WPC.  Ob 1gP:9AȡQӖ+c!\rvɼ]K"A,x+ASGR\yV{kq$#/O_\\7EN\pfJ!:7T :v9DxFl@26FZi)Hw3(Xa'ٍ:ބ|WǼeVP4E_J] '9V7,Ę[9 K}v>E*# LU NW % 0UHjUNw@4@Tc kqU:u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u AQ  0D 0D 0DN N D/ B B D3 HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,,,,,,0nLh(uH Z 6Times New Roman RegularX(/$X,VXXX      TRY(3' LetterY(3' Letter3' Letter3' LetterT<09Z 0Courier (W1) Regular(uH Z 6Times New Roman Regular DU[UDDӀy&LLB,HP La3|x&H0 ""   XzMXXX e~X XzM   Ad FILED XzMX e~  August27,1999CecilCrowson,Jr.AppellateCourtClerkdAh ,cAZ"Arial Regular!"#$&C<< CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3$ !  (3$ !  ($$   1  ((' dxd dP Pd'''''dxd /!XSXXX      TRY$3' Letter3'3' Letter3'T  XXXXS  pXX TR[A' LegalY$3' LetterA' Legal3' LetterTXXp7XXdd7r )<,(j 8` `@E` 8ttxP  rINTHECOURTOFAPPEALSOFTENNESSEE  ATNASHVILLE  ̛̜ JIMMYW.WILSON,   h   )  `    `     h   )  01A019806CH00302  L    PlaintiffAppellant,   h   )  8     `     h   )  AppealAsOfRightFromThe $  vs.   `     h   )  DAVIDSONCOUNTYCHANCERYCOURT      `     h   )TENNESSEEDEPARTMENTOF h   )   CORRECTION,    h   )  HON.IRVINH.KILCREASE,JR.      `     h   )  CHANCELLOR p   DefendantAppellee.   h   ) \ #pXXS#XXp̛̜ FortheAppellant:    h     FortheAppellee:  X JIMMYW.WILSON   h     PAULG.SUMMERS 0 ProSe   `     h     AttorneyGeneralandReporter     `     h     ARTHURCROWNOVER,II   `     h     AssistantAttorneyGeneral   `     h     Nashville,Tennessee372430488̛̜̜AFFIRMEDANDREMANDED h      p      x Swiney,J. &T!$ ̛̜   OPINION  *%)      ` ThisAppealinvolvesadisputebetweentheappellant,aninmateoftheTennesseePrisonSystem,andtheTennesseeDepartmentofCorrectionconcerningadeterminationoftheϜAppellant'ssentencereductioncreditrights.Appellantinhisinitialpetitionsoughtjudicialreviewbymeansofapetitionfordeclaratoryjudgmentand/orcommonlawwritofcertiorari.AppellantcontendsthattheTennesseeDepartmentofCorrectionhascommittedvariouscommonlaw,statutory,andadministrativeviolationsrelatingtocomputationofhissentencereductioncredits.πTheDavidsonCountyChanceryCourtdeniedtheAppellant'spetitionfordeclaratoryjudgmentandhisalternativerequestforreliefpursuanttocommonlawwritofcertiorari.Appellanthasappealed `949 tothisCourt.Forthereasonshereinstated,weaffirmtheTrialCourt'sdismissaloftheAppellant'scomplaint.  XXXX ` Althoughnotpreciselyasenumeratedintheprosebrief,amendmentandreplybrief ` filedbytheAppellant,construingthesepapersintheirmostfavorablelight,thefollowingissuesaredeterminativeoftherightsonappealinthiscase:Ӝ   ` I. Whetherameaningfulchoicewasavailabletotheappellant  8     `  whenhesignedawaiverin1986tooptintothesentence   `  reductioncreditprogramenactedunderTenn.CodeAnn.   `  4121236.̜   ` II. WhethertheDepartmentofCorrectionhasinfringedupon      `  therightsoftheAppellantbydenyinghisrequesttorescind   `  thewaiverthatallowstheappellanttoaccruesentencereduction   `  creditsunderTenn.CodeAnn.4121236.̜   ` III. WhethertheSentencingReformActof1989appliesretroactively  p    `  toaffectthesentencereductioncreditsavailabletotheappellant.̜   ` IV. WhetherDepartmentofCorrectionPolicy502.02affectsthe 4    `  sentencereductioncreditsavailabletotheAppellant.̜   ` V. WhethertheAppellantisentitledtoreviewoftheTennessee     `  DepartmentofCorrectionsdenialofhisrequestforadeclaratory   `  orderunderthecommonlawwritofcertiorari.#XXXXF#Appelleestatestheissueas"[w]hethertheTrialCourtproperlydismissedtheplaintiff'sclaimforfailuretostateaclaimuponwhichreliefcanbegranted?"   BACKGROUND  $X"   XXXX   ` Jimmy%  Wayne JimboWilson,("Appellant")wasconvictedofrapeandfoundtobe %0!$ ahabitualcriminalunderTenn.CodeAnn.391801etseq(repealed1989)inabifurcatedtrialin '#& SullivanCounty.TheunderlyingcriminaloffenseoccurredonOctober12,1984.AppellantwassentencedtolifeimprisonmentasahabitualcriminalonJuly25,1985.Theconvictionwasaffirmedonappeal.Statev.Wilson,C.C.A.No.717,1986WL12922(Tenn.Crim.App.Nov.14,1986). @-(, М  #XXXXdz#XXXX ` AtthetimeoftheAppellantsunderlyingoffenseandsubsequentconvictionasa /h*. habitualcriminalunderTenn.CodeAnn.391801etseq.(Repealed1989),inmates,suchas 0@,0 appellant,sentencedtolifeimprisonmentasClassXhabitualcriminalswerenoteligibletoearnsentencereductioncreditsunderTenn.CodeAnn.4028116(b)(1).#XXXXZ#XXXX 4/4 #XXXX2#XXXXԛ   ` In1985,ClassXfelonswithanoffensedatebeforeDecember11,1985,including x616 theAppellant,becameeligibletoearnprisonsentencereductioncredits,providedawaiverofrightsunderthepreviousstatuteswassignedbytheinmate.Tenn.CodeAnn.4121236.Thecredits (:x5: onlyapplyfromthedateofwaiverforwardunderTenn.CodeAnn.4121236(c)(3).Astheoffensedateoftheappellantfellunderthisoption,theDepartmentofCorrectionoffered,andtheAppellantsigned,suchwaiverofrightsdatedMarch17,1986.#XTXXXT#XTXXXTTheAppellantbecameeligibleto H accruesentencereductioncreditsafterhesignedthemandatorywaiverin1986.   ` TheAppellantlaterdecided,incorrectly,thattheSentencingReformActof1989wouldallowhimtoaccruemorecreditsunderthesentencereductionprogramineffectatthetimeofhisrapeoffense.TheAppellantfiledarequesttorescindhis1986waiver andbebroughtbackundertheoldlawofT.C.A.4121229and4121230formysentencereductioncreditsberestructuredmysentence.ByresponsedatedOctober28,1997theDepartmentofCorrectionnotifiedtheAppellantthatthisrequestwouldservetoeliminatetherightoftheAppellanttoaccruesentencereductioncredits.ByletterdatedDecember12,1997theDepartmentofCorrectionissuedformaldenialoftherequestbyAppellantfordeclaratoryordertoallowappellanttorescindthe1986waiver.#XTXXXT #XTXXXTԛ @    ` PursuanttoTenn.CodeAnn.45225(a),AppellantbroughtanactionforDeclaratoryJudgmentinDavidsonCountyChanceryCourtseekingtohavehissentencerecalculatedandsentencereductioncreditsincreasedinordertoattainanearliereligibilitydateforparole.DeclaratoryJudgmentontheissueswasproperlybeforetheTrialCourtunderTenn.CodeAnn.45225(b).TheChanceryCourtdismissedthepetitiononAppelleesMotiontoDismissforfailuretostateaclaimuponwhichreliefcanbegrantedbyOrderfiledMay29,1998,fromwhichAppellantappeals.#XTXXXT$#ԛ  Ӝ DISCUSSION (#( I.  8,',   XTXXXT   ` AmeaningfulchoicewasnotavailabletotheAppellantwhenhesignedawaiverin .T). 1986tooptintothesentencereductioncreditprogramenactedunderTenn.CodeAnn.4121236.̜UnderthelawineffectatthetimeofthetriggeringoffenseunderlyingtheAppellantsconvictionasahabitualoffenderandresultingsentenceoflifeimprisonment,sentencereductioncreditswerenotavailabletohim.SeeHendersonv.Lutche,938S.W.2d428(Tenn.App.1996) 4506    ` TheenactmentofTenn.CodeAnn.4121236(c)(3)createdthefirstopportunityfortheAppellanttoaccruesentencereductioncredits.SeeLaneyv.Campbell,App.No.01A019703 84: CH00142,1997WL401829(Tenn.App.M.S.atNashvilleJuly18,1997)(sentencereductioncreditqualificationdoesnotapplyretroactivelyuponchangeineligibilitystatus),citingHendersonv. | МLutche,938S.W.2dat430(sentencereductioncreditunder4121236accruesfromthedateof H waiver,notfromthedateofsentencing).Thus,decliningthestatutorywaiverprocedurewouldhavelefttheAppellantinthepositionofhavingnorighttoaccruesentencereductioncredit,whichisnotameaningfulchoice.Instead,theAppellantexecutedthewaiverMarch17,1986andhasaccruedsentencereductioncreditssincebecomingeligibleunderthesuccessorstatutoryprogram.   II.   II.   ` TheDepartmentofCorrectionh ` asnotinfringedupontherightsoftheappellantby , denyinghisrequesttorescindthewaiverthatallowstheAppellanttoaccruesentencereductioncreditsunderTenn.CodeAnn.4121236.ThelawineffectatthetimeoftheoffensedidnotallowtheAppellanttoaccruesentencereductioncredits.TheAppellant'sdecisiontowaivehisrightsunderthepriorlawtobeeligibleunderthenewlawdidnotaffectanyexistingrighttoaccruereductioncreditsasnosuchrightexisted.ThisrendersmoottheAppellant'sargumentthathischoicetosignthe1986waiverwasnot"fullyinformed."   ` Afteranalyzingtheissuesrelatingtorescindingthe1986waiver,theTrialCourtfoundthatthepositionoftheDepartmentofCorrectionprotectedtherightsoftheAppellant. ThisCourtisoftheopinionandfindsthatthepetitionerisreceivingthemostfavorablesentencecredittreatmenttowhichheisentitled.Therefore,thepetitionforadeclaratoryjudgmentofthisCourtorderingarecalculationofthepetitionerssentenceiswithoutmerit.   ` Insupportofhisassertionthathewasnot fullyinformedastotheconsequencesofthewaiver,AppellantcitesJonesv.Reynolds,No.01A019510CH00484,1997WL367661 8,', (Tenn.App.M.S.atNashvilleJuly2,1997)andCrowderv.TennesseeDepartmentofCorrection, .T). etal.,No.01A019203CH00105,1992WL207761(Tenn.App.W.S.atNashvilleAug.28,1992), / +0 Jonesisdistinguishedasaddressingcomputationofsentencereductioncreditswhentheinmatedid 1,2 notwaiveintothe1985actbutcontinuedtoaccruecreditsunderapredecessoract,andrelatedcalculationerrorsbythedepartment.AstheAppellanthadnorighttoaccruecreditsunderthepredecessoract,Jonesisnotonpointwiththepresentissuesonappeal.Crowderisdistinguished 7P28 asalsoinvolvinganinmateaccruingcreditunderapredecessorplan,whoseassertionthatthe1985 84: statutescreatedtherightto stacksentencereductioncreditsundermultipleplanswasdeniedbythecourt.Onceagain,Crowderisnotonpointwiththeissuesonappealbecausetheinmatethere | hadameaningfulchoicebetweensentencereductioncreditprograms,andAppellantheredidnot.̜III.   III.  0       ` TheSentencingReformActof1989doesnotapplyretroactivelytoaffectthe    sentencereductioncreditsavailabletotheappellant.AlthoughmentionedintheOrderdismissingtheAppellantspetition,theTrialCourtdidnotdiscusstheapplicationofTenn.CodeAnn.4035101etseq.,theSentencingReformActof1989,totheassertionsoftheappellant.Inhisbrief, ` МAppellantcitesStatev.Ashby,823S.W.2d166(Tenn.1991),asstatingthepropositionthatthe , SentencingReformActof1989servestoaffecthissentenceandsentencereductioncreditsthroughpublicpolicy.Wedisagree.Statev.Ashbydoesnotstate,norsupport,thepropositionofthe t МAppellant.InAshbytheissueonappealwastheproprietyofthesentenceimposeduponaparticular @ Мnonviolentoffenderforaparticularcrime,illegallysellingdrugsobtainedunderlegalprescription,andtheTrialCourt'sdenialofalternativesentencingundertheCommunityCorrectionsActof1985.   ` TheproprietyofthesentenceimposeduponAppellantforthecrimeofrapeandhisrelatedconvictionasahabitualcriminalhasbeenaffirmedonappealbeforethepropercourt,withtheextensivecriminalhistoryoftheAppellantchronicledinStatev.Wilson,supra󛀜ascitedinand <#" appendedtothebriefoftheAppellee.Further,theargumentsoftheAppellantonissuesrelatingtotheSentencingReformActof1989havealreadybeenaddressed,anddismissedforfailuretostateaclaim.Wilsonv.State,etal.,980S.W.2d196(Tenn.App.1998),rehearingdenied,980S.W.2d (#( 196,199(Tenn.App.1998).Accord,Hensleyv.TennesseeDepartmentofCorrection,No.01A01 l*%* 9712CH00747,1999WL141065(Tenn.App.M.S.atNashvilleMar.17,1999),Williamsv. 8,', TennesseeDepartmentofCorrection,No.01A019801CH00010,1999WL22359(Tenn.App.M. .T). S.atNashvilleJan.21,1999),Mauldinv.TennesseeDepartmentofCorrection,No.01A019801 / +0 CH00014,1999WL5084(Tenn.App.M.S.atNashvilleJan.7,1999).̜   ` AppellantalsocitesdictafromKilbyv.Jones,809F.2d324,325(6thCir.1987) h3.4 apparentlytosupporttheargumentthatpublicpolicyfavorsapplyingtheSentencingReformAct of1989toreducehissentence.ThisissuewasnotraisedintheTrialCourtandmaynotbe 7P28 consideredonappeal.Williamsv.TennesseeDepartmentofCorrections,supra,citingIrvinv.  Binkley,577S.W.2d677,679(Tenn.App.1979).#XTXXXT'#XTXXXT |  IV.             IV   >  .  d          ` DepartmentofCorrectionPolicy502.02doesnotaffectthesentencereductioncredits  0 availabletotheAppellant.Inpaperstreatedmostappropriatelyasanamendmenttohisbrief,theϜAppellantclaimsthat pertinentandsignificantauthoritiesintheformofTennesseeDepartmentofCorrectionsAdministrativePoliciesandProceduresNo.502.02,datedNov.15,1996andamendedSept.1,1997,statethatunderdepartmentpolicyanindeterminatelifesentenceistreatedasa30yeardeterminatesentence,thusentitlinghimtosentencereductioncreditsunderthestatutesineffectatthedateofhisrapeoffense.AlthoughinhisReplyBrieftheAppellantclaimsarighttosuchinterpretationunderexpostfactoanalysis,thisargumentfailstoidentifyanyelementthat t wouldfallunderanyofthefourclassificationsforexpostfactolawsenumeratedinDavisv.Beeler, @ 185Tenn.638,653,207S.W.2d343,349(Tenn.1948).   ` Additionally,PolicyNo.502.02clearlystates, PURPOSE:Toestablishguidelinesfortheamountofsentencecreditswhichmaybetaken...andtheamountoftimeaparoleeligibility  datemaybeextendedforthecommissionofadisciplinaryoffense.(emphasisadded).Thus,from p!  itsplainwordingthepolicyappliestoconsiderationsfortakingawayaccruedsentencereductioncreditsforpunitivepurposes,andhasnoapplicabilitytoanyargumentregardingqualificationforsentencereductioncredits.V.   V.  (#(       ` AppellantisnotentitledtorelieffromtheTennesseeDepartmentofCorrectionsdenialofhisrequestforadeclaratoryorderunderthecommonlawwritofcertiorari.ThescopeofreviewunderthecommonlawwritofcertioraricoversonlyaninquiryintowhethertheDepartmentofCorrectionexceededitsjurisdictionoractedillegally,fraudulently,orarbitrarilyindenyingtheϜAppellantsrequestforadeclaratoryorder. Attheriskofoversimplification,onemaysaythatitisnotthecorrectnessofthedecisionthatissubjecttojudicialreview,butthemannerinwhichthedecisionisreached.Iftheagencyorboardhasreacheditsdecisioninaconstitutionalorlawfulmanner,thenthedecisionwouldnotbesubjecttojudicialreview.Powellv.ParoleEligibility 7P28 ReviewBoard,879S.W.2d871,873(Tenn.App.1994).AstherecordrevealsthattheAppellant 84: ischallengingthecorrectnessofthedecisionoftheDepartmentofCorrectionratherthanthemannerinwhichthedecisionwasreached,theDepartmentofCorrection'sdecisiontodenyhisrequestforadeclaratoryorderisnotsubjecttojudicalreview.   ` Forthesereasons,theanswertoeachofthefiveissuesthatmakeupthecruxoftheAppellant'sappealisno.TheTrialCourt'sactiondismissingtheAppellant'sclaimforfailuretostateaclaimforwhichreliefcanbegrantedwasappropriate.#XTXXXTE#  CONCLUSION  x       ` ThejudgmentoftheTrialCourtisaffirmedandthecauseremandedtotheTrialCourtforsuchfurtherproceedings,ifany,asmayberequiredconsistentwiththisOpinion,andforcollectionofcostsbelow.CostsonappealareadjudgedagainsttheAppellant.̛̜   `     h     ____________________________________   `     h     D.MICHAELSWINEY,J.̜CONCUR:___________________________________HOUSTONM.GODDARD,P.J.___________________________________CHARLESD.SUSANO,JR.,J.