Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_11-cv-00303/USCOURTS-azd-2_11-cv-00303-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 530
Nature of Suit: Prisoner Petitions - Habeas Corpus
Cause of Action: 28:2241 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (Federal)

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NOT FOR PUBLICATION

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Isaias Fadi Fisher, 

Petitioner, 

vs.

Dennis R. Smith, Warden, FCI Phoenix, 

Respondent.

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No. CV11-0303-PHX-SRB

ORDER

Petitioner Isaias Fisher filed his original Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus on

February 15, 2011. After service, but before Respondent filed any response, Petitioner was

granted leave to amend. Petitioner filed an Amended Petition on April 28, 2011. A response

was filed on May 27, 2011. Subsequently Petitioner filed a reply. The only claim made in

the Amended Petition is that the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) refused to consider Petitioner

eligible for up to a one year reduction of his sentence upon completion of the BOP's

Residential Drug Abuse Program. On May 24, 2011 Petitioner filed a Motion for Expedited

Declaratory Judgment advising the Court that he had completed the Residential Drug Abuse

Program and urging that he should now be eligible for immediate placement in a Residential

Re-Entry Center. 

On August 12, 2011 the Magistrate Judge issued his Report and Recommendation

recommending that the Amended Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus be dismissed with

Case 2:11-cv-00303-SRB Document 22 Filed 09/15/11 Page 1 of 3
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Reeb v. Thomas, 636 F.3d 1224 (9th Cir. 2011).

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prejudice because the Court lacks jurisdiction to review the BOP's individualized decision

denying Petitioner eligibility for a sentence reduction upon completion of the Residential

Drug Abuse Program and recommending that the Motion for Declaratory Judgment be

denied. Petitioner filed timely objections to the Report and Recommendation on August 31,

2011. Respondent has responded to those objections.

Although Petitioner completed the BOP's Residential Drug Abuse Program the BOP

determined that he was not eligible for the sentence reduction of up to one year pursuant to

18 U.S.C. § 3621(e). This determination was made based on a prior misdemeanor conviction

Petitioner suffered for unlawful imprisonment. The BOP Designations and Sentence

Computations Center determined, based on information contained in Petitioner's presentence

report prepared in connection with the unlawful imprisonment conviction, that the facts

underlying his conviction for unlawful imprisonment met the federal definition of kidnaping.

Kidnaping is a disqualifying prior offense for eligibility for a sentence reduction after

completion of the Residential Drug Abuse Program. The Magistrate Judge concluded that

the Court lacks jurisdiction to review this individualized decision made by the BOP

concerning eligibility for a sentence reduction under the Residential Drug Abuse Program.

In Petitioner's objections he argues that the unlawful imprisonment misdemeanor

offense for which he was convicted and kidnaping do not equate and, therefore, the BOP

abused its discretion in denying him early release eligibility and the BOP decision is contrary

to law and reviewable by this Court pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act. He

further argues that the Reeb1

 decision supports this view because of the Court's

acknowledgment in that opinion that judicial review is available when the BOP acts contrary

to established federal law, violates the constitution or exceeds statutory authority. In his

response to Petitioner's Objections, Respondent argues that Petitioner's case is not within the

exception acknowledged by Reeb because Petitioner is trying to suggest that there was a

ruling contrary to law in determining that a state conviction for unlawful imprisonment is the

Case 2:11-cv-00303-SRB Document 22 Filed 09/15/11 Page 2 of 3
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equivalent of a kidnaping conviction under federal law. Respondent argues that the BOP

made an individualized determination that the facts of Petitioner's conviction were equivalent

to kidnaping and that determination not subject to APA review and under Reeb outside this

Court's jurisdiction.

The Court agrees with the Magistrate Judge that the decision of the BOP determining

Petitioner ineligible for a sentence reduction upon completion of the Residential Drug Abuse

Program was an individualized decision within the discretion of the BOP and over which this

Court has no jurisdiction.

IT IS ORDERED overruling Petitioner's Objections to the Report and

Recommendation of the Magistrate Judge.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED adopting the Report and Recommendation of the

Magistrate Judge as the Order of this Court.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Petitioner's Amended Petition for Writ of Habeas

Corpus is denied and dismissed with prejudice.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Petitioner's Motion for Declaratory Judgment is

denied.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that a Certificate of Appealability and leave to proceed

in forma pauperis on appeal be denied because dismissal of the Petition is justified by a plain

procedural bar and jurists of reason would not find the ruling debatable.

DATED this 15th day of September, 2011.

Case 2:11-cv-00303-SRB Document 22 Filed 09/15/11 Page 3 of 3