Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_08-cv-00205/USCOURTS-caed-1_08-cv-00205-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 530
Nature of Suit: Prisoner Petitions - Habeas Corpus
Cause of Action: 28:2254 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (State)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

 RAYMOND WRIGHT, )

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Petitioner, )

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v. )

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B. MCAFEE, et al., )

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Respondents. )

 )

1:08-CV-00205 AWI GSA HC

FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATION

REGARDING PETITION FOR WRIT OF

HABEAS CORPUS

Petitioner is a state prisoner proceeding pro se with a petition for writ of habeas corpus

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254.

BACKGROUND

Petitioner is currently in the custody of the California Department of Corrections at the

California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison at Corcoran pursuant to a judgment

of the Superior Court of California, County of Long Beach, following his 1999 conviction of

possession of cocaine base. See Petition at 2. 

With this petition, Petitioner does not challenge his underlying conviction and sentence.

Rather, he challenges a prison disciplinary hearing held on December 11, 2006, following a Rules

Violation Report issued on November 26, 2006, which charged Petitioner with delaying a peace

officer in the performance of his/her duties. See Attachments to Petition. At the conclusion of the

hearing, Petitioner was found guilty of the charges and assessed a 90 day loss of time credits, a 10

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day loss of yard privileges, and a 90 day loss of visiting privileges. Id. 

DISCUSSION

I. Jurisdiction

Relief by way of a petition for writ of habeas corpus extends to a person in custody pursuant

to a judgment of a state court if the custody is in violation of the Constitution or laws or treaties of

the United States. 28 U.S.C. § 2254(a); 28 U.S.C. § 2241(c)(3); Williams v. Taylor, 529 U.S. 362,

375 (2000). Petitioner asserts that he suffered violations of his rights as guaranteed by the U.S.

Constitution. Petitioner’s claims for relief arise out of a disciplinary hearing at Corcoran State

Prison, California, which is located within the jurisdiction of this Court. 28 U.S.C. §§ 2254(a),

2241(d). If a constitutional violation has resulted in the loss of time credits, such violation affects the

duration of a sentence, and the violation may be remedied by way of a petition for writ of habeas

corpus. Young v. Kenny, 907 F.2d 874, 876-78 (9 Cir. 1990). Therefore, the Court has jurisdiction th

to entertain the petition.

II. Review of Claims

Prisoners cannot be entirely deprived of their constitutional rights, but their rights may be

diminished by the needs and objectives of the institutional environment. Wolff v. McDonnell, 418

U.S. 539, 555 (1974). Prison disciplinary proceedings are not part of a criminal prosecution, so a

prisoner is not afforded the full panoply of rights in such proceedings. Id. at 556. Thus, a prisoner’s

due process rights are moderated by the “legitimate institutional needs” of a prison. Bostic v.

Carlson, 884 F.2d 1267, 1269 (9th Cir. 1989), citing Superintendent, etc. v. Hill, 472 U.S. 445, 454-

455 (1984).

However, when a prison disciplinary proceeding may result in the loss of good time credits,

due process requires that the prisoner receive: (1) advance written notice of at least 24 hours of the

disciplinary charges; (2) an opportunity, when consistent with institutional safety and correctional

goals, to call witnesses and present documentary evidence in his defense; and (3) a written statement

by the factfinder of the evidence relied on and the reasons for the disciplinary action. Hill, 472 U.S.

at 454; Wolff, 418 U.S. at 563-567. In addition, due process requires that the decision be supported

by “some evidence.” Hill, 472 U.S. at 455, citing United States ex rel. Vatauer v. Commissioner of

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Immigration, 273 U.S. 103, 106 (1927).

Petitioner does not allege he was denied these minimum due process rights, and it is

abundantly clear there was some evidence supporting the guilty finding. Petitioner readily concedes

he plugged the toilet of his cell causing it to overflow and fill the surrounding level with water. He

states he did this to attract attention of the prison guards because he wanted to be moved as he feared

for his safety. Regardless of the nature of Petitioner’s intentions, he clearly did the wrongful act.

Therefore, the decision is supported by the evidence. As Petitioner’s claims are plainly without

merit, the petition should be summarily denied.

RECOMMENDATION

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that the petition for a writ of habeas corpus

be SUMMARILY DENIED. It is FURTHER RECOMMENDED that the Clerk of Court be

DIRECTED to enter judgment.

This Findings and Recommendation is submitted to the assigned District Judge, pursuant to

the provisions of Title 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). Within thirty days after being served with the

Findings and Recommendation, any party may file written objections with the Court and serve a

copy on all parties. Such a document should be captioned "Objections to Magistrate Judge's

Findings and Recommendation." Any reply to the objections shall be served and filed within ten

days after service of the objections. The parties are advised that failure to file objections within the

specified time may waive the right to appeal the District Court's order. Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d

1153 (9th Cir. 1991).

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: February 14, 2008 /s/ Gary S. Austin 

60kij8 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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