{
  "id": 3124310,
  "name": "THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. HAROLD JACKSON, Defendant-Appellant",
  "name_abbreviation": "People v. Jackson",
  "decision_date": "1981-03-27",
  "docket_number": "No. 79-15",
  "first_page": "747",
  "last_page": "749",
  "citations": [
    {
      "type": "official",
      "cite": "94 Ill. App. 3d 747"
    }
  ],
  "court": {
    "name_abbreviation": "Ill. App. Ct.",
    "id": 8837,
    "name": "Illinois Appellate Court"
  },
  "jurisdiction": {
    "id": 29,
    "name_long": "Illinois",
    "name": "Ill."
  },
  "cites_to": [],
  "analysis": {
    "cardinality": 375,
    "char_count": 5487,
    "ocr_confidence": 0.926,
    "sha256": "f0584321c2d2854fca4a12fd52113d4ae72500f8d6324955fa6b2678fc31e2e6",
    "simhash": "1:22ae340a1828bc03",
    "word_count": 875
  },
  "last_updated": "2023-07-14T16:56:05.907180+00:00",
  "provenance": {
    "date_added": "2019-08-29",
    "source": "Harvard",
    "batch": "2018"
  },
  "casebody": {
    "judges": [],
    "parties": [
      "THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. HAROLD JACKSON, Defendant-Appellant."
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "Mr. JUSTICE HEIPLE\ndelivered the opinion of the court:\nAfter a jury trial, the defendant, Harold Jackson, was convicted of the offense of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance (cocaine) (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1977, ch. 56M, par. 1401(b)). He was sentenced to six years\u2019 imprisonment. Defendant asks for a new trial on the grounds that no record of the voir dire examination was made. Alternatively, he asks that his six-year sentence be reduced because the trial judge failed to consider several mitigating factors and gave too much weight to the aggravating factors.\nThe absence of a record as to the voir dire proceedings means that this court is unable to consider defendant\u2019s suggestions of specific error occurring during voir dire. Recognizing this principle, defendant urges that we reverse because there is no record. That we will not do. There is no law which requires the recording of the voir dire examination. Moreover, the record fails to disclose that defendant requested and was refused transcription of the voir dire. Neither did he \u201cgo on the record\u201d during voir dire to have specific assignments of error transcribed. He simply let the voir dire go on without transcription and without objection as to lack of transcription. We recognize the common practice of trial courts and attorneys in ignoring the transcription of the often long, tedious and repetitive voir dire proceedings. This practice is indulged in by seasoned trial counsel and by experienced and able trial judges. It is neither an indication of incompetence of counsel, nor of judicial carelessness. Rather, it is done to save judicial cost and manpower.\nHaving failed to make any point of this matter during the voir dire proceedings, defendant now asks the appellate court to reverse his conviction. Why, it may be asked, should be appellate court reverse the trial court for a procedure that was never objected to at trial? We should not. To do so would invite the practice of deliberately building error into the record. This is commonly called \u201csandbagging.\u201d\nMoreover, our supreme court has, by rule, furnished a method for reconstructing an absent record by preparation of a bystanders report. (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1977, ch. 1104, par. 323(c).) The rule requires that appellant prepare and file a proposed report of proceedings within 14 days after the notice of appeal was filed. The 14 days may be extended if a request for extension is made within that 14-day period. In the instant- case, a bystander\u2019s report was prepared by defendant and was submitted to the trial court almost 8 months after the notice of appeal was filed and without an authorized extension. The trial court refused to certify the bystander\u2019s report because it was not timely and because it was not complete. The ruling was justified on either ground. Timeliness is compellingly necessary in the case of a bystander\u2019s report because of the frailty of human memory. Completeness is necessary in order that undue emphasis not be placed on isolated matters that may be out of context. Thus, we reject defendant\u2019s request that his conviction be reversed for lack of a reviewable transcription of the voir dire examination.\nAlternatively, defendant requests that his six-year sentence be reduced. In this case, the defendant could have received a determinate sentence of between three and seven years. Defendant claims that the judge ignored several mitigating factors and gave too much weight to the aggravating factors. Defendant even suggests that his \u201chistory of criminal activity should have been considered as a mitigating factor rather than in aggravation.\u201d After all, his record \u201cshowed only two convictions for unlawful possession of cannabis, other than traffic offenses.\u201d The traffic offenses were speeding, driving while license suspended and illegal transportation of liquor. Additionally, at the time of sentencing, the defendant had pleaded guilty and was awaiting sentencing in Peoria County for the offense of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance. In the instant case, he was convicted of selling cocaine to undercover agents for the purpose which he understood was distribution to college students at Western Illinois University. Defendant claims that his imprisonment would be a significant hardship for his wife and children. However, the defendant was divorced in 1968. He subsequently moved in with his ex-wife and sired two more children. Defendant admits abuse of various drugs since 1968, including cannabis, hashish, mescaline, amphetamines, and barbiturates. It can hardly be said to be against the manifest weight of evidence for the trial court to conclude that the defendant\u2019s ex-wife and children would not suffer undue hardship by his absence from the home. Indeed, the imposition of anything less than the maximum sentence in this case would have to be considered a charitable act on the part of the sentencing judge.\nFor the reasons given, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.\nAffirmed.\nALLOY and BARRY, JJ., concur.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "Mr. JUSTICE HEIPLE"
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "Robert Agostinelli and Thomas Lilien, both of State Appellate Defender\u2019s Office, of Ottawa, for appellant.",
      "Thomas J. Homer, State\u2019s Attorney, of Lewistown (John X. Breslin and Terry A. Mertel, both of State\u2019s Attorneys Appellate Service Commission, of counsel), for the People."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. HAROLD JACKSON, Defendant-Appellant.\nThird District\nNo. 79-15\nOpinion filed March 27, 1981.\n\u2014 Rehearing denied April 29, 1981.\nRobert Agostinelli and Thomas Lilien, both of State Appellate Defender\u2019s Office, of Ottawa, for appellant.\nThomas J. Homer, State\u2019s Attorney, of Lewistown (John X. Breslin and Terry A. Mertel, both of State\u2019s Attorneys Appellate Service Commission, of counsel), for the People."
  },
  "file_name": "0747-01",
  "first_page_order": 769,
  "last_page_order": 771
}