the trial court could not have abused its discretion because the record does not show that the time permitted for its action had lapsed. 8
Assuming, arguendo, that a mandatory rule was breached, that does not end our inquiry. We must determine whether appellant preserved error.
Forfeiture of Right
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has stated that our adjudicatory system contains three distinct types of rules: (1) absolute requirements and prohibitions; (2) rights of litigants that must be implemented by the system unless expressly waived; and (3) rights of litigants that are to be implemented upon request.
Marin v. State,
Non-Waivable
The first category set out in Marin includes rights that are essentially independent of the litigants’ wishes, such as the jurisdiction of the court and the application of the rules regarding due process and separation of powers. Id. In our view, the use of a PSI report is not one of these rights. The right to a PSI report does not rise to the level of importance of the court’s jurisdictional authority or to the constitutionally protected rights of due process and separation of powers. Therefore, a PSI report is not an absolute requirement.
Waivable
The second category includes rights that are so fundamental to the proper functioning of our adjudicatory process that they cannot be forfeited by mere inaction.
Marin,
Procedural Default
This third category of rights as outlined in
Marin
is subject to the Texas law of procedural default.
Marin,
We hold that the article 42.12, section 9 right to have a trial court order prepаration of a PSI report before sentencing falls within the third category as outlined in Marin and is, therefore, forfeitable by inaction.
When appellant failed to draw the trial court’s attention to the lack of a PSI report after punishment was assessed but before sentencing, he waived his right to the use of the report and to complain of its nonexistence on appeal. We hold, therefore, that appellant failed to preserve his complaint for appellate review.
Assuming, arguendo, that error is preservеd, we must decide whether it is error subject to a harmless error analysis and, if so, whether the error was harmful.
Harmless Error
In
Sodipo,
the court of criminal appeals held that error in applying the mandatory statute at issue should not be assessed under the harmful error rule.
Sodipo,
In determining whether a trial court’s erroneous action constitutes reversible error, the reviewing court must focus on the error and determine whether, beyond a reasonable doubt, it contributed to the
conviction or punishment.
Tex.R.App.P. 81(b)(2);
Harris v. State,
In
dicta,
the court of criminal appeals has said that probation is considered a form of punishment.
Angelle v. State,
We conclude that the record before us establishes, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the error made no contribution to appellant’s punishment. First, appellant expressly waived any right to cоmplain that the lack of a PSI report affected his punishment. Prior to a determination of punishment, the following colloquy occurred:
THE COURT: All right. Either side wish a PSI [report] done or you wish to argue the punishment at this time? We will have a PSI [report] prior to sentencing, but if you want anything to benefit the Court prior to a punishment decision, we need to do it now.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Judge, defense has nothing further.
(Emphasis added). The State and defense counsel then argued the evidence on punishment. Defense counsel’s statement was an express waiver of the PSI report for punishment purposes. Appellant’s waiver precludes him from сomplaining of any harm due to the lack of a PSI report before assessment of punishment by the trial court.
Second, the purpose of a PSI report is “to determine what terms and conditions of probation are appropriate to the particular defendant ... as much as whether to allow probation in the first place[.]”
McDonald,
Appellant argues, however, that had an independent PSI report been prepared, that report might have supported appellant’s version of the appropriate offset amount. Appellant’s argument is pure speculation and without merit. The record does not reflect any new evidence that would have been forthcoming had a PSI report been ordered. Further, appellant’s brief does not even allege any specific evidence that would have been uncovered to better inform the trial judge before she set the terms and cоnditions of probation.
Appellant points out that the probation order does not contain programs and sanctions that the community-supervision department could provide appellant during probation. Appellant argues, we assume, that this would have been corrected had a PSI report been ordered and reviewed. Again the argument is meritless. Appellant has a remedy for any modification of the terms and conditions of a probation order: At any timе during the period of probation the trial court may alter or modify the conditions of probation. See Tex.Code CRIM.PROc.Ann. art. 42.-12, § 11(a) (Vernon Supp.1994). 11
Finally, the error was harmless because section 9 of article 42.12 only requires a court to “direct a probation officer to report to the court in writing.” Nowhere does this statute require that the court consider the contents of this written PSI report or even that the court read it. 12
We hold that the trial court’s error in not ordering preparation of a PSI report after *85 placing appellant on probation was, beyond a reasonable doubt, harmless error. Tex. R.App.P. 81(b)(2). Appellant has a remedy in the trial court by modification of the terms and conditions of his probation, if justice so requires. See Tex.Code CRIM.Proc.Ann. art. 42.12, § 11(a) (Vernon Supp.1994).
Summary
There is a presumption of regularity attending the proceedings in the trial court. Appellant has the burden on appeal of overcoming that presumption. We hоld that appellant failed to overcome the presumption of regularity that the court ordered preparation of, a probation officer prepared, and the court reviewed a PSI report before the appellant’s probation began. Alternatively, we hold that appellant forfeited his right to complain of the trial court’s failure to order and review a PSI report by failing to timely bring his complaint to the trial court’s attention. Tex.R.App.P. 52(a). Further, if the trial court’s failure to order preparation of a PSI report prior to sentencing was error, it was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. Tex. RApp.P. 81(b)(2). We overrule appellant’s sole point of error.
We affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Notes
. The record is clear that the court intended the $10,000 in restitution to be paid out in equal installments over 120 months, or $83.33 per month. The written probation terms and conditions, however, require $100 per month. No complaint is made of this on appeal.
. Appellаnt was tried on August 24, 1992. Effective September 1, 1993, the legislature amended article 42.12. All references to section 9 of article 42.12, unless otherwise noted, are to the 1991 session-law version, which was the statute in effect at the time of appellant’s trial.
. Amendments to article 42.01 effective September 1, 1993 require criminal judgments to affirmatively state that a PSI report was “done" in the event such a report is required by section 9 of article 42.12. See Tex.Code Crim.Proc.Ann. art. 42.01, § 1(26) (Vernon Supp.1994). No similar requirement was in effect at the time of appellant's sentencing. See Act of August 25, 1991, 72nd Leg., 2d C.S., ch. 10, § 7.02, 1991 Tex.Gen. Laws 187, 187-88, amended by Act of May 29, 1993, 73rd Leg., R.S., ch. 900, § 5.03, 1993 Tex.Gen.Laws 3745, 3746.
.In the amendments to article 42.12 effective September 1, 1993, the legislature created some exceptions to the requirement of a PSI report in felony cases. See Tex.Code Crim.Proc.Ann. art. 42.12, § 9(g) (Vernon Supp.1994).
. The 1993 amendments to article 42.12 did not substantively affect the purpose of the article. See Act of May 28, 1989, 71st Leg., R.S., ch. 785, § 4.17, 1989 Tex.Gen.Laws 3498, 3498, amended by Act of May 29, 1993, 73rd Leg., R.S., ch. 900, § 4.01, 1993 Tex.Gen.Laws 3716, 3717.
. The court of criminal appeаls specifically limited its conclusions and holdings in
Price
to deferred-adjudication proceedings in misdemeanor cases.
Price,
.Article 42.12, section 9 does not come into play until a defendant has been convicted. See, e.g., Act of May 28, 1989, 71st Leg., R.S., ch. 785, § 4.17, 1989 Tex.Gen.Laws 3498, 3498-99 (amended 1993) (current version at TexCode Crim.Proc.Ann. art. 42.12, §§ 3 & 4(a) (Vernon Supp.1994)); Act of May 18, 1991, 72nd Leg., R.S., ch. 343, § 1, 1991 Tex.Gen.Laws 1389, .1390, amended by Act of May 29, 1993, 73rd Leg., R.S., ch. 900, § 4.01, 1993 Tex.Gen.Laws *82 3716, 3721-22 (current version at Tex.Code Crim. ProcAnn. art. 42.12, § 8(a) (Vernon Supp.1994)).
. Appellant is not without a remedy under the law. Appellant may petition the trial court for a PSI report before sentеnce is actually imposed. Logically, the trial court must retain the power and authority to order a PSI report during the probationary period because the discretion to act extends throughout this entire period. Cf. Act of May 28, 1989, 71st Leg., R.S., ch. 785, § 4.17, 1989 Tex.Gen.Laws 3498, 3504-05 (amended 1993) (current version at TexCode Crim.Proc.Ann. art. 42.12, § 11(a) (Vernon Supp.1994)) (trial court retains power and authority to modify terms of probation throughout probationary period). Further, if the trial court determines that the information in the PSI rеport warrants a change in the terms and conditions of appellant's probation, the court is authorized to order the modification. See id.
. In the amendments to article 42.12 effective September 1, 1993, the legislature still did not require an express waiver; however, the new article 42.12 does allow the defendant to request a PSI report in a felony case even if the court is not required to order one. See TexCode Crim. Proc.Ann. art. 42.12, § 9(g) (Vernon Supp.1994).
. The 1993 amendments to article 42.12 did not affect the post-conviction applicability of the statute. See, e.g., Act of May 28, 1989, 71st Leg., R.S., ch. 785, § 4.17, 1989 Tex.Gen.Laws 3498, 3498-99 (amended 1993); Act of May 18, 1991, 72nd Leg., R.S., ch. 343, § 1, 1991 Tex.Gen.Laws 1389, 1390 (amended 1993).
. The 1993 amendments to article 42.12 replaced the term “probation” with the term “community supervision." These amendments, however, did not affect the authority of the trial court to alter the conditions during the supervised period. See Act of May 28, 1989, 71st Leg., R.S., ch. 785, § 4.17, 1989 Tex.Gen.Laws 3498, 3504-OS (amended 1993).
. Any argument that the legislature must have intended the court to consider the PSI report fails because a PSI report has uses other than assessing punishment. For example, under former section 9(g) of article 42.12, the PSI report had to be sent to a defendant's incarceration institution. See Act of August 25, 1991, 72nd Leg., 2d C.S., ch. 10, § 16.01, 1991 Tex.Gen. *85 Laws 213, 213 (amended 1993). Additionally, the 1993 amendments to article 42.12 require a post sentence investigation report be filed in the trial court's papers if a PSI report is not required under article 42.12. Tex.Code Crim.Proc.Ann. art. 42.12, § 9(k) (Vernon Supp.1994). This postsen-tence report contains essentially the same information that a PSI report does. Id.
