Opinion
Cr. No. 3:12-005-CMC
05-18-2017
United States of America, v. Sandra Kuretsch, Defendant.
Opinion and Order
This matter is before the court on Defendant's third motion requesting termination of supervised release. ECF No. 87. This court previously denied Defendant's motions for early termination of supervised release (ECF Nos. 78, 84), so the USPO could continue monitoring Defendant's payment of financial obligations.
Title 18 United States Code Section 3583(e) provides that
The court may, after considering the factors set forth in section 3553(a)(1), (a)(2)(B), (a)(2)(C), (a)(2)(D), (a)(4), (a)(5), (a)(6), and (a)(7)--
(1) terminate a term of supervised release and discharge the defendant released at any time after the expiration of one year of supervised release, pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure relating to the modification of probation, if it is satisfied that such action is warranted by the conduct of the defendant released and the interest of justice . . . .
Considerations contained in § 3553 include, inter alia, the nature and circumstances of the offense and the history and characteristics of the defendant; the ability to afford adequate deterrence to criminal conduct; the need to protect the public from further crimes of the defendant; and the need to provide the defendant with needed educational or vocational training, medical care, or other correctional treatment in the most effective manner. 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
"The plain language of the statute illustrates that § 3583(e), in the typical case, allows a conduct-based inquiry into the continued necessity for supervision after the individual has served one full year on supervised release." United States v. Pregent, 190 F.3d 279, 282-83 (4th Cir. 1999). However, the statute
is not exclusively limited to considerations of conduct. The language of the statute notes that the district court 'may' terminate supervised release 'if it is satisfied that such action is warranted by the conduct of the defendant released and the interest of justice.' The phrase 'the interest of justice' does give the district court latitude to consider a broad range of factors in addition to an individual's behavior in considering whether to terminate the supervised release period.Id. at 283 (citation omitted).
Defendant has now completed approximately 27 months of her three year period of supervised release. As Defendant still has a large restitution balance outstanding, the court declines to terminate supervision. However, if Defendant wishes to travel to visit family for the holidays, she may submit a request to her probation officer and the court will consider it so long as it does not interfere with her restitution obligation. Defendant's motion is denied.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/ Cameron McGowan Currie
CAMERON MCGOWAN CURRIE
Senior United States District Judge Columbia, South Carolina
May 18, 2017