This case is now before the Court on the Court’s own motion, it having learned •of facts which indicate that modification of sentence should be considered.

Defendant pleaded Guilty in this Court to an indictment which charged robbery of a National bank with use of a deadly weapon. Although it is the custom of the Court to impose heavier sentences, Candelaria’s case appeared to require but little more than is customarily served by prisoners convicted of crimes in the Courts of California.

Defendant’s past life, while certainly not exemplary, does show a record of industry and ambition mixed with bad conduct indicative of immaturity, lack of education and supervision, yet with strong possibilities of rehabilitation. The defendant is in need of a moderate term of prison discipline and education with supervision after his release.

By a system of farms, factories and schools coupled with institutional discipline and finally parole, or conditional release, toward the end of the term, the Federal Prison System has done much to rehabilitate the young offenders as well as to provide exceedingly long terms, sometimes permanent isolation from society, for those felons who have demonstrated either an inability or an apparently incurable aversion to the minimum rules of free life.

This defendant definitely appeared to the Court as one who most probably would respond to rehabilitation treatment in a Federal institution and, on February 7, 1955, was sentenced to custody for a term of five years. By application of the good behavior credits which reasonably could be expected, the prisoner would serve 48 months in prison followed by 12 months supervision while on conditional release . It is exceedingly unlikely that he would be paroled at any time, but sometimes unforeseen circumstances arise indicating that parole is proper, and although it is rarely granted in cases of this character , the possibility that a man might earn, or at least not be conclusively barred from parole in the latter part of his term, has been found an incentive to improvement in prisoners, all of whom are needful of some such incentive.

After the prisoner had been transported to McNeil Island Penitentiary, the Court received a letter from him. The prisoner is now subject to a detainer because local authorities have decided to prosecute him for the same crime.

Because of the detainer, the prisoner must be denied the privilege of work in the portions of the prison which are not within the walls (farms, fishery, etc.) and cannot be granted parole at any time, nor may he be a trusty and have the privileges and responsibilities connected with such a position.

If his case for employment by Federal Prison Industries, Inc. is borderline, he might not be hired by that “within the walls” employer. In short, the privileges which cooperative acceptance of prison life usually bring to a prisoner are to be denied him throughout his term because California wants to again imprison him upon release from the Federal prison for the very same offense for which he is now being punished.

While it is manifestly proper that a robber serve a prison term, it is not in keeping with fair administration of justice that one defendant serve two terms for one offense.

Disturbed at the interruption of Federal rehabilitative procedure brought about by the Detainer, the Court directed a letter to the Chief of Police of Los Angeles and another to the District Attorney of Los Angeles County.

The Chief of Police has not replied. The District Attorney sent a Deputy who left a form letter and indicated his office refused to recall the detainer.

In the early days of the Union it was generally thought prosecution by one of two Governments having concurrent jurisdiction was a bar to prosecution by the other. In Houston v. Moore, 1820, 5 Wheat. 1, 72 , 18 U.S. 1, 72 , 5 L.Ed. 19 , Mr. Justice Story wrote that successive prosecutions for a single act, even though by distinct sovereignties, each acting under its own laws would violate both “ * * the principles of the common law, and the genius of our free government.” On another occasion such a procedure was labeled “ * * * contrary to the express letter of the constitution *' * * (and) * * * the unerring principles of justice.”

The Constitution seemed to bear this out and was generally thought to do so until United States v. Lanza , in which the two sovereignties doctrine, in combination with the common law concept of crime as an offense against the sovereignty of the government, resulted in a different conclusion. In that case, the Court said:

This principle of “letter of the law” construction of a Constitutional safeguard overlooks the Biblical truth that “ * * the Letter of the Law Kills but the spirit gives life”. The spirit of the rule against double jeopardy for one offense is certainly violated by allowing the State prosecution of this defendant, but the letter of the law permits it. The Court in the Lanza case minimized the possibility of actual double .prosecution by the state and federal governments for the same offense. Quoting from Fox v. State of Ohio, 5 How. 410 , 46 U.S. 410 , 12 L.Ed. 213 , they stated:

The dissent in the Fox v. Ohio case (Mr. Justice McLean) apparently not as convinced of the “benignant spirit” of all prosecutors, made the following observations :

The Lanza case received extensive criticism. The State of New York even repealed its prohibition act to prevent such double prosecutions.

A later decision allowing double prosecution for the same offense brought further wide spread public criticism of such procedure.

Nevertheless, it has since been well settled that prohibited conduct may give rise to both a State and a Federal prosecution without violation of the Federal Constitutional prohibition against being twice put in jeopardy for the same offense.

However, it appears to this Court that it is very doubtful whether the State of California can successfully prosecute this defendant in view of its own constitutional provisions, statutes, and decisions.

The California Constitution, Article 1, § 13, Clause 4, provides:

This Constitutional provision has been implemented by several statutory provisions :

Calif. Penal Code, § 687:

Calif. Penal Code, § 793:

Calif. Penal Code, § 656:

Calif. Penal Code, § 1023:

The Supreme Court of California has recently applied one of these Statutes to prevent a miscarriage of justice similar to that attempted here. In Coumas v. Superior Court, 1948, 31 Cal.2d 682 , 192 P.2d 449 , the Supreme Court, in an unanimous opinion, issued a writ of prohibition on the authority of Calif.Penal Code, § 793, restraining the Superior Court from proceeding with the trial of a defendant for an alleged murder committed in California, where it was shown that the defendant had been previously convicted of manslaughter in Greece on the same charge and served over four years in a Greek prison as punishment.

In construing and applying an almost identical statute as Calif.Penal Code, § 656, The Criminal Court of Appeals of Oklahoma held that such a statute barred a state action where the defendant had been previously convicted and punished for the same offense by the Federal government. The word “Government” was interpreted to include the Federal government.

In Griffin v. State, 57 Okl.Cr. 176 , 46 P.2d 382, 386 , the court said concerning the statute:

In generally reflecting on such statutes and their obvious meritorious nature, the court said in the Spitzer case [ 148 Misc. 97 , 266 N.Y.S. 528 ] :

However, this Court must presume that the District Attorney of Los Angeles County knows the law in the Court where he practices and that the use of the Detainer in this case is a step in an actual prosecution and not merely an attempt to harass the defendant and embarrass the correctional process of Federal penal treatment. It has previously come to the Court’s attention that after some prisoners have served their extended and extra oppressive Federal terms because of such detainers, the State then never has prosecuted them.

Attempts at rehabilitation, treatment, and a gradual, supervised readjustment to free life are, in such cases, obviously completely defeated.

The universal effect of these detainers, however, regardless of the intent, is to stultify the Federal course of treatment designed to reform the offender during his incarceration.

The “Handbook on Interstate Crime Control” published as a result of and to declare the conclusions of the Second Annual Meeting of Administrators of the Interstate Compact for the Supervision of Parolees and Probationers in 1947, contains this explanation of, and comment on, detainers of the type placed against this defendant by the Los Angeles County prosecutor:

Another phase of the problem is the application (or here the violation) of the fundamental principle that the Government (both State and Federal) is traditionally and constitutionally divided into three separate departments, the Executive, Legislative and Judicial. The District Attorney is within the Executive Department and has not been delegated Judicial duties. These are supposedly exercised exclusively by the Judiciary. This is particularly true in matters of sentence in Federal practice where there is no indeterminate term. The offender’s period of imprisonment (except for possible parole) is fixed to the very day by the sentencing judge. The power to fix the sentence carries with it the duty to consider many factors, some of which are brought to the court’s attention by the probation officer’s confidential report and, hence, unknown to the State prosecutor’s office. Not having the duty of appraising the case which pends before the United States Court, the local County District Attorney or City Chief of Police should not exercise this power to review and modify, in a very practical sense, whatever sentence is finally determined by the trial Judge, for to do so is to exercise Judicial functions, and in a court of an entirely different sovereignty. When a Federal Judge, acquainted with the type of corrective treatment which will be administered to an offender, determines that five years of it is sufficient, it changes the character of the penalty when local police or prosecutors can administratively place a detainer which will alter the entire course of treatment of the prisoner and keep him from receiving much of what the sentencing Judge intended when the length of term was prescribed. Although such a municipal official acts within his legal authority, his action amounts in practical operation to an impertinent interference with the judgment of the sentencing court by a person who has never qualified as a Judicial officer and whose action in this area is not subject to review like most decisions of a court. The Court is informed that even the lowest ranking police officials can cause such a detainer to be issued, and thus effectively regulate and control the nature and extent of the punishment of an offender. Such a system is characteristic of a well developed police state and it is deplorable that it be permitted in this Nation which is dedicated to preventing the creation of a police state.

Because the aetion by officials of Los Angeles and California has effectively nullified so many of the beneficial aspects of this Court’s judgment which was made after careful consideration, this Court will terminate its efforts to rehabilitate this prisoner and will terminate further Federal supervision. Since local officials have obstructed Federal efforts to properly punish and correct, they may pursue the prosecution they have commenced by their Detainer. The Clerk will present a modified judgment, fixing the term of imprisonment at sixty days.

. The Penal Code of California prescribes a term of from five years to life, Calif. Penal Code, § 213, and ordinarily by application of good conduct credits, California robbers serve between 36 and 48 months. “California Prisoners — 1953”, p. 26, published by The Bureau of Criminal Statistics, State of California. By application of good conduct credits (if earned) defendant would serve 48 months of the 5-year term imposed by this Court. See 18 U.S.C.A. § 4161 . . Defendant was on State probation for a morals offense when he committed, the crime which brought him before this Court. . This defendant is 28 years of age. . See 18 U.S.C.A. §4161 : “Each prisoner convicted of an offense against the United States and confined in a penal or correctional institution for a definite term other than for life, whose record of conduct shows that he has faithfully observed all the rules and has not been subjected to punishment, shall be entitled to a deduction from the term of his sentence beginning with the day on which the sentence commences to run, to be credited as earned and computed monthly as follows: ***** “Eight days for each month, if the sentence is not less than five years and less than ten years. * * * ” . See 18 U.S.C.A. § 4164 : “A prisoner having served the term or terms for which he shall have been sentenced after June 29, 1932, less good time deductions, shall upon release be treated as if released on parole, and shall be subject to all provisions of law relat ing to the parole of United States prisoners until the expiration of the maximum term or terms for which he was sentenced. “This section shall not prevent delivery of a prisoner to the authorities of any State otherwise entitled to his custody.” 18 U.S.C.A. § 4203 : “Such parolee shall be allowed in the discretion of the Board, to return to his home, or to go elsewhere, upon such terms and conditions, including personal reports from such paroled person, as the Board shall prescribe, and to remain, while on parole, in the legal custody and under the control of the Attorney General, until the expiration of the maximum term or terms for which he was sentenced. * * . By rarely granted, is meant “rarely granted in the Federal system.” It is almost universally granted except for older second or plus termers in the California system. See Footnote No. 1. . In pertinent part the letter reads: “3-10-55” “From M. Candelaria McNeil Island “To Judge Ernest A. Tolin Federal District Court “Your Honor, “ * * * until today I meant to write you a purely complimentary letter, expressing my grateful thanks, for your justice in sentencing me * * * also for your appointment of Mr. John J. Bradley, whose services were far beyond anything I expected. His conscientows counsel knowing all the while I could never pay him I felt warrented more than just a mere ‘Thank you.’ With the above thoughts I felt a brief note would suffice. “But today I was informed that a detainer by the State of California, * * * has been placed on me. This detainer is for the crime for which I am now * * * serving sentence. I didn’t believe this was possible. * * “Sincerely” “Manuel D. Candelaria” . “ * * * « “United States Penitentiary” “McNeil Island, Washington” «ik * * >j ll sjc £ * It «* * * “The following information is furnished in response to your letter of March 8, 1955 regarding a detainer placed against the above named man by the Police Department, Los Angeles. “We have received letter of February 28, 1955 from the Chief of Police, Los Angeles, enclosing certified copy of Felony Warrant 125560 charging Robbery, 1 Count. That letter states ‘This warrant covers the robbery of the Citizens’ National Bank, 2601 North Broadway for whiche he is now serving time’. As they have requested, the warrant is being held as a detainer against Candelaria. “We have no further information concerning the status of the prosecution.” “ * * * >> . Where small sums are earned averaging about $26. per month and applied partly toward the prisoner’s family obligations and partly to build a small fund for his re-establishment in the community on release. See 18 U.S.C.A. § 4126 . . Upon conviction of which he would not be eligible for probation but would have to start over again within a State prison. Calif. Penal Code, § 1203. . “United States District Court” “Southern District of California” “Los Angeles 12, California” “Ernest A. Tolin” “Judge” “March 9, 1955” “Honorable William H. Parker Chief of Police of Los Angeles City Hall Los Angeles 12, California “Re: Manuel Duran Candelaria “Dear Chief Parker: “It will be appreciated if you can either give the subject of this letter your personal attention or see that it gets high level consideration. “On February 7th Manuel Duran Candelaria was sentenced in my Court on . a one-count indictment to which he had pleaded Guilty. The charge was robbery of a National Bank with the use of a dangerous weapon. Enclosed is a copy of the Probation Officer’s Report. After full consideration, I decided that this man is a probable subject of rehabilitation but, in view of the nature of the offense, I could not see my way to granting him probation. Under the Federal Statute, it is not possible to impose imprisonment as a part of a probationary term and as there was only one count in the indictment, I could not impose a short term on one count and grant probation on another. Noting that the term for armed robbery in California is an indeterminate term of not less than five years nor more than life and that, in actual practice, defendants spend between,36 to 40 months in a State Prison when convicted in a State Court, I imposed a term of five years on this subject. I had in mind that he would probably spend approximately 36 months in a Federal Prison and would then be on conditional release for the balance of the five years. “I have just been informed by the Warden of McNeil Island Penitentiary that he has received a, detainer from you for this prisoner, and the Federal Probation Officer reports that your Department has announced (an) intention to prosecute (the) defendant under the laws of the State of California as soon as he is released from Federal custody and that the offense for which he is to be prosecuted is the same armed robbery. I will greatly appreciate your reading the Probation Report in this case, a copy of which I enclose herewith, and re-canvass the situation to determine if, in the light of the Court’s expectation that this subject will be rehabilitated, (you might) release your detainer so that he may have the benefit of becoming a trusty, be considered for parole, and receive other privileges which are denied Federal prisoners while they are subject to a detainer. “It will be greatly appreciated if you will let me have word of your decision on this at an early date.” “Very truly yours,” “Ernest A. Tolin” “United States District Judge” “Enel. 1” . “United States District Court Southern District of California Los Angeles 12, California Ernest A. Tolin Judge” “March 9, 1955” “Honorable S. Ernest Roll District Attorney County of Los Angeles 600 Hall of Justice 211 West Temple Street Los Angeles 12, California “Re: Manuel Duran Candelaria “Dear Mr. Roll: “The above named subject was prosecuted in this Court upon a charge of robbery of a National Bank with the use of a dangerous weapon. He entered a plea of Guilty and, on February 7th, I sentenced him to the custody of the Attorney General for a period of five years. I had in mind that the sentence usually given for armed robbery in California is confinement for an indeterminate period of not less than five years nor more than life, and that the time actually served is ordinarily between 36 to 40 months in a State Prison. I had in mind, also, that in the light of all the circumstances of this man’s past life and the incidents of his offense, that he is not likely to be a repeater, and rehabilitation is anticipated. The prisoner is presently confined in McNeil Island Penitentiary. “I have just received word that a detainer has been placed on him indicating that he will be prosecuted in the State Courts for the same transaction. “It will be greatly appreciated if you will give personal attention to the Probation Report, a copy of which is enclosed herewith, as well as to the facts in your possession, and advise me whether you can or cannot, see your way to removal of the detainer so that this prisoner may, if the detainer be removed, have the benefit of full rehabilitation treatment at McNeil Island Penitentiary. It is my understanding that he cannot become a trusty and cannot be assigned to work projects outside the prison proper while he is subject to a detainer.” “Very truly yours,” “Ernest A Tolin” “United States District Judge” “Enel. 1” . “* * * “S. Ernest Roll “ * * * District Attorney County of Los Angeles Office of the District Attorney 600 Hall of Justice Los Angeles 12, California Mutual 2141 “In re: People v. “Dear Sir: “We have received your letter asking that this office recall the ‘detainer’ or warrant forwarded by law enforcement officers of Los Angeles County to the authorities where the above named defendant is held. “Under ‘detainer’ procedure in this state, the police department of a city where an offense is allegedly committed (or the sheriff of this county where the offense is committed in county territory) obtains a felony complaint from the office of the District Attorney. Based upon this complaint a magistrate issues a ‘warrant of arrest’. This warrant is then forwarded to the detaining authorities and, at some time within thirty days before the release of the person named therein the police officers (or Deputy Sheriffs — as the case may be) who obtained the warrant then make application to the District Attorney to obtain a ‘warrant of extradition’. At that time the District Attorney has the discretion to determine whether or not he will make application to the Governor of the State for extradition of the defendant. If the District Attorney refuses to make said application to the Governor the complaint or indictment, nevertheless, remains on file since the District Attorney is not authorized, under our law, to dismiss either accusatory pleading. If the defendant is thereafter found in the State of California he may be prosecuted. “The institution of (or refusal to institute) extradition proceedings is determined by the District Attorney only at a time when this office is advised by the detaining authorities that within thirty days of said notice the prisoner will be available for return to this jurisdiction. The police agency desiring the prisoner’s return then requests this office to make application for the California Governor’s warrant. At that time, and only at that time, is consideration given to all factors involved in the further prosecution of the defendant; for example, his conduct and record at the place of imprisonment, and the question of his rehabilitation and safe return to society, and other factors including, of course, voluntary restitution to the victim when this can be, and has been, made. Removal of detainers and extradition matters are not considered at any other time by the District Attorney of this county. “It is likewise the policy of this office to take no part in matters leading to restitution to the victims in criminal cases. Restitution is a matter solely for the1 conscience of the person charged with the offense. Restitution neither justifies a dismissal of the charges nor mitigates the offense. This office makes no promise or statement -with respect to restitution nor may any be inferred from anything said in this letter, since the matter of extradition is left entirely to the incumbent District Attorney considering the extradition at the time above mentioned (only within thirty days of the prisoner’s release— never before that time). It is only then that it may be justly concluded that all facts bearing on the prosecution and extradition ' which are to be submitted to this office have been received by it. “Your letter will be placed in the District Attorney’s ‘Defendant’s file’ with the complaint, and, at the proper time, such consideration as is justified will be accorded it.” “Yours very truly,” “S. Ernest Roll District Attorney” “By Howard E. Hurd “Howard E. 1-Iurd, Chief Complaint Division” “HEH :hj” “5C-3-54-Hurd” . Judge Nott dissenting in State v. Antonio, 3 Brev. 562 , 578, 3 S.C. 562 . The majority thought such an injustice “ * * * could not possibly happen * * *_» . Article V of the Amendments to the United States Constitution provides “ * * nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; * * * . United States v. Lanza, 260 U.S. 377 , 43 S.Ct. 141, 142 , 67 L.Ed. 314 . . Second Corinthians 3rd Chapter 6th Verse. . See E. G. The Lanza Rule of Successive Prosecutions, 32 Col.L.Rev. 1309; 21 Col.L.Rev. 818; 23 Col.L.Rev. 395; 8 Va.L.Reg. (N.S.) 740. . N.Y.Laws 1923, Chap. 871, p. 1690. . Hebert v. Louisiana, 1926, 272 U.S. 312 , 47 S.Ct. 103 , 71 L.Ed. 270 . . Baltimore Sun, as quoted in the Literary Digest, Nov. 20, 1927, p. 18. . St. Louis Post-Dispatch as quoted in Literary Digest, Nov. 20, 1927, p. 18. See also, 12 Cornell L.Q. 212; 7 Boston L. Rev. 57. , . Jerome v. United States, 318 U.S. 101 , 63 S.Ct. 483 , 87 L.Ed. 640 . . La Forge v. State, 1924, 28 Okl.Cr. 37 , 228 P. 1111 . See, also, State ex rel. Cobb v. Mills, 1945, 82 Okl.Cr. 155 , 163 P.2d 558 , rehearing denied 167 P.2d 669 , in which the La Forge case is reaffirmed and the court holds that a previous conviction in a military court will bar a state prosecution for the same offense. To same effect as Coumas and La Forge, see People v. Spitzer, 148 Misc. 97 , 266 N.Y.S. 522 , which similarly interprets a New York statute. Note policy of District Attorney’s office not to make final determination as to prosecution until 30 days before “delayed” release of defendant. See Footnote 13. . Chap. V, published by Interstate Commission on Crime.