gagnon scarpelli argued january decided may respondent felony probationer arrested committing burglary admitted involvement crime later claimed admission made duress false probation respondent represented attorney revoked without hearing filing habeas corpus petition paroled district concluded revocation probation without hearing counsel denial due process appeals affirmed held due process mandates preliminary final revocation hearings case probationer conditions specified morrissey brewer case parolee pp body conducting hearings decide individual case whether due process requires indigent probationer parolee represented counsel though state constitutionally obliged provide counsel cases indigent probationer parolee may difficulty presenting version disputed facts without examination witnesses presentation complicated documentary evidence presumptively counsel provided informed right probationer parolee requests counsel based timely colorable claim committed alleged violation violation matter public record uncontested substantial reasons justification mitigation make revocation inappropriate pp every case request counsel refused grounds refusal stated succinctly record powell delivered opinion burger brennan stewart white marshall blackmun rehnquist joined douglas filed statement dissenting part post william platz assistant attorney general wisconsin argued cause petitioner briefs robert warren attorney general william coffey appointment argued cause filed brief respondent justice powell delivered opinion case presents related questions whether previously sentenced probationer entitled hearing probation revoked whether entitled represented appointed counsel hearing respondent gerald scarpelli pleaded guilty july charge armed robbery wisconsin trial judge sentenced years imprisonment suspended sentence placed probation seven years custody wisconsin department public welfare department time signed agreement specifying terms probation travel permit agreement return allowing reside illinois supervision interstate compact august accepted supervision adult probation department cook county illinois august respondent apprehended illinois police surprised one fred kleckner course burglary house apprised constitutional rights respondent admitted kleckner broken house purpose stealing merchandise money although asserts statement made duress false probation revoked wisconsin department september without hearing stated grounds revocation scarpelli associated known criminals direct violation probation regulations supervising agent instructions scarpelli associating known criminal namely fred kleckner involved arrested burglary deerfield illinois app three years later december respondent applied writ habeas corpus petition filed acted upon department placed respondent parole district found status parolee sufficient custody confer jurisdiction petition moot revocation carried collateral consequences presumably including restraints imposed parole merits district held revocation without hearing counsel denial due process supp ed appeals affirmed sub nom gunsolus gagnon granted certiorari ii two prior decisions set bounds present inquiry mempa rhay held probationer entitled represented appointed counsel combined revocation sentencing hearing reasoning counsel required every stage criminal proceeding substantial rights criminal accused may affected sentencing one stage concluded counsel must provided indigent sentencing even accomplished part subsequent probation revocation proceeding line reasoning require hearing counsel time probation revocation case present one probationer sentenced time trial greater relevance decision last term morrissey brewer held revocation parole part criminal prosecution parole arises end criminal prosecution including imposition sentence revocation deprives individual absolute liberty every citizen entitled conditional liberty properly dependent observance special parole restrictions petitioner contend difference relevant guarantee due process revocation parole revocation probation perceive one probation revocation like parole revocation stage criminal prosecution result loss liberty accordingly hold probationer like parolee entitled preliminary final revocation hearing conditions specified morrissey brewer supra iii second difficult question posed case whether indigent probationer parolee due process right represented appointed counsel hearings answering question draw heavily opinion morrissey first point reference character probation parole noted morrissey regarding parole purpose help individuals reintegrate society constructive individuals soon able duty attitude probation parole officer reflect purpose parole probation officer recognizes double duty welfare clients safety general community large concern client dominates professional attitude parole agent ordinarily defines role representing client best interests long constitute threat public safety morrissey recognized revocation decision two analytically distinct components first step revocation decision thus involves wholly retrospective factual question whether parolee fact acted violation one conditions parole determined parolee violate conditions second question arise parolee recommitted prison steps taken protect society improve chances rehabilitation revocation anything commonly treated failure supervision presumably inappropriate field agent never revoke whole thrust movement keep men community working adjustment problems using revocation last resort treatment failed fail officer view probationer parolee conduct differs fundamental way latter view due process requires difference resolved revocation becomes final probationer parolee state interests accurate finding fact informed use discretion probationer parolee insure liberty unjustifiably taken away state make certain neither unnecessarily interrupting successful effort rehabilitation imprudently prejudicing safety community serve interests morrissey mandated preliminary final revocation hearings preliminary hearing probationer parolee entitled notice alleged violations probation parole opportunity appear present evidence behalf conditional right confront adverse witnesses independent decisionmaker written report hearing final hearing less summary one decision consideration ultimate decision revoke rather mere determination probable cause minimum requirements due process include similar elements written notice claimed violations probation parole disclosure probationer parolee evidence opportunity heard person present witnesses documentary evidence right confront adverse witnesses unless hearing officer specifically finds good cause allowing confrontation neutral detached hearing body traditional parole board members need judicial officers lawyers written statement factfinders evidence relied reasons revoking probation parole morrissey brewer supra token think appeals erred accepting respondent contention state constitutional duty provide counsel indigents probation parole revocation cases rule appeal simplicity impose direct costs serious collateral disadvantages without regard need likelihood particular case constructive contribution counsel cases probationer parolee convicted committing another crime admitted charges cases may justifiable excuse violation convincing reason revocation appropriate disposition mitigating evidence kind often susceptible proof simple require either investigation exposition counsel introduction counsel revocation proceeding alter significantly nature proceeding counsel provided probationer parolee state turn normally provide counsel lawyers training disposition advocates bound professional duty present available evidence arguments support clients positions contest vigor adverse evidence views role hearing body aptly described morrissey predictive discretionary well factfinding may become akin judge trial less attuned rehabilitative needs individual probationer parolee greater role hearing body may less tolerant marginal deviant behavior feel pressure reincarcerate continue nonpunitive rehabilitation certainly decisionmaking process prolonged financial cost state appointed counsel counsel state longer record possibility judicial review insubstantial cases modifications nature revocation hearing must endured costs borne indicated probationer parolee version disputed issue fairly represented trained advocate due process rigid require significant interests informality flexibility economy must always sacrificed concluding course aware approach right counsel felony prosecutions adopted betts brady later rejected favor per se rule gideon wainwright see also argersinger hamlin however draw gideon argersinger conclusion approach furnishing counsel necessarily inadequate protect constitutional rights asserted varying types proceedings critical differences criminal trials probation parole revocation hearings society probationer parolee stakes preserving differences criminal trial state represented prosecutor formal rules evidence force defendant enjoys number procedural rights may lost timely raised jury trial defendant must make presentation understandable untrained jurors short criminal trial system adversary proceeding unique characteristics revocation hearing hand state represented prosecutor parole officer orientation described formal procedures rules evidence employed members hearing body familiar problems practice probation parole need counsel revocation hearings derives invariable attributes hearings rather peculiarities particular cases differences criminal trial revocation hearing dispose altogether argument approach may cases lawyer useful none appointed arguable defense uncovered lawyer without denying force argument think sufficient answer deal right accused counsel criminal prosecution limited due process right one probationer parolee convicted crime thus find justification new inflexible constitutional rule respect requirement counsel think rather decision need counsel must made basis exercise sound discretion state authority charged responsibility administering probation parole system although presence participation counsel probably undesirable constitutionally unnecessary revocation hearings remain certain cases fundamental fairness touchstone due process require state provide expense counsel indigent probationers parolees neither possible prudent attempt formulate precise detailed set guidelines followed determining providing counsel necessary meet applicable due process requirements facts circumstances preliminary final hearings susceptible almost infinite variation considerable discretion must allowed responsible agency making decision presumptively may said counsel provided cases informed right request counsel probationer parolee makes request based timely colorable claim committed alleged violation conditions upon liberty ii even violation matter public record uncontested substantial reasons justified mitigated violation make revocation inappropriate reasons complex otherwise difficult develop present passing request appointment counsel responsible agency also consider especially doubtful cases whether probationer appears capable speaking effectively every case request counsel preliminary final hearing refused grounds refusal stated succinctly record iv return facts present case respondent afforded either preliminary hearing final hearing revocation probation meet standards due process prescribed morrissey held applicable probation revocations accordingly respondent entitled writ habeas corpus remand district allow state opportunity conduct hearing whether state must provide counsel respondent admission committed another serious crime creates sort situation counsel need ordinarily provided respondent subsequent assertions regarding admission see supra conclude failure department provide respondent assistance counsel light opinion general guidelines outlined applied first instance charged conducting revocation hearing affirmed part reversed part remanded footnotes respondent initially paroled federal detainer serve previously imposed federal sentence arising another conviction subsequently released federal custody remains parolee supervision department despite undoubted minor differences probation parole commentators agreed revocation probation sentence imposed previously constitutionally indistinguishable revocation parole see van dyke parole revocation hearings california right counsel rev sklar law practice probation parole revocation hearings crim clear least morrissey brewer probationer longer denied due process reliance dictum escoe zerbst probation act grace petitioner argues addition morrissey hearing requirements impose serious practical problems cases present one probationer parolee allowed leave convicting state supervision another state arrangements made pursuant interstate compact adopted including wisconsin stat ann petitioner brief asserts june wisconsin total parolees probationers supervision incomplete statistics june indicated national total persons supervision brief petitioner amount disruption inevitably attends new constitutional ruling confident however modification interstate compact remove without undue strain serious technical hurdles compliance morrissey additional comment warranted respect rights present witnesses confront adverse witnesses petitioner greatest concern difficulty expense procuring witnesses perhaps thousands miles away cases simply adequate alternative live testimony emphasize morrissey intend prohibit use appropriate conventional substitutes live testimony including affidavits depositions documentary evidence intend foreclose holding preliminary final hearings place violation developing creative solutions practical difficulties morrissey requirements morrissey brewer left open question whether parolee entitled assistance retained counsel appointed counsel indigent since respondent attempt retain counsel asked appointed counsel occasion decide case whether probationer parolee right represented revocation hearing retained counsel situations state obliged furnish counsel indigent remington newman kimball melli goldstein criminal justice administration materials cases factors entering decisions relate major part professional evaluation trained probation parole officers overall social readjustment offender community include consideration variables offender relationship toward family attitude toward fulfillment financial obligations extent cooperation probation parole officer assigned case personal associations course whether specific significant violations conditions probation parole importance considerations factual others entirely judgmental illustrated wisconsin empirical study disclosed sample studied probation parole revoked cases probationer parolee violated terms release hunt revocation decision study probation parole agents discretion unpublished thesis file library university wisconsin cited brief petitioner addendum remington newman kimball melli goldstein supra see sklar supra parole probation scope practical problem occasioned requirement counsel revocation cases suggested fact estimated average adult felony parole revocations adult probation revocations year president commission law enforcement administration justice task force report courts cf gault establishing juvenile right appointed counsel delinquency proceeding denominated civil functionally akin criminal trial juvenile charged violation generally applicable statute differently situated probationer parolee entitled higher degree protection see winship standard proof juvenile delinquency proceeding must proof beyond reasonable doubt justice douglas dissenting part believe due process requires appointment counsel case claim respondent confession burglary made duress see morrissey brewer opinion douglas