Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_18-cv-05661/USCOURTS-cand-3_18-cv-05661-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 555
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Prison Condition
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JUAN ANTONIO DEL VALLE,

Plaintiff,

v.

K.J. ALLEN, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 18-cv-05661-SI 

ORDER OF DISMISSAL

Re: Dkt. No. 1

Juan Antonio Del Valle, a prisoner currently housed at the Correctional Training Facility in 

Soledad, filed this pro se civil rights action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 to challenge the failure to award

him time credits for completing educational courses. His complaint is now before the court for 

review under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A. 

BACKGROUND

A state regulation allows inmates to be awarded “Milestone Completion Credit” for 

completing “approved rehabilitative programs, including academic programs.” 15 Cal. Code Regs. 

§ 3043.3(a). Those credits are awarded in one-week increments, but no more than twelve weeks in 

a twelve-month period; the award of such credits “shall advance an inmate’s release date if 

sentenced to a determinate term” or advance the initial parole hearing date of an inmate serving an 

indeterminate sentence. Id at § 3043.3(c). The regulation contains an important limitation, however, 

for inmates taking academic courses: “Milestone Completion Credit for completing academic 

courses related to a high school diploma shall not be awarded to inmates already possessing a high 

school diploma, high school equivalency approved by the California Department of Education, or 

college degree.” Id. at § 3043(b). 

Case 3:18-cv-05661-SI Document 8 Filed 03/12/19 Page 1 of 3
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United States District Court

Northern District of California

In his civil rights complaint, Juan Antonio Del Valle alleges that prison officials have 

wrongly denied him Milestone Completion Credits. He alleges that he has been attending education 

classes at the prison and has taken the GED test, but the education department at the prison refuses 

to grant him Milestone Completion Credits because prison officials believe he has a diploma. He 

alleges that he does not have a diploma (presumably from a high school or college) and prison 

officials refuse to provide documentation that he does have a diploma. For relief, he requests that 

the Milestone Completion Credits he has earned be awarded and that he receive damages.

DISCUSSION

A federal court must engage in a preliminary screening of any case in which a prisoner seeks 

redress from a governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. See 28 U.S.C. 

§ 1915A(a). In its review the court must identify any cognizable claims, and dismiss any claims 

which are frivolous, malicious, fail to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or seek 

monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. See id. at § 1915A(b). Pro 

se pleadings must be liberally construed. See Balistreri v. Pacifica Police Dep't, 901 F.2d 696, 699 

(9th Cir. 1990).

Habeas corpus is the exclusive federal remedy whenever the requested relief requires a 

determination that a sentence currently being served is invalid or unconstitutionally long. See Young 

v. Kenny, 907 F.2d 874, 876 (9th Cir. 1990). When a prisoner challenges actions which affect the 

legality or duration of his custody, and a determination of the action may result in entitlement to an 

earlier release, the sole remedy is a writ of habeas corpus. See id. at 876-78; accord Preiser v. 

Rodriguez, 411 U.S. 475, 489-90 (1973) (where a state prisoner challenges the fact or duration of 

his confinement, his sole federal remedy is a writ of habeas corpus). 

Here, Del Valle’s claim that prison officials are not awarding time credits to which he is 

entitled would, if successful, entitle him to be released from prison sooner than would otherwise 

occur. Del Valle cannot pursue that claim in a civil rights action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. He must 

pursue his claim in a federal habeas action, if he pursues it at all in federal court. See generally 

Trimble v. City of Santa Rosa, 49 F.3d 583, 586 (9th Cir. 1995) (civil rights complaint seeking 

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

habeas relief should be dismissed without prejudice to bringing it as petition for writ of habeas 

corpus). Before filing his federal petition for writ of habeas corpus, Del Valle must exhaust state 

court remedies for every claim contained in that petition.

CONCLUSION

This action is DISMISSED without prejudice to Del Valle filing a petition for writ of habeas 

corpus after he exhausts state court remedies. The clerk shall close the file.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 12, 2019

______________________________________

SUSAN ILLSTON

United States District Judge

Case 3:18-cv-05661-SI Document 8 Filed 03/12/19 Page 3 of 3