RULE 32. SENTENCE AND JUDGMENT

Obsolete Date: 3/1/1999

(a) Sentence.

(1) Imposition of Sentence. Sentence must be imposed or other authorized disposition made without unreasonable delay. Pending disposition, the court may commit the defendant or continue or alter the bail. Before imposing sentence, the court shall (i) determine that the defendant and the defendant's counsel have had the opportunity to read and discuss the presentence investigation report made available pursuant to subdivision (c)(3)(i) or a summary thereof made available pursuant to subdivision (c)(3)(ii); (ii) afford counsel an opportunity to speak on behalf of the defendant; and (iii) address the defendant personally, except as provided by Rule 43, to determine whether the defendant wishes to make a statement in the defendant's own behalf or wishes to present any information in mitigation of punishment or which would require the court to withhold pronouncement of judgment and sentence: if the defendant expresses a desire to do so, the court shall provide the defendant with that opportunity. The prosecution must be given an opportunity to be heard on any matter material to the imposition of sentence.

(2) Notification of Right to Appeal. After imposing sentence in a case that has gone to trial on a plea of not guilty, the court shall advise the defendant of the defendant's right to appeal and of the right of a person who is unable to pay the costs of an appeal to apply for appointment of counsel for purposes of appeal. The court is under no duty to advise the defendant of any right of appeal after sentence is imposed following a plea of guilty.

(b) Judgment. A judgment of conviction must set forth the plea, the verdict, and the adjudication of sentence. If the defendant is found not guilty or for any reason is entitled to be discharged, judgment must be entered accordingly. The judgment must be signed by the judge and entered by the clerk.

(c) Presentence Investigation.

(1) When Made. The court may order a presentence investigation and report at any time. Except with the written consent of the defendant, the report may not be submitted to the court or its contents disclosed unless the defendant has pleaded guilty or has been found guilty.

(2) Report. The report of the presentence investigation may contain any previous criminal record of the defendant and such information about the defendant's characteristics, the defendant's financial condition and the circumstances affecting the defendant's behavior as may be helpful in imposing sentence or in granting probation or in the correctional treatment of the defendant, and any information required by the court.

(3) Disclosure.

(i) At least 10 days before imposing sentence, unless this minimum period is waived by the defendant, the court shall provide the defendant, and the defendant's counsel if the defendant is so represented, with a copy of the report of the presentence investigation unless in the opinion of the court the report contains information which if disclosed would be harmful to the defendant or other persons; and the court shall afford the defendant and the defendant's counsel an opportunity to comment on the report and, in the discretion of the court, to introduce testimony or other information relating to any alleged factual inaccuracy contained in the presentence report.

(ii) If the court is of the view that there is information in the presentence report, disclosure of which would be harmful to the defendant or to other persons, the court in lieu of making the report or part thereof available shall state orally or in writing a summary of the factual information contained therein to be relied on in determining sentence, and shall give the defendant or the defendant's counsel an opportunity to comment thereon. The statement may be made to the parties in camera.

(iii) Any material that may be disclosed to the defendant and the defendant's counsel must also be disclosed to the prosecuting attorney.

(iv) If the comments of the defendant and the defendant's counsel or testimony or other information introduced by them allege any factual inaccuracy in the presentence investigation report or the summary of the report or part thereof, the court, as to each matter controverted, shall make (i) a finding as to the allegation, or (ii) a determination that no finding is necessary because the matter controverted will not be taken into account in sentencing. A written record of those findings and determinations must be appended to and accompany any copy of the presentence investigation report thereafter made available to the State Parole Board.

(d) Plea Withdrawal.

(1) The court shall allow the defendant to withdraw a plea of guilty whenever the defendant, upon a timely motion for withdrawal, proves that withdrawal is necessary to correct a manifest injustice.

(2) A motion for withdrawal is timely if made with due diligence, considering the nature of the allegations therein, and is not necessarily barred because made subsequent to judgment or sentence.

(3) In the absence of a showing that withdrawal is necessary to correct a manifest injustice, a defendant may not withdraw a plea of guilty as a matter of right once the plea has been accepted by the court. Before sentence, the court in its discretion may allow the defendant to withdraw a plea for any fair and just reason unless the prosecution has been substantially prejudiced by reliance upon the defendant's plea.

(e) Probation. After conviction of an offense, the defendant may be placed on probation as provided by law.

(f) Revocation of Probation Where the Court Retains Jurisdiction Under the Law.

(1) Taking Into Custody. Upon probable cause to believe that a probationer has violated a condition of probation, any State parole officer, or any peace officer upon direction of a State parole officer or upon direction or order of the court having jurisdiction may take the probationer into custody and thereafter shall forthwith bring the probationer before the court that originally placed the probationer upon probation for a hearing on the alleged violation. Costs incurred in bringing the probationer before the court must be borne by the county wherein the probation was granted. The probationer may be admitted to bail pending the hearing.

(2) Hearing. The hearing shall be in open court with:

(i) The probationer present,

(ii) A prior written notice of the alleged violation given to the probationer, and

(iii) Representation by retained or appointed counsel unless waived.

If the violation is contested, the prosecution shall establish the violation by a preponderance of the evidence. Upon the hearing, the court, subject to limitations imposed by law, may revoke an order suspending a sentence or an order suspending the imposition of sentence, or continue probation on the same or different conditions, as the circumstances warrant. A record of the proceedings must be made in such manner that it can be transcribed as needed.