WPC} nPR}{@i3TUo2@Y_*Vkf!Ƞ4Nt ,`XkI4 4dsJKгP-+ϾSڵ" @ *rJK6MfS&7/ew`>64(S0zÜi 3mgBvD+Y"E~ Lz۵AO=?X"TQZ\oLSUGMQAv~q{dwN2BDTgMdO0Kqo tZj?D,0nӆ}(u{ g@D ktS) ß=\ +c ~p)pNqSVtVgl@4.*jx` `@Eo` 8ttxP< tߛ @)DATNASHVILLE   JOHNNYGREENE, h     ) @   `     h     ) ` Plaintiff/Appellant,    ) l   `     h     ) p DavidsonChancery   VS. `     h     ) p No.94927I    `     h     )TENNESSEEDEPARTMENTOF  ) p AppealNo.   CORRECTION,   h     ) p 01A019608CH00370 *  `     h     ) ` Defendant/Appellee.    ) V W@I I DAPPEALFROMTHECHANCERYCOURT t @&DFORDAVIDSONCOUNTY@$DATNASHVILLE,TENNESSEE#Wt#W@DTHEHONORABLEIRVINH._KILCREASE_,JR.,CHANCELLOR#WO#Ԉ !^ ForPlaintiff/Appellant: h      p   ForDefendant/Appellee: f$ DouglasA._Trant_   h      p   JohnKnox_Walkup_ &! Knoxville,Tennessee h      p   AttorneyGeneralandReporter '"  `     h      p   PatriciaC._Kussmann_ `     h      p   AssistantAttorneyGeneral @%DAFFIRMEDANDREMANDED  3/)  `     h      p WILLIAMC.KOCH,JR.,JUDGE  <81       U!:  @)DOPINION   z ` ThisappealinvolvesadisputebetweenaprisonerandtheDepartmentofCorrection 8 concerningtheDepartmentscalculationofhissentencereductioncredits.Afterspendingtwentythreeyearsinprison,theprisonersoughtadeclaratoryorderfromtheDepartmentthathehadearnedsufficientsentencereductioncreditstobeentitledtoimmediaterelease.WhentheDepartmentdeclinedtoissuetherequestedorder,theprisonerfiledapetitionforjudicialreviewintheChanceryCourtforDavidsonCounty.BoththeprisonerandtheDepartmentfiledsummaryjudgmentmotions,andthetrialcourtgrantedtheDepartmentsmotionanddismissedtheprisonerspetition.Onthisappeal,theprisonerassertsthatthetrialcourterredbecause,undertheundisputedfacts,heisentitledtoajudgmentasamatteroflaw.WehavedeterminedthatthetrialcourtsdecisiontogranttheDepartmentssummaryjudgmentmotionshouldbeaffirmedbecausetheprisonerhasfailedtodemonstratethatheisentitledtoreliefonanyofhisclaims.@.D I.    ` JohnnyGreenewenttotrialbeforeaDavidsonCountyjuryin1971onthechargeoffirstdegreemurder.OnFebruary3,1971,aftertheStatehadresteditscaseandhehimselfhadtestified,Mr.Greenedecidedtopleadguiltyto  first  degreemurder,andthejurysentencedhimtoserveninetynineyearsinthestatepenitentiary.Mr.Greenehascollaterallyattackedhisconvictionontwooccasionswithoutsuccess.  #  1       %*!*  ` InJanuary1994,alawyerrepresentingMr.GreenecorrespondedwiththeDepartmentofCorrectionassertingthathisclientwaseligibleforimmediatereleasebecausehehadbeenearningsentencecreditsattherateof49.5dayspermonthunderthethreesentencecreditprogramsinstitutedsinceMr.Greenesoriginalincarceration.AftertheDepartmentrespondedthatMr.Greenewasnotentitledtoreceivedoublecreditsunderthesesuccessivesentencereductionprograms,Mr.Greenefiledapetitionfor  adeclaratory  orderinFebruary1994againassertingthathewasentitledtoimmediaterelease.TheDepartmentdeclinedMr.Greenesrequestforadeclaratoryorder.  5f0>  ` OnMarch31,1994,Mr.GreenefiledapetitionintheChanceryCourtforDavidson CountyseekingjudicialreviewoftheDepartmentsdenialofhisrequestforadeclaratoryorderunderTenn.CodeAnn.45322(Supp.1997).Mr.  Greene  laterfiledamotionforsummary  judgment,  andtheDepartmentrespondedwithasummaryjudgment  motionof  itsown.OnMay6,1996,thetrialcourtgrantedtheDepartmentsmotionforsummaryjudgmentanddismissedMr.Greenespetition.Mr.Greenehasappealed.@.D II.  Z   ` Asapreliminarymatter,weaddressthetypeofreliefMr.Greenerequestedfromthetrialcourt.EventhoughtheDepartmenthadnotconductedacontestedcaseproceedinginresponsetohisrequestforadeclaratoryorder,Mr.GreenefiledapetitionforreviewunderTenn.CodeAnn.45322which,byitsownterms,isavailableonlyto  persons  whoare aggrievedbyafinaldecisioninacontestedcase.SeeTenn.CodeAnn.45322(a).Mr. ~ GreeneshouldhavefiledapetitionforadeclaratoryjudgmentunderTenn.CodeAnn.45225(Supp.1997)becausetheDepartmenthadrefusedhisrequestforadeclaratoryorder.  SeeTenn.CodeAnn.45225(b). `   ` ThefactthatMr.Greenehaspursuedthewrongremedyisnotnecessaryfataltohisrequestforjudicialrelief.Becausethecourtsendeavortoconstruepleadingsbasedontheirsubstanceorgravamenratherthantheirtitle,seeBemisCo.v.Hines,585S.W.2d574,576 (#x( (Tenn.1979);seealsoParav.KrogerCo.,674S.W.2d715,719(Tenn.1984)(applyingthe $* ruleforstatuteoflimitationspurposes),thetrialcourtcouldhaveconstruedMr.GreenespetitionasoneseekingadeclaratoryjudgmentunderTenn.CodeAnn.45225.ThetrialcourtsjudgmentindicatesthatitmayverywellhavetreatedMr.Greenespetitionasonerequestingadeclaratoryjudgment,andwewilldolikewiseonthisappeal.Thus,Mr.GreenewillbeentitledtoreliefonlyifhecandemonstratethattheDepartmentsinterpretationofastatuteorruleinterfereswithorimpairs,orthreatenstointerferewithorimpair,hislegalrightsorprivileges.SeeTenn.CodeAnn.45225(a). X/*8 @-D III.  d2-<  ` Mr.GreenesdisagreementwiththeDepartmentscalculationofhissentencereductioncreditscanbedistilledintothreearguments.First,heassertsheisentitledtoboththegoodconductsentencecreditsauthorizedbyTenn.CodeAnn.4121229(repealed1985)andthepreviouslyauthorized goodandhonortimecredits.Second,hearguesthat :R5F recalculatinghisanticipatedgoodconductsentencecreditsafterJuly1,1981violatestheDueProcessClausesandtheExPostFactoClausesofthestateandfederalconstitutions.Third,heassertsthattheDepartmenthasnotaccountedforthe3,277daysofgoodandhonortimeheearnedbetweenAugust28,1970andJuly1,1981.Eachoftheseclaimsiswithoutmerit.@TT"D TheCumulativeCreditClaim  N    ` Mr.Greenefirstassertsthat,asamatterofstatutoryconstruction,heisentitledtoboththegoodandhonortimecreditsavailablewhenhewasfirstincarceratedandtothegoodconductsentencecreditsauthorizedbytheGeneralAssemblyin1980.WehavealreadyaddressedthisclaimandhavefoundthatthegoodconductsentencecreditsauthorizedbyTenn.CodeAnn.4121229completelyreplacedthepreviouslyexistinggoodandhonortimecreditsandthatthesegoodconductsentencecreditswouldapplyacrosstheboardtoallprisoners.SeeJonesv.Reynolds,No.01A019510CH00484,1997WL367661,at*3 ~ (Tenn.Ct.App.July2,1997)(NoTenn.R.App.P.11applicationfiled).  Accordingly,  thesestatutes,whenreadinparimateria,providethatMr.GreeneisentitledtothegoodandhonortimeheearnedbetweenAugust28,1970andJuly1,1981andtoearngoodconductsentencecreditsunderTenn.CodeAnn.4121229thereafter.       #  2        " @#D TheConstitutionalClaims  !&  ` Mr.Greenessecondargument  isthat  theDepartmentsrecalculationinJuly1981ofhisprojectedgoodconductsentencecreditsincreasedhispunishmentandtherebyviolatedtheDueProcessClausesandExPostFactoClausesofthestateandfederalconstitutions.Thisargumentcontainstwofundamentalflaws.First,prisonersdonotearngoodconductsentencecreditsinadvance.Second,theapplicationofTenn.CodeAnn.4121229toMr.GreeneafterJuly1,1981doesnotincreasehispunishmentorlengthenhissentence. ` TheExPostFactoClausesoftheUnitedStatesConstitution`  #  3      ׀andtheConstitutionof X/*8 Tennessee  #  4      ׀areaimedatlawsthatretroactivelyincreasethepunishmentforcriminalacts. 0.,: SeeLyncev.Mathis,519U.S.433,___,117S.Ct.891,896(1997);CaliforniaDeptof d2-<            Correctionsv.Morales,514U.S.499,504,115S.Ct.1597,1601(1995);Statev.Ricci,914  S.W.2d475,480(Tenn.1996).Theypreventlegislaturesfromincreasingcriminalpenaltiesbeyondthoseprescribedforacrimewhenitwascommitted.BecausethesentencereductioncreditstatutesinexistencewhenMr.Greenecommittedhiscrimewereinherentlypartofhissentence,seeGilliamv.State,174Tenn.388,391,126S.W.2d305,306(1939),the   application  of  anylaterenactedsentencecreditstatutesthatreducetheamountofsentencecredits   Mr.Greene he  canearncouldrunafouloftheExPostFactoClausesofthestateandfederalconstitutionsifithastheeffectofimposingagreaterpunishmentafterthecommissionoftheoffense.SeeWeaverv.Graham,450U.S.24,36,101S.Ct.960,968  0  (1981). ` TheundisputedfactsinthisrecorddemonstratethatapplyingthegoodconductsentencecreditsinTenn.CodeAnn.4121229toMr.GreenefortheportionofhissentenceservedafterJuly1,1981decreasesratherthanincreasesthepotentiallengthofhisincarceration.UnderthegoodandhonortimeschemeinplacewhenMr.Greenewasfirstincarcerated,thepresumptiveexpirationdateofhissentencewouldhavebeensometimein2020.  #  5      ׀However,thepresumptiveexpirationdateofhissentencecalculatedinaccordance <`  withTenn.CodeAnn.4121229isMay17,2019.BecausetheoperationofTenn.CodeAnn.4121229decreasesratherthanincreasesthelengthofMr.Greenessentence,placingMr.GreeneunderTenn.CodeAnn.4121229doesnotamounttoanexpostfactoviolation.SeeJonesv.Reynolds,1997WL367661,at*6. T$x(  ` Mr.GreenealsoarguesthattheDepartmentcannotconstitutionallydeprivehimoftheprospectivegoodandhonortimecreditsthattheDepartmentprojectedhecouldearnwhenthepresumptiveexpirationdateofhissentencewasfirstcalculatedin1971.Heassertsthathehadapropertyrighttothesecreditsandthatoncetheywereawardedtohim,theycannotbetakenawaywithoutcause.ThisargumentoverlookstherealitythatMr.GreenehadnotearnedapproximatelyfiftyyearsofsentencecreditswhentheDepartmentfirstprojectedthepresumptiveexpirationdateofhissentencein1971.TheDepartmentscalculationatthattimewassimplyaprojectionbasedontheassumptionthatMr.GreenewouldearnthesecreditswhileincarceratedbycomportinghimselfasrequiredbyTenn.CodeAnn.4121 3-< U  d  U  d   U  d  U  d   212,214(repealed1985).Therefore,onJuly1,1981,Mr.Greenehadapropertyinterest U  d   onlyinthegoodandhonortimecreditshehadearnedfromAugust28,1970untilJuly1,1981;hedidnothaveapropertyinterestinthecreditsthattheDepartmentprojectedhemightearnduringtheremainingyearsofhisincarceration.SinceMr.GreenedidnothaveapropertyinterestinthecreditshemighthaveearnedafterJuly1,1981,theDepartmentdidnotviolatetheDueProcessClausesofthestateandfederalconstitutionsbyswitchingtoTenn.CodeAnn.4121229tocalculatethesefuturesentencecredits.@QQD TheEarnedSentenceCreditClaim  0   ` Asafinalmatter,Mr.GreeneinsiststhattheDepartmenthasnotproperlyaccountedforthe3,722daysofgoodandhonortimethatheearnedbetweenAugust28,1970andJuly1,1981.Theundisputedevidenceistothecontrary.TheDepartmenthasincludedthesesentencecreditsinitscalculationofthenewpresumptiveexpirationdateofMr.Greenessentence. ` The1980legislationcreatingthegoodconductsentencecreditstoreplacethegoodandhonortimecreditscontainedamechanismforconvertinggoodandhonortimecreditsearnedpriortoJuly1,1981togoodconductsentencecredits.SeeTenn.CodeAnn.4121  l$ 231(repealed1985).OnAugust29,1981,Mr.GreenereceivedamemorandumfromtheCommissionerofCorrectioninforminghimthathehadbeengivenfullcreditforthe3,722daysofgoodandhonortimehehadearnedpriortoJuly1,1981andthatthesedays,whenaddedtothe possiblegoodtimehecouldearnafterJuly1,1981,wouldreducehissentenceby17,718daysorapproximately48.5years.ThesecreditsadvancedtheexpirationdateofMr.Greenessentencefrom2069toMay17,2019.Thismemorandumprovides_unrebutted_evidencethattheDepartmenthasgivenMr.GreenefullcreditinaccordancewithTenn.CodeAnn.4121231forthe3,722daysofgoodandhonortimeheearnedpriortoJuly1,1981.@.D IV.  1.,:  ` Mr.GreenehasfailedtopresentevidencethathehasbeenadverselyaffectedbytheDepartmentserroneousorunconstitutionalinterpretationorapplicationofanystatuteorrulegoverningthe_accumulation_Ԁandcalculationofthesentencecreditstowhichheisentitled.Accordingly,treatinghispetitionasapetitionfordeclaratoryjudgmentunderTenn.CodeAnn.45225,wefindthatthetrialcourtreachedthecorrectresultwhenitdismissedMr. :R5F !:  d  !:  d   !:  d   Greenespetition.Weremandthiscasetothetrialcourtforwhateverfurtherproceedingsmayberequired,andwetaxthecostsofthisappealtoJohnny  E.G  G reene  andhissuretyforwhichexecution,ifnecessary,mayissue.#Fj # `     h      p ______________________________ `     h      p WILLIAMC.KOCH,JR.,JUDGE  CONCUR:   ___________________________________  HENRYF.TODD,PRESIDINGJUDGEMIDDLESECTION   ___________________________________BENH._CANTRELL_,JUDGE   7Fdd7=F @ DINTHECOURTOFAPPEALSOFTENNESSEE  @)DATNASHVILLE  Dh FFJOHNNYGREENE, h     )    `     h     ) ` Plaintiff/Appellant,    )  (  `     h     ) p DavidsonChancery > VS. `     h     ) p No.94927I 0T   `     h     )TENNESSEEDEPARTMENTOF  ) p AppealNo. \  CORRECTION,   h     ) p 01A019608CH00370 r   `     h     ) ` Defendant/Appellee.    )   #=F{J# @(DJUDGMENT   F=jF ` ThiscausecameontobeheardupontherecordonappealfromtheDavidsonCounty  ChanceryCourtandthebriefsoftheparties.Uponconsiderationoftheentirerecord,thiscourtfindsandconcludesthatthetrialcourtsjudgmentshouldbe   affirmed  ___ .   ` Inaccordancewiththeopinionfiledcontemporaneouslywiththisjudgment,itis,therefore,ordered,adjudged,anddecreedthatthetrialcourtsjudgmentbeandishereby   affirmed  ___ ,  thatthecauseberemandedtothetrialcourtforfurtherproceedingsconsistentwiththiscourtsopinion,andthatthecostsbetaxedinthemannerprovidedinthisjudgment. ` Itisfurtherorderedthatthecostsofthisappealbetaxed   toJohnnyGreene,principal,andMargaretGreene,surety,forwhichexecutionmayissueifnecessary.  ___.  #FjN#   `     h     __________________________________ `     h     HENRYF.TODD,PRESIDINGJUDGE `     h     MIDDLESECTION `     h     __________________________________ `     h     BENH._CANTRELL_,JUDGE `     h     __________________________________ `     h     WILLIAMC.KOCH,JR.,JUDGE