People v. Allen , 354 Ill. App. 3d 442 ( 2004 )

JUSTICE McDADE

delivered the opinion of the court:

The defendant, Peri Allen, appeals from his conviction for burglary in the circuit court of Will County. The sole issue on appeal is whether it was error for the defendant to be forced to wear an electronic security belt as a restraining device at trial. The defendant urges the court to find error and remand his case for a new trial. For the following reasons, we find that it was error for the defendant to be restrained absent an explicit finding of necessity pursuant to People v. Boose, 66 Ill. 2d 261, 362 N.E.2d 303 (1977), and reverse and remand for a new trial.

FACTS

The State’s brief initially claims that the record is insufficient to show that the defendant was forced to wear a stun belt. The trial record reveals that after defense counsel noticed and asked about a bulge underneath the defendant’s shirt, the court stated: “That’s a security device. The deputy has control of it. He does not have shackles on. He does not have handcuffs on. He is in custody and he is restrained in no other manner whatsoever, so for security purposes we keep that on him. It is out of view of the jurors. At this time it has been out of view.” (Emphasis added.)

Despite the fact that the trial court never refers to the “security device” as an electronic stun belt, we feel confident in our assessment that it was indeed that type of restraining device. The State alleges that it is pure conjecture that the defendant was wearing the belt. We believe, however, that it is reasonable to conclude that it was a stun belt. This is especially so since the State, not long ago, asked this court to validate the Will County sheriffs department’s “standard operating procedure” of forcing all felony defendants in custody to wear a stun belt while appearing in court. See People v. Martinez, 347 Ill. App. 3d 1001, 1003, 808 N.E.2d 1089, 1090 (2004). In addition, there are two other cases pending before this court involving the use of electronic stun belts in Will County. People v. Reyes, No. 3 — 02— 0482 (2006) (unpublished order under Supreme Court Rule 23), and People v. Johnson, 356 Ill. App. 3d 208 (2005). The State does not suggest what the bulging security device under the defendant’s shirt might have been other than a stun belt.

In any event, the lack of an explicit description of the device on the record will not prevent us from reviewing the issue. Even if we were to find the record insufficient to show that he was wearing a stun belt, the record is undoubtedly sufficient to show that he was wearing some sort of restraining device. Since Boose applies generally to the restraint of defendants in the courtroom, it would certainly apply to an unspecified “security device,” controlled by a deputy, as long as the device was meant to restrain the defendant. Boose, 66 Ill. 2d at 266, 362 N.E.2d at 305. That the device, whatever its nature, was meant to do just that is beyond debate, based on the record. We now address the merits of the case.

The presumption of innocence is central to the administration of criminal justice. In the absence of exceptional circumstances, an accused has the right to stand trial with the appearance, dignity and self-respect of a free and innocent person. In re Staley, 67 Ill. 2d 33, 37, 364 N.E.2d 72, 73 (1977). It jeopardizes the presumption’s value and protection and demeans justice for an accused without clear cause to be required to stand in a courtroom in manacles or other restraints while he is being judged. Staley, 67 Ill. 2d at 36, 364 N.E.2d at 73. Furthermore, the restraint of the defendant should be avoided because it prejudices the defendant before the jury, hinders the ability of the defendant to participate in his own defense, and offends the dignity of the judicial process. Boose, 66 Ill. 2d at 265, 362 N.E.2d at 305.

This is not to say that there are no circumstances that require the restraint of an accused. However, a defendant should only be shackled or otherwise restrained at trial upon a showing of manifest need for the restraint. Staley, 67 Ill. 2d at 36, 364 N.E.2d at 73. To determine whether restraint is appropriate, a court must consider the following factors: (1) the seriousness of the alleged offense, (2) the defendant’s temperament and character, (3) the defendant’s age and physical characteristics, (4) the defendant’s past record, (5) any past escapes or attempted escapes by the defendant, (6) evidence of a present plan of escape by the defendant, (7) any threats by the defendant to harm others or create a disturbance, (8) evidence of self-destructive tendencies on the part of the defendant, (9) the risk of. mob violence or of attempted revenge by others, (10) the possibility of rescue attempts by any co-offenders still at large, (11) the size and mood of the audience, (12) the nature and physical security of the courtroom, and (13) the availability of alternative remedies. Boose, 66 Ill. 2d at 266-67, 362 N.E.2d at 305. The decision whether to restrain the defendant at trial is left to the discretion of the trial judge and a new trial is only warranted if the judge abuses that discretion. Boose, 67 Ill. 2d at 267, 362 N.E.2d at 305.

In People v. Martinez, we found that an electronic stun belt is no less a restraint than manacles or handcuffs. We ruled that before a defendant may be restrained in such a manner, the tried court must determine whether restraint is necessary using the Boose factors. The trial court in Martinez did not use the Boose factors in determining whether the restraint was necessary, but rather deferred to the sheriff’s department’s standard operating procedure that all felony defendants in the custody of the department should be restrained with a stun belt while appearing in court. Martinez, 347 Ill. App. 3d at 1004, 808 N.E.2d at 1092. We found that the trial court could not abdicate its responsibility to determine the measures necessary to assure courtroom security, and we reversed. Martinez, 347 Ill. App. 3d at 1005, 808 N.E.2d at 1092.

We believe that Martinez is directly on point with respect to the substantive issue. That is, the use of the belt is only justifiable if the court considered and applied the Boose factors in finding a necessity for restraint. The trial court did not use the Boose factors in this case. In fact, the record is devoid of any reasons why the defendant was required to be restrained. According to Martinez, we must reverse the defendant’s conviction and remand for a new trial.

However, this case features an additional element not present in Martinez: the fact that the defendant in this case did not object to the restraint, while the defendant in Martinez objected vigorously. Martinez, 347 Ill. App. 3d at 1003, 808 N.E.2d at 1090-91. The failure to object to alleged error at trial will ordinarily result in the waiver of the issue on appeal. People v. Enoch, 122 Ill. 2d 176,185-86, 522 N.E.2d 1124, 1129-30 (1988). We must decide, then, whether the error here was so significant that it warrants plain error review.

Review for plain error is appropriate when the evidence in a case is closely balanced or where the error is so fundamental and of such magnitude that the accused is denied a fair trial and remedying the error is necessary to preserve the integrity of the judicial process. People v. Johnson, 208 Ill. 2d 53, 64, 803 N.E.2d 405, 411-12 (2003). In addition, the court will review a case for plain error when the alleged error affects the defendant’s substantial rights. 134 Ill. 2d R. 615(a). A substantial right has been denied when error has affected the proceedings to such a degree that we cannot confidently state that the defendant’s trial was fundamentally fair. People v. Keene, 169 Ill. 2d 1, 31-32, 660 N.E.2d 901, 916 (1995).

The issue of whether plain error exists in this case is governed by People v. Doss, 347 Ill. App. 3d 418, 807 N.E.2d 697 (2004). In that case, we found plain error, since the defendant was denied a fair trial because of the failure of the trial court to conduct the appropriate manifest need analysis before ordering the defendant to be shackled at trial. Doss, 347 Ill. App. 3d at 428, 807 N.E.2d at 705. We find that Doss controls here and requires that we find plain error. Since we also have found that Martinez requires reversal, we reverse the defendant’s conviction and order a new trial.

CONCLUSION

We find that the trial court abused its discretion in requiring the defendant to wear a “security device” without an explicit analysis and finding of necessity, using the factors from People v. Boose. We further find that the defendant has adequately alleged plain error, which justifies review despite defendant’s failure to object below. We, therefore, reverse the defendant’s conviction.

Reversed.

LYTTON, J., concurs.