Matter of M-

Deportabil y—Section 241(a)(4) of 1952 act—Sentence to confinement—Com-

mitment to State institution under New Jersey Sex Offenders Act.

Commitment to State hospital under New Jersey Sex Offenders Act (N.J.S.A.

2A:164-6), is not a sentence to confinement in a prison or corrective insti-

tution within the meaning of the first part of section 241(a) (4) of the 1552

act. (Holzapfel v. Wyrsch, 259 P.2d 850).

CHARGE :

Order: Aet of 1952—Seetlea 241 (a ) (4) [8 U.S.C. 1251 (a) (1)1—Convicted

of crime involving moral turpitude within five years after entry and

sentenced to confinement or confined for a year or more—carnal

abuse and impairing morals.

BEFORE THE BOARD

Discussion: This case is before us by certification. The special

inquiry officer has ordered the respondent's deportation -upon the

ground efolorl oboe, The proceeding° will be terminated.

Respondent, a 37-year-old single male, a native and national of

Canada, was admitted to the United States for permanent residence.

Ile last entered the United States on May 9, 1953. On March 29,

1957, he was convicted in the County Court at New Brunswick, New

Jersey, of the crime of carnal abuse, and the crime of impairing

morals of a minor. On June 7, 1957, he was ordered confined in the

State Hospital at Marlboro, New Jersey, under the New Jersey Sex

Offenders Act which does not permit. the court to specify a minimum

period of detention. He was committed to the hospital on June 7,

1057, and as of the date of the hearing on September 10, 1956, was

still an inmate of the hospital.

Respondent's deportation is sought under the first part of section

241(a) (4) of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 (8 U.S.C.

1251(a) (4)) which makes deportable an alien who—

[Part is convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude committed within

five years after entry and either sentenced to confinement or confined therefor

in a prison or corrective institution, tar a year or more, or [Part IT] who at any time after entry IS convicted of 1,0 crimes involving moral turpitude, not

arising out of a single scheme of criminal misconduct, regardless of whether

confined therefor and regardless of whether the convictions were in a single trial Of n tier in brackets added.)

We shall confine ourselves solely to the issue as to whether respond-

ent's conviction and detention make him one who has been "confined

* * in a prison or corrective institution, for a year or more."

These phrases, viewed in the light of their history, were meant to

state simply that the alien described in Part I was deportable if

sentenced to confinement for a year or more, whether Coe not the sen-

tence was suspended (Matter of 0 — , 7 1. & N. Dec. 539; Matter

of J , 6 I. & N. Dec. 562, 568). The question is, therefore,

whether respondent has been sentenced to confinement for a year or

more. Holzapfel v. TV ,grech„ 230 F.52,1 300, C.A. 3, October 0, 1053,

decided after the date of the special inquiry officer's order, answers

the question in the negative. Holzapfel, an alien, last entered the

United States in 1953. In 1957, lie was convicted of a sex offense

in a county court in the State of New Jersey. He was ordered con-

fined to a reformatory under the New Jersey Sex Offenders Act.'

Sentence was suspended and the defendant was placed in custody of

a probation officer for a period of three years. One of the conditions

of probation was that the defendant was to take psychiatric treat-

ment. Holzapfel's deportation was ordered by administrative au-

thoritiee under the same portion of the immigration laws on which

respondent's deportation is sought. The court reviewing the order

of deportation pointed out that the case of a sex offender could be

handled either by the imposition of a "sentence" under N.J.S.A.

2A :164 - 9 or as was Holzapfel's case, by a "disposition" under

N.J.S.A. 2A:164-6, 3 for the rehabilitation and cure of persons requir-

N.J.S.A. 2A : 184-3 et seq. 2 2A:164-3. Sentence unposed, when. If it shall appear from the report of such examination made of such per-

son that the offender's conduct was not characterized by a pattern of repeti-

tive, compulsive behavior and neither violence nor age disparity was indicated,

as provided for in section 2A:164-5 of this title, the court shall impose sen-

tence on such person in the manner provided by law. .2A:164-6. Disposition of sex offenders upon request and recommendation of

diagnostic center. The disposition to be made by the court of such person, upon written report and recommendation of the diagnostic center, shall include 1 or more of the

following measures: a. The court may place such person on probation with the requirement, as

condition of said probation, that he receive out-patient psychiatric treatment in the manner to be prescribed in each individual case. b. Such person may be committed to an institution to be designated by the

commissioner of institutions and agencies for treatment, and upon release

shall be subject to parole supervision. In the event that the court shall order a commitment of the person as pro-

vided in this section, such order of commitment shall not specify a minimum

period of detention, but in no event shall the person be confined or subject to parole supervision for a period of time greater than that provided by law for

the crime of which such person was convicted.

9..51

ing medical treatment. The court concluded that Holzapfel had not

been sentenced to confinement for a year or more.

He.upondent was not, sentenced under N.J.S.A. 2A:164-9. Like

Holzapfel's, his case was disposed of under N.J.S.A. 9A,-te-L--5, so

that he could be given medical treatment. 4 Congress makes no dis-

tinction between a suspended sentence and one which has not been

suspended. Since the disposition in Holvzpfel did not constitute a

"sentence," the disposition here is not a "sentence." On the authority

of Holzapfel, we must hold that respondent has not been sentenced

to confinement in a prison or corrective MititUti0/1 for a year or

more. Proceedings will be terminated.

Order : It is ordered that the proceedings be and the same are

hereby terminated.

'Holzapfel was sentenced under paragraph Is of .N.J.S.A. 2A:184-6 and

respondent was sentenced under paragraph (b). However, we can see no

reason for drawing a distinction between the two for the purposes of the

immigration laws.