Existing provisions governing suspension of sentence

Category: Criminal Procedure

Sec.  9.  Existing  provisions  governing  suspension  of  sentence, probation  and  parole  not  affected  by  this  Rule.  –  Nothing  in  this rule  shall  affect  any  existing  provisions  in  the  laws  governing suspension of sentence, probation or parole.
 

X, A 16-YEAR-OLD  WAS CHARGED WITH  THEFT.  AFTER HEARING, THE  COURT  FOUND  THAT  HE  COMMITTED  THE  ACTS  CHARGED.  WHAT SHOULD THE COURT DO?

     The  court  should  determine  the  imposable  penalty  including  the civil liability

     However,  instead  of  promulgating  judgment  of  conviction,  the court should automatically suspend the sentence and commit the minor to the DSWD or other institution until he reaches the age of
majority

     The  exception  to  the  suspension  of  sentence  in  case  of  youthful offenders are—
1.    If  the  offender  has  previously  enjoyed  a  suspension  of sentence

2.    If the offender is convicted of an offense punishable by death or life imprisonment
3.    If the offender is convicted by a military tribunal

     This  doesn’t  apply  if,  at  the  time  of  sentencing,  the  offender  is already  of  age,  even  if  he  was  a  minor  at  the  time  of  the commission of the offense
 
Section 1. Section 4 of Presidential Decree No. 968 is hereby amended  to read as follows: 
"Sec. 4. Grant of Probation. — Subject to the provisions of this Decree, the trial  court  may,  after  it  shall  have  convicted  and  sentenced  a  defendant, and upon application by said defendant within the period for perfecting an appeal, suspend the execution of the sentence and place the defendant on
probation  for  such  period  and  upon  such  terms  and  conditions  as  it  may deem best; Provided, That no application for probation shall be entertained or granted if the defendant has perfected the appeal from the judgment of conviction.
 
Sec. 2. Section 9 of Presidential Decree No. 968 is hereby amended to read as follows:  
"Sec. 9. Disqualified Offenders. — The benefits of this Decree shall not be extended to those:  
(a) sentenced to serve a maximum term of imprisonment of more than  six years;  
(b)  convicted  of  subversion  or  any  crime  against  the  national  security  or the public order; 
(c)  who  have  previously  been  convicted  by  final  judgment  of  an  offense punished by imprisonment of not less than one month and one day and/or a fine of not less than Two Hundred Pesos.  
(d) who have been once on probation under the provisions of this Decree; and  
(e)  who  are  already  serving  sentence  at  the  time  the  substantive provisions  of  this  Decree  became  applicable  pursuant  to  Section  33 hereof."  
 

WHEN SHOULD AN ADULT OFFENDER APPLY FOR PROBATION?

     The offender should apply for probation after conviction within the period for perfecting an appeal
 

CAN  THE  DEFENDANT  STILL  FILE  FOR  PROBATION  IF  HE  HAS ALREADY PERFECTED AN APPEAL?

     An application for probation may not be filed if the defendant has already perfected an appeal from the judgment of conviction 

     Once  the  appeal  is  perfected,  it  may  no  longer  be  withdrawn  to apply for probation
 

CAN   THE   DEFENDANT   STILL   APPEAL   IF   HE   HAS   FILED   FOR PROBATION?

     No.  The filing of an application for probation is deemed a waiver to the right to appeal.
 

IS   THE   GRANT   OF   PROBATION   A   MATTER   OF   RIGHT   UPON APPLICATION OF THE DEFENDANT?

     No, it is a mere privilege and the grant is discretionary upon the court
 

CAN THERE BE PROBATION IF THE PENALTY IS MERELY A FINE?

     Yes.    In  those  cases  where  the  penalty  is  a  fine,  and  the defendant cannot pay, he has to serve subsidiary imprisonment.
     In  this  instance,  probation  or  suspension  of  sentence  becomes relevant.
 

CAN  THE  DEFENDANT  APPEAL  FROM  AN  ORDER  DENYING  THE APPLICATION FOR PROBATION?

     No.
 

WHAT  IS  THE  COURT  MANDATED  TO  DO  BEFORE  PLACING  AN ACCUSSED FOR PROBATION?

     The court should order a post sentence investigation to determine whether the ends of justice and the best interest of the public will be served by the grant of probation
 

WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF POST SENTENCE INVESTIGATION?

     The significance is that it serves as the informational basis for the court’s  decision  to  grant  or  deny  the  probation  to  qualified offenders
 

WITHIN WHAT PERIOD SHOULD THE PROBATION OFFICER SUBMIT HIS REPORT ON A DEFENDANT    IN    A POST SENTENCE INVESTIGATION?

     The  investigation  report  must  be  submitted  with  the  court  not later  than  60  days  from  receipt  of  the  order  of  said  court  to conduct said investigation 
 

WHEN   SHOULD   THE   COURT   DENY   THE   APPLICATION   FOR PROBATION?

1.    The  offender  is  in  need  of  correctional  treatment  that  can  be provided most effectively by his commitment to an institution
2.    There  is  undue  risk  that  during  the  period  of  probation  the offender will commit another crime
3.    Probation will depreciate the seriousness of the offense committed
 
WHEN DOES THE PROBATION ORDER TAKE EFFECT?
     A  probation  order  shall  take  effect  upon  its  issuance,  at  which time  the  court  shall  inform  the  offender  of  the  consequences thereof and explain that upon his failure to comply with any of the
conditions, he shall serve the penalty imposed for the offense
 

WHAT IS THE EFFECT OF PROBATION ON THE CIVIL LIABILITY OF THE ACCUSED?

     Probation doesn’t release civil liability
     However, the court may in its discretion, provide for the manner of payment of the civil liability by the accused during the period of probation
 

WHAT IS THE DURATION OF THE PERIOD OF PROBATION? PROBATION  SHALL  HAVE  THE  FOLLOWING  PERIODS  IN  THE  INSTANCES BELOW:

1.    If the defendant was sentenced to imprisonment of not more than one year, probation shall not exceed 2 years
2.    If the term of imprisonment is more than 1 year, probation shall not exceed 6 years
3.    If  the  penalty  is  only  a  fine  and  the  offender  is  made  to  serve subsidiary  imprisonment  in  case  of  insolvency,  the  period  of probation shall not be less than nor be more than twice the total
number of days of subsidiary imprisonment.  For example, if the subsidiary  imprisonment  is  10  days,  probation  period  should  not be less than 10 days and not more than 20 days.
 

CAN THE GRANT OF PROBATION BE REVOKED?

     Yes.    Probation  is  revocable  before  the  final  discharge  of  the probationer  by  the  court  for  violation  of  any  of  its  conditions.  Once  it  is  revoked,  the  court  should  order  the  arrest  of  the
probationer so that he can serve the sentence originally imposed.
     The period of probation is not deducted from the penalty imposed.
 

UPON  THE  LAPSE  OF  THE  PERIOD  OF  PROBATION,  IS  THE  CASE AGAINST THE PROBATIONER AUTOMATICALLY TERMINATED? 

     NO.  After the period of probation, the court has to order the final discharge of the probationer upon finding that he has fulfilled the terms and conditions of his probation.
     Only upon issuance of this order is the case terminated.
 

WHAT IS THE EFFECT OF THE FINAL DISCHARGE?

     IT shall operate to restore the probationer to all civil rights lost or suspended as a result of his conviction
     He is also discharged fully of his liability for any fine imposed as to the offense for which probation was granted 

PR: wait...  I: wait...  L: wait...  LD: wait...  I: wait... wait...  C: wait...  SD: wait...