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State v. Krall

The Supreme Court of Washington. En Banc
Oct 20, 1994
125 Wn. 2d 146 (Wash. 1994)

Summary

holding that the legislature's use of the word “shall” in former RCW 9.94A.142, recodified asRCW 9.94A.753, is a mandatory directive to determine restitution within the statutory period

Summary of this case from State v. Chipman

Opinion

No. 60507-6.

October 20, 1994.

[1] Statutes — Construction — Meaning of Words — "Shall" — In General. The word "shall" in a statute imposes a mandatory requirement unless a contrary legislative intent is apparent.

[2] Statutes — Construction — Meaning of Words — "Shall" — Factors. To determine the Legislature's intent in using the word "shall" in a statute, a court evaluates the statute as a whole, including its terms and provisions in relation to its subject, the nature of the statute, the general object to be accomplished, and the consequences that would result from construing "shall" as either mandatory or merely directory.

[3] Statutes — Construction — Meaning of Words — "Shall" — "May" in Same Statute — Effect. The use of both "may" and "shall" in a statute indicates the Legislature's intent that "shall" is to have a mandatory meaning different from the directory meaning of "may".

Statutes — Construction — Amendment — Effect — Presumption.

[5] Criminal Law — Punishment — Restitution — Timeliness. Under RCW 9.94A.142(1), a trial court may not order restitution more than 60 days after the sentencing hearing. ( State v. Hartwell, 38 Wn. App. 135, is overruled insofar as it is inconsistent.)

Nature of Action: Criminal prosecution.

Superior Court: More than 60 days after the sentencing hearing, the Superior Court for King County, No. 92-1-06004-0, Jo Anne Alumbaugh, J., on May 11, 1993, entered an order of restitution.

Supreme Court: Holding that the restitution order was untimely, the court reverses the order and grants the defendant's motion to strike the appendices to the State's brief.

John R. Muenster, Inc., P.S., by John R. Muenster, for appellant.

Norm Maleng, Prosecuting Attorney, and Daniel J. Soukup, Deputy, for respondent.


This is a direct appeal from an order of restitution. We reverse.

The only issue is whether the trial court may order restitution more than 60 days after sentencing when the statute provides: "When restitution is ordered, the court shall determine the amount of restitution due at the sentencing hearing or within sixty days." (Italics ours.) RCW 9.94A.142(1).

The Judgment and Sentence did not set restitution, but provided: "If State seeks restitution, it shall be by motion and hearing." Clerk's Papers, at 6. The State did not seek a hearing until more than 60 days after sentencing. The hearing was first scheduled for 108 days after sentencing, but not held until 185 days after sentencing. Defendant raised the timeliness issue at the hearing.

[1] The dispositive question is whether the word "shall" in the statute is a mandatory directive. The basic rule is clear.

It is well settled that the word "shall" in a statute is presumptively imperative and operates to create a duty. . . . The word "shall" in a statute thus imposes a mandatory requirement unless a contrary legislative intent is apparent.

Erection Co. v. Department of Labor Indus., 121 Wn.2d 513, 518, 852 P.2d 288 (1993).

[2] The meaning of "shall" is not gleaned from that word alone because our purpose is to ascertain legislative intent of the statute as a whole.

In determining the meaning of the word "shall" we traditionally have considered the legislative intent as evidenced by all the terms and provisions of the act in relation to the subject of the legislation, the nature of the act, the general object to be accomplished and consequences that would result from construing the particular statute in one way or another.

State v. Huntzinger, 92 Wn.2d 128, 133, 594 P.2d 917 (1979).

[3-5] Nothing in the restitution statute indicates a legislative intent contrary to "shall" being mandatory. In fact, the statute as a whole shows the Legislature drew a clear distinction between mandatory and discretionary provisions. For example, the community corrections officer may recommend a change in the payment schedule and shall inform the court thereof. Then the court may change the schedule. For purposes of restitution, the offender shall remain under jurisdiction for 10 years during which time the court may modify the order. The offender's compliance shall be supervised by the Department of Corrections. RCW 9.94A.142(1).

This [use of "may" and "shall" in the statute] indicates that the Legislature intended the two words to have different meanings: "may" being directory while "shall" being mandatory.

State v. Bartholomew, 104 Wn.2d 844, 848, 710 P.2d 196 (1985).

Legislative history supports our conclusion. The statute originally required the court to determine restitution at the time of sentencing. Laws of 1981, ch. 137, § 14. An amendment added the words "or within 60 days". Laws of 1982, ch. 192, § 5. "The presumption is that every amendment is made to effect some material purpose." Vita Food Prods., Inc. v. State, 91 Wn.2d 132, 134, 587 P.2d 535 (1978). The only logical conclusion is the statute as originally enacted authorized restitution to be set at the sentencing hearing. By the amendment, the Legislature extended the time period by 60 days. To conclude otherwise would mean the amendment served no purpose.

The State relies almost entirely on State v. Hartwell, 38 Wn. App. 135, 684 P.2d 778 (1984). Ostensibly that case holds the statutory time to be directory only. Such holding is dicta for two reasons. First, at sentencing the parties agreed imposition of restitution would be deferred. Second, and more importantly, the court otherwise held restitution was not proper. In any event, the reasoning in Hartwell is flawed. The Court of Appeals did not recognize the general rule that "shall" is presumptively mandatory. We overrule Hartwell to the extent it is inconsistent herewith.

Defendant's motion to strike the appendices to the State's Brief is granted because they are not in the record.

The Order of Restitution is reversed.

ANDERSEN, C.J., and UTTER, DOLLIVER, DURHAM, SMITH, GUY, JOHNSON, and MADSEN, JJ., concur.


Summaries of

State v. Krall

The Supreme Court of Washington. En Banc
Oct 20, 1994
125 Wn. 2d 146 (Wash. 1994)

holding that the legislature's use of the word “shall” in former RCW 9.94A.142, recodified asRCW 9.94A.753, is a mandatory directive to determine restitution within the statutory period

Summary of this case from State v. Chipman

holding that the legislature's use of the word "shall" in former RCW 9.94A.142, recodified as RCW 9.94A.753, is a mandatory directive to determine restitution within the statutory period

Summary of this case from State v. Velkov

stating "the general rule that ‘shall’ is presumptively mandatory"

Summary of this case from BNSF Ry. Co. v. Clark

stating "the general rule that ‘shall’ is presumptively mandatory"

Summary of this case from State v. James-Buhl

In State v. Krall, 125 Wn.2d 146, 881 P.2d 1040 (1994), we interpreted language in the SRA regarding adult restitution hearings.

Summary of this case from State v. Mollichi

In Krall we examined the statutory scheme and the legislative history of the restitution statute, and concluded that when the Legislature said restitution shall be determined within sixty days of sentencing, that is what it meant. Krall, at 148-49.

Summary of this case from State v. Moen

In Krall, the judgment and sentence did not set restitution but provided that if the State elected to seek restitution it should do so by motion and hearing.

Summary of this case from State v. Hunsicker

In Krall, the judgment and sentence did not set restitution, but provided that if the State sought restitution, it "shall be by motion and hearing.'"

Summary of this case from State v. Moen

In Krall, which was decided after the trial courts ordered restitution in both cases, we held the 60-day time limit in former RCW 9.94A.142(1) is mandatory and reversed as untimely a restitution order entered 185 days after sentencing.

Summary of this case from Restraint of Fleming

explaining RCW 9.95.210

Summary of this case from State v. Thomas

interpreting RCW 9.94A.142 which imposes a 60-day time limit on restitution

Summary of this case from State v. Golden

interpreting 60-day time limit under former RCW 9.94A.142

Summary of this case from State v. Pierson
Case details for

State v. Krall

Case Details

Full title:THE STATE OF WASHINGTON, Respondent, v. JEFFREY DONALD KRALL, Appellant

Court:The Supreme Court of Washington. En Banc

Date published: Oct 20, 1994

Citations

125 Wn. 2d 146 (Wash. 1994)
125 Wash. 2d 146
881 P.2d 1040

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