Judicial Clemency for Probationers- Texas Code of Criminal Procedure 42.12(20)

Everyone on paper wants the same thing, to be off paper and done with probation. The best way to finish probation is to apply for judicial clemency under 42.12(20). This provision allows the judge to not only terminate your probation early, but to do so in a way that effectively dismisses the underlying charge (with a few exceptions).

What does a DWI defendant possibly have in common with a sex offender? Both are ineligible for early release under this provision.

ec. 20. (a) At any time, after the defendant has
satisfactorily completed one-third of the original community
supervision period or two years of community supervision, whichever
is less, the period of community supervision may be reduced or
terminated by the judge. Upon the satisfactory fulfillment of the
conditions of community supervision, and the expiration of the
period of community supervision, the judge, by order duly entered,
shall amend or modify the original sentence imposed, if necessary,
to conform to the community supervision period and shall discharge
the defendant. If the judge discharges the defendant under this
section, the judge may set aside the verdict or permit the defendant
to withdraw his plea, and shall dismiss the accusation, complaint,
information or indictment against the defendant, who shall
thereafter be released from all penalties and disabilities
resulting from the offense or crime of which he has been convicted
or to which he has pleaded guilty, except that:
(1) proof of the conviction or plea of guilty shall be made
known to the judge should the defendant again be convicted of any
criminal offense; and
(2) if the defendant is an applicant for a license or is a
licensee under Chapter 42, Human Resources Code, the Texas
Department of Human Services may consider the fact that the
defendant previously has received community supervision under this
article in issuing, renewing, denying, or revoking a license under
that chapter.
(b) This section does not apply to a defendant convicted of
an offense under Sections 49.04-49.08, Penal Code, a defendant
convicted of an offense for which on conviction registration as a
sex offender is required under Chapter 62, as added by Chapter 668,
Acts of the 75th Legislature, Regular Session, 1997, or a defendant
convicted of an offense punishable as a state jail felony.

The Court of Criminal Appeals recently addressed this provision in 2002 in Cuellar vs State, 70 SW 3d 815.

There is, however, a second, less common type of discharge under Article 42.12, § 20. This second type of discharge is not a right but rather is a matter of “judicial clemency” within the trial court’s sole discretion. See Wolfe v. State, 917 S.W.2d 270 (Tex.Crim.App.1996) ( “[Section] 20 provides a mechanism to release a convicted person of all legal disabilities upon successful completion of probation.”); Hoffman v. State, 922 S.W.2d 663, 668 (Tex.App.-Waco 1996, pet. ref’d) (“Among the district court’s several powers is the authority to dismiss an indictment or information against a convicted felon once he has successfully completed the terms of his probation.”). That is, when a trial judge believes that a person on community supervision is completely rehabilitated and is ready to re-take his place as a law-abiding member of society, the trial judge may “set aside the verdict or permit the defendant to withdraw his plea, and shall dismiss the accusation, complaint, information or indictment against the defendant, who shall thereafter be released from all penalties and disabilities resulting from the offense or crime of which he has been convicted or to which he has pleaded guilty.”4 Tex.Code Crim. Proc. 42.12, § 20(a);5 State v. Jimenez, 987 S.W.2d 886, 888 n. 2 (Tex.Crim.App.1999) (“Under Texas law, successful completion of probation allows the judge to dismiss some charges without a final conviction.”). These words are crystal clear. There is no doubt as to their meaning. See Boykin v. State, 818 S.W.2d 782 (Tex.Crim.App.1991).6 If a judge chooses to exercise this judicial clemency provision, the conviction is wiped away, the indictment dismissed, and the person is free to walk away from the courtroom “released from all penalties and disabilities” resulting from the conviction. Art. 42.12, § 20(a).5 Once the trial court judge signs

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