Case ID: or-app_30/html/0487-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "\n      SCHWAB, C. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Argued July 20,
    reversed August 17, 1977
    THOMAS GREENE, Petitioner, v. OREGON STATE PENITENTIARY, Respondent.
    
    (No. 02-77-125, CA 7979)
    567 P2d 583
    Stephanie A. Smythe, Deputy Public Defender, Salem, argued the cause for petitioner. With her on the brief was Gary D. Babcock, Public Defender, Salem.
    Donald L. Paillette, Assistant Attorney General, Salem, argued the cause for respondent. With him on the brief were James A. Redden, Attorney General, and W. Michael Gillette, Solicitor General, Salem.
    Before Schwab, Chief Judge, and Tanzer and Johnson, Judges.
    SCHWAB, C. J.
   SCHWAB, C. J.

In this disciplinary proceeding, petitioner was found guilty of attempted assault in violation of Rule 4 of the Oregon State Penitentiary Rules of Prohibited Conduct which provides:

"No inmate shall engage in the intentional physical injury of another person * *

The reported violation which was the basis of the hearing was made by Officer Kent. It read:

"Between 8:30 and 9:00 p.m., while Inmate Morrell was walking the length of the 3rd tier south side, I observed pieces of bar soap being thrown at him from cell 307 then occupied by Inmate Greene. Morrell had to dodge the soap to avoid being struck.”

The hearing consisted only of the report and the denial by the petitioner that he had thrown soap.

There are prison disciplinary rules which petitioner may very well have violated, but it is not plausible to infer that there was a reasonable probability that petitioner’s conduct could have resulted in physical injury to another by striking him with pieces of soap.

Reversed.