
    COMMONWEALTH of Pennsylvania, Appellee v. Sean CULLEN-DOYLE, Appellant
    No. 16 WAP 2016
    Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.
    ARGUED: November 2, 2016
    DECIDED: July 20, 2017
    
      Robert Allen Goldman, Esq., for Appellant.
    Sandra Preuhs, Esq., Michael Wayne Streily Esq., Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office, for Appellee.
    SAYLOR, C.J., BAER, TODD, DONOHUE, DOUGHERTY, WECHT, MUNDY, JJ.
   OPINION

CHIEF JUSTICE SAYLOR

This matter concerns a statutory risk reduction incentive program, eligibility for which requires that the offender lack a “history of present or past violent behavior.” The question presented on appeal concerns whether a single conviction for burglary—which the parties agree is a crime demonstrating violent behavior— constitutes such a history.

In 2009, the General Assembly codified the Recidivism Risk Reduction Incentive Act (the “RRRI Act” or the “Act”), as Chapter 45 of the Prisons and Parole Code. The Act is intended to encourage eligible offenders to complete Department of Corrections programs that are designed to reduce recidivism. See 61 Pa.C.S. §§ 4502, 4504(b). Eligible offenders may also be able to take advantage of a reduced sentence. See id. § 4505(c). As noted, eligibility is conditioned, in relevant part, upon the absence of a “history of present or past violent behavior,” id. § 4503 (defining, inter alia, “eligible offender”), although the Act does not define that phrase. See generally Commonwealth v. Chester, 627 Pa. 429, 432-34, 101 A.3d 56, 57-58 (2014).

The Commonwealth filed a number of informations against Appellant, each charging him with burglary, conspiracy, and theft-related offenses. Appellant pled guilty to several counts of criminal conspiracy to commit first-degree felony burglary and one count of first-degree felony burglary. See 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 903(c), 3502. Appellant asked the common pleas court to sentence him under the RRRI Act. The court found Appellant ineligible for the RRRI program and sentenced him to three-to-six years’ imprisonment on the burglary conviction, followed by an aggregate fifteen-year term of probation on the conspiracy counts.

In a post-sentence motion, Appellant asked the court to reconsider his eligibility for the program. In response, the court noted that, in Chester, this Court held that burglary is a crime of violence. The court then denied the motion for reconsideration, referencing Appellant’s “prior first degree burglary conviction,” Commonwealth v. Cullen-Doyle, Nos. CP-02-CR-0000261-2014, et al., Order at 1 (C.P. Allegheny Oct. 7, 2014), although it was unclear whether the court was referring to the present offense or another, earlier offense.

On appeal, Appellant maintained he was never convicted of burglary on a prior occasion, and the Commonwealth admitted it could not find any indication of such a prior conviction. Therefore, the parties filed a joint motion to remand the matter to the common pleas court to determine whether that court’s ruling was based on inaccurate information concerning Appellant’s criminal record. The Superior Court acknowledged the confusion on this point and the lack of clarity in the county court’s order denying reconsideration. See Commonwealth v. Cullen-Doyle, 133 A.3d 14, 16 n.4 (Pa. Super. 2016). However, the intermediate court found the uncertainty immaterial and denied the motion, see id., concluding that Appellant was ineligible for the RRRI program based solely on his present conviction for a crime of violence. See id. at 22.

We granted further review on this latter question. See Commonwealth v. Cullen-Doyle, 635 Pa. 502, 138 A.3d 609 (2016) (per curiam). As the issue entails statutory interpretation, our review is de novo and plenary. See In re Estate of Wilner, — Pa. -, -, 142 A.3d 796, 801 (2016).

Appellant argues it is unlikely that the statutory text excluding from eligibility those with a history of violent behavior was intended to encompass a first-time, single-count offender since, if that had been the General Assembly’s design, it could have said so more clearly by using inclusive language phrased in terms of “all convictions involving violent behavior.” Brief for Appellant at 11. He notes, in this regard, that the RRRI Act’s express intent is to encourage inmates who are capable of reform to participate in programs that tend to reduce recidivism. See id. at 10 (citing 61 Pa.C.S. § 4502 (relating to Chapter 45’s purpose)). He offers that:

If these offenders volunteer to participate and successfully complete the program, they are rewarded with a reduced. prison sentence. A reduced prison sentence has the benefit of relieving the taxpayers of some of the expense of warehousing offenders and it offers the offender an incentive and a second chance to become a law abiding citizen upon release.

Id.

For its part, the Commonwealth acknowledges that the concept of a “present history” is unusual, but it urges this Court to endorse the Superior Court’s interpretation because the overall phrase, “present or past violent behavior,” is extremely broad and suggests that a single violent crime can alone be disqualifying. See Brief for Appellee at 22-23. In the alternative, the Commonwealth states that, if this Court agrees with Appellant on the statutory construction issue, we should remand for clarification as to whether Appellant had a prior burglary conviction. See id. at 25-26.

The object of any judicial exercise in statutory interpretation is to ascertain and effectuate legislative intent. See 1 Pa. C.S. § 1921(a); Commonwealth v. Griffith, 613 Pa. 171, 177, 32 A.3d 1231, 1235 (2011). “When the words of a statute are clear and free from all ambiguity, they are presumed to be the best indication of legislative intent,” Commonwealth v. Corban Corp., 598 Pa. 459, 463, 957 A.2d 274, 276 (2008) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). Here, however, and particularly as the word “history” ordinarily concerns past events and can refer to a pattern of behavior, we find the salient aspect of the statute, referring to a “history of present or past violent behavior,” 61 Pa.C.S. § 4503, to be materially ambiguous, thereby implicating recourse to the rules of statutory construction. We may discern legislative intent by considering, inter alia, the occasion for , the provision, the context in which it was passed, the mischief it was designed to remedy, and the object it sought to attain. See 1 Pa.C.S. § 1921(c).

Applying such precepts, we believe the Act’s underlying purpose and rationale, examined in the context of the relevant legislative history, demonstrate that the General Assembly did not intend to preclude eligibility under the present circumstances. First, the stated purpose of the Act, which was enacted as part of a broader initiative to reform the penal system, is to “encourage; eligible offenders ... to participate in ,., programs ,.. that reduce the likelihood of recidivism.” 61 Pa.C.S. § 4504(b). Although the enactment does not. contain any language expressly relating to first-time offenders or, penalizing recidivism as such, a commonly accepted corollary to the Act’s express purpose of reducing recidivism is that first-time offenders are usually more amenable to reform than inmates who have persisted in criminal conduct. Indeed, the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing (the “Commission”), which was charged with identifying important factors affecting recidivism, found that “[t]he most consistent predictors of recidivism were age and number of prior arrests[,]” and that “offenders with a greater number of prior arrests, were more likely to recidi-vate.” PA. Comm’n on Sentencing, Risk/ needs Assessment Project, Factors That Predict Recidivism for Various Types of Offenses, Interim Report 3, at 1 (2011).

Against this backdrop, use of the word “history” assumes greater significance because it evidences an intent to render ineligible individuals with “an established record or pattern” of violent behavior. Webster’s New College Dictionary 537 (3d ed, 2008) (defining “history” as “an established record or pattern”). Indeed, we believe this understanding engenders the most cogent and natural interpretation of the statute, since it permits a sentencing court to assess whether an offender has an established record or pattern of past or present violent behavior. As such, it can be fairly inferred that, in aiming to reduce recidivism, the Legislature sought to offer greater reform opportunities for first-time offenders than for repeat offenders.

Further, looking to the consequences of different interpretations, see 1 Pa.C.S. § 1921(c)(6), the Superior Court’s reading results in imposing eligibility requirements that are so stringent that a large number of individuals who could potentially reform through participation in RRRI programming will be prevented from participating, given that a single instance of “violence,” broadly construed, would be disqualifying. If that had been the General Assembly’s objective, it could have articulated such intent with a definition of “eligible offender” that expressly precluded any instance of a conviction for a violent crime. As has been noted by the Commission, as well as the Secretary of Corrections, eligibility criteria under the Act are already quite strict, to the point that the RRRI program’s potential utility is demonstrably diminished.

We acknowledge that Section 4503 prescribes that individuals who have been convicted of certain enumerated offenses are ineligible for participation in the program. See 61 Pa.C.S. § 4503 (listing disqualifying offenses including: the use of a deadly weapon; personal injury crimes as set forth in the Crime Victims Act, 18 P.S. § 11.103; crimes requiring registration as a sex offender or involving incest, open lewdness, or internet child pornography; and certain violations of the Controlled Substances, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act). Significantly, however, Section 4503’s list of disqualifying offenses—which in-cludé both violent and potentially non-violent crimes—does not- include burglary. Hence, application of the statutory-interpretation principle that “the inclusion of specific matters in a statute implies the exclusion of other matters,” Dawphin Cnty. Pub. Defender’s Office v. Court of Common Pleas of Dauphin Cnty., 578 Pa. 59, 67, 849 A.2d 1145, 1150 (2004) (citation omitted), suggests the Legislature did not intend for all crimes of violence to be disqualifying in and of themselves.

Lastly, to the extent doubt remains concerning the proper interpretation of the language, the rule of lenity bolsters the conclusion that the single, present conviction for a violent crime does not constitute a history of violent behavior. See 1 Pa.C.S. § 1928(b)(1) (indicating that penal statutes are to be strictly construed); Commonwealth v. Booth, 564 Pa. 228, 234, 766 A.2d 843, 846 (2001) (“[W]here ambiguity exists in the language of a penal statute, such language should be interpreted in the light most favorable to the accused.”). Although not located in the Crimes Code or the Sentencing Code, the RRRI Act is a statute that has the effect of imposing a sentence; as such, it is subject to the rule of lenity. Thus, any ambiguity surrounding the meaning of the word “history” should be resolved in favor of those seeking admission into the program.

In light of our holding, the need for clarification concerning Appellant’s prior record may now have renewed salience notwithstanding that the parties’ original joint motion for a remand was denied by the Superior Court. Regardless, it will be for the Superior Court to determine in the first instance if any further issues remain to be resolved in that tribunal before remanding to the common pleas court.

Accordingly, we vacate the order of the Superior Court, and remand for further proceedings.

Justices Baer, Donohue and Mundy join the opinion.

Justice Todd files a dissenting opinion in which Justices Dougherty and Wecht join.

JUSTICE TODD

DISSENTING OPINION

The majority holds that a single first-degree burglary conviction does not constitute a “history of present or past violent behavior” which would disqualify an offender from eligibility for a reduced sentence under the Recidivism Risk Reduction Incentive Act (“RRRI Act”). 61 Pa. C.S. § 4503. It bases this holding on its conclusion that the phrase “history of present or past violent behavior” is ambiguous, and, consequently, on, inter alia, the policy underlying the RRRI Act, which it characterizes as reducing recidivism by “offering] greater reform opportunities for first-time offenders than for repeat offenders.” Majority Opinion at 1243. Because I view the phrase “history of present or past violent behavior” as unambiguously encompassing all instances of violent behavior— both past crimes and those “present” crimes for which a defendant is being sentenced—I would find that Appellant’s single first-degree burglary conviction, which involves violent behavior per se, disqualifies him from eligibility for the RRRI program. Accordingly, I must dissent.

As the majority notes, “[t]he object of all interpretation and construction of statutes is to ascertain and effectuate the intention of the General Assembly.” 1 Pa.C.S. § 1921(a). If the words of a statute are clear and unambiguous, we may not look beyond the plain meaning of the statutory language “under the pretext of pursuing its spirit,” 1 Pa.C.S. § 1921(b), as the statutory language is “presumed to be the best indication of legislative intent.” Commonwealth v. Corban Corp., 598 Pa. 459, 957 A.2d 274, 276 (2008) (internal quotation marks omitted). If, however, an ambiguity exists with respect to the language of a statute, we may determine the General Assembly’s intent by considering the factors listed in Section 1921(c) of the Statutory Construction Act. 1 Pa.C.S. § 1921(c). Critically, for present purposes, a word or phrase is ambiguous when it is subject to more than one reasonable interpretation. A.S. v. Pa. State Police, — Pa. -, -, 143 A.3d 896, 905-06 (2016).

Here, the majority, without identifying any reasonable interpretation of the phrase “history of present or past violent behavior,” much less any alternative interpretation which would render the phrase ambiguous, opines that the phrase is materially ambiguous because “‘history’ ordinarily concerns past events.” Majority Opinion at 1242.1 do not disagree with the majority’s straightforward assessment that “history” must concern events which occurred in the past. I disagree, however, that, as a result, Section 4503 is ambiguous because it is subject to multiple reasonable interpretations.

In concluding that “history of present or past violent behavior” is ambiguous, the majority focuses solely on the meaning of “history” without considering the term in the context of the rest of the phrase. Yet, it is well settled that “we cannot arrive at the meaning of a word, even the ‘ordinary’ meaning, without considering the surrounding words and provisions,” Commonwealth v. Fant, — Pa. -, -, 146 A3d 1254, 1260 (2016), and it is precisely the application of the word “history” in the context of the “present or past violent behavior” language in Section 4503, rather than the definition of “history” itself, which forms the basis of the parties’ dispute regarding the proper interpretation of this statutory language.

When considered in its proper context with the entire phrase, I do not view the obvious association of “history” with past events as creating an ambiguity in the statute. Although “history of present or past violent behavior,” and, more specifically, the notion of a “present history,” is certainly awkward verbiage, I nevertheless find this wording capable of an interpretation which gives effect to the whole phrase, consistent with the aforementioned principles of statutory construction. In my view, “history” for purposes of Section 4503 refers to an “established record” of violent behavior, and “present” or “past” signifies that any violent conviction will suffice for ineligibility. Webster’s New College Dictionary 537 (3d ed. 2008) (defining “history” as an “established record or pattern”). Thus, this “established record” may have been created either by virtue of a past conviction of a violent act for which the defendant was already sentenced—i.e, a “history of past violent behavior”—or by a violent act for which the defendant was convicted and is presently being sentenced—i.e., a “history of present violent behavior.” In short, and as the Superior Court observed below, the phrase excludes from RRRI eligibility “all violent behavior.” Commonwealth v. Cullen-Doyle, 133 A.3d 14, 21 (Pa. Super. 2016) (emphasis original).

Construing “history of present or past violent behavior” in this fashion not only gives effect to each of the words contained in the phrase, but is consistent with the other eligibility requirements found in Section 4503. See Fant, 146 A.3d at 1260 (“We must read a section of a statute in conjunction with other sections, construing them always with reference to the entire statute.”). Indeed, in addition to requiring that an offender “not demonstrate a history of present or past violent behavior” as a prerequisite for RRRI eligibility, Section 4503 requires, inter alia, that the offender “[h]as not been found guilty of or previously convicted of or adjudicated delinquent for” any of the enumerated offenses in that section, including certain personal injury crimes, certain sexual offenses, and certain drug offenses. 61 Pa.C.S. § 4503. These eligibility provisions clearly encompass both past and present convictions, and contemplate disqualification from the RRRI program based upon a single conviction, undermining the majority’s conclusion that the Act broadly contemplates eligibility for first-time offenders. Moreover, the majority’s interpretation requires us to reach the strained conclusion that the General Assembly intended that a defendant, such as Appellant, who has been convicted of a single violent offense, would be RRRI eligible when it has excluded defendants who have been convicted of a single enumerated crime—including some crimes which are non-violent—from doing so. See, e.g., id. § 4503(4) (rendering, inter alia, a defendant who was convicted of open lewdness ineligible for the RRRI program); § 4503(6) (rendering, inter alia, a defendant who was convicted of certain enumerated drug offenses ineligible for the RRRI program).-

In light of the foregoing, I find that the phrase “history of present or past violent behavior” unambiguously excludes from RRRI eligibility all violent offenders— both first-time offenders and those who have previously been convicted of a violent crime. Because I view this language as unambiguous, the inquiry,must end.there, and, thus, I do not find it necessary or appropriate to rely on the factors listed in Section 1921(c) . of the Statutory Construction Act in interpreting Section 4503, regardless of how compelling some of those factors may be in support of Appellant’s preferred construction.

Justices Dougherty and Wecht join this dissenting opinion. 
      
      . See Act of Aug. 11, 2009, P.L. 147, No. 33, § 7 (as amended 61 Pa.C.S. §§ 4501-4512). Originally passed in 2008, the Act briefly appeared as Chapter 53 of the Law and Justice Code. See Act of Sept. 25, 2008, P.L. 1026, No. 81, § 9 (repealed).
     
      
      
        . In dissent, Justice Todd indicates that we have not articulated competing reasonable interpretations of the statute. See Dissenting Opinion, at 1244-45. In response, and to be specific, the statute could be read, as the dissent proposes, to allow for the word history to encompass a single, present offense. Alternatively, it could be read to expressly authorize the inclusion of the present offense , in consideration of whether there is an overall history, comprised of more than one offense; See, e.g., Wellington v. Daniels, 717 F.2d 932, 936 (4th Cir. 1983) (indicating that, under Section 1983 of the Civil Rights Act, liability for failure to supervise only arises where there is a ''history” of violent acts, and not where there is only one such act); In re Marriage of Forbes, 570 N.W.2d 757, 760 (Iowa 1997) (noting that a "history” of .domestic abuse is "not necessarily established by a single documented incident”); Simmons v. Simmons, 649 So.2d 799, 801 (La. Ct. App. 1995) (concluding that a "history” of family violence, for statutory purposes, cannot be proved by a single act of violence).
     
      
      . RRRI incentive programs were first implemented as part of a package of bills to reform the prison and parole system. See Act of Sept. 25, 2008, P.L. 1026, No. 81; Act of Sept. 25, 2008, P.L.. 1050, No. 82; Act of Sept. 25, 2008, P.L. 1052, No. 83; Act of Sept. 25, 2008, P.L. 1062, No. 84.
     
      
      
        ,See Judge Cheryl B. Mos's, Shuffling the Deck:- The Role of the Courts in Problem Gambling Cases, 6 UNLV Gaming L.J.- 145, 157 (2016) (highlighting the effectiveness of Rhode Island’s diversion program ip reducing recidivism among first-time felony offenders); Andrew D. Leipold, Recidivism, Incapacitation, and Criminal Sentencing Policy, 3 U, St. ThoAas L.J. 536, 550-51 (2006) (observing that "the recidivism rates for first time offenders are significantly lower than the rates for repeat offenders!],]” and that, according to a study conducted by the United States Sentencing Commission, "only 12% [of first-time offenders] are re-arrested, and only 4% are reconvicted”); Aaron J. Rappaport, Criminal History and the Purpose of Sentencing, 9 Fed. Sent’g Rep. 184, 185 (1997) ("[A]n offender with two or three convictions might have a higher risk of recidivism than a first-time offender .... ”).
     
      
      . The Commission undertook this initiative as a result of the mandates imposed in the same bill that included the Act. See Act of Sept. 25, 2008, P.L.' 1026, No. 81, § 4.
     
      
      . See Hearing on Prison Overcrowding Before the S. Judiciary Comm., 2009-2010 Leg., Reg. Sess. 3 (Pa. 2009) (statement of Jeffrey A. Beard, Secretary, Department of Corrections) (“The problem with ... [the program] is that the eligibility criteria limits (continued...) some offenders who could benefit from these programs from participation.”); Report from the Pa. Comm’n on Sentencing to the H. Judiciary Comm. 6 (Oct. 2009) (noting that "[m]any of the sentencing alternatives created by the General Assembly to serve as rehabilitative alternatives to traditional incarceration ... are presently underutilized[,]” in part, because of "extensive ineligibility criteria, particularly as related to present or past offenses”), cited in Stewart Greenleaf, Prison Reform in the Pennsylvania Legislature, 160 U. PA. L. Rev. Pennumbra 179, 190 (2011),
     
      
      . See, e.g., United States v. R.L.C., 503 U.S. 291, 305, 112 S.Ct. 1329, 1338, 117 L.Ed.2d 559 (1992) ("[T]he rule [of lenity] has been applied not only to resolve issues about the substantive scope of criminal statutes, but to answer questions about the severity of sentencing[.]”); Commonwealth v. Shiffler, 583 Pa. 478, 495, 879 A.2d 185, 195-96 (2005) (observing that provisions affecting criminal sentences are penal in nature and, consequently, subject to the rule of lenity).
     