Source: http://ky.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20180328_0000308.EKY.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 15:00:49+00:00

Document:
Inmate Robert Visintine has filed a. pro se petition for a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241 challenging the imposition of disciplinary sanctions by prison officials. [D. E. No. 1] This matter is before the Court to conduct to initial screening required by 28 U.S.C. § 2243. Alexander v. Northern Bureau of Prisons, 419 Fed.Appx. 544, 545 (6th Cir. 2011).
With respect to Visintine's arguments under the Due Process Clause, when a prison disciplinary board takes action that results in the loss of good time credits in which the prisoner has a vested liberty interest, the Due Process Clause requires prison officials to observe certain protections for the prisoner. Specifically, the prisoner is entitled to advanced notice of the charges, the opportunity to present evidence in his or her defense, whether through live testimony or documents, and a written decision explaining the grounds used to determine guilt or innocence of the offense. Wolff v. McDonnell, 418 U.S. 539, 563-66 (1974). Further, the board's findings used as a basis to revoke good time credits must be supported by some evidence in the record. Superintendent v. Hill, 472 U.S. 445, 454 (1985); Selby v. Caruso, 734 F.3d 554, 559 (6th Cir. 2013).
Visintine's challenges to the sufficiency of the evidence implicate only the last requirement. But when determining whether a decision is supported by "some evidence, " the Court does not conduct an independent review of the evidence or assess the credibility of witnesses. It asks only "whether there is any evidence in the record that could support the conclusion reached by the disciplinary board." Hill, 472 U.S. at 455-56. Here, the improvised knife was found in a bag Visintine admitted belonged to him, and which was located in his cell. These facts more than satisfy the "some evidence" standard.
The fact that Visintine was not physically holding the weapon when it was found and that it was not contained in his personal locker do not establish that he did not "possess" it. BOP regulations expressly require every inmate to maintain his or her cell free of contraband. BOP Program Statement ("PS") 5270.09 Appx. C (Aug. 1, 2011). Accordingly, under functionally-indistinguishable facts courts have routinely found that weapons discovered in an inmate's cell are within his or her constructive possession, and have upheld the imposition of disciplinary sanctions. Cf. Quinanilla v. O'Brien, 127 Fed.Appx. 887, 888-89 (7th Cir. 2005) (homemade knife found in petitioner's cell provided "some evidence" that he possessed weapon); Perez v. Rios, No. 7: 08-171-KKC, 2009 WL 499141, at *2 (E.D. Ky. Feb. 27, 2009) (same); Kenner v. Martimer, No. 7: 08-73-KKC, 2008 WL 2355832, at *3 (E.D. Ky. 2008) (same); Sales v. Dewalt, No. 5: 08-114-KKC, 2008 WL 1995135, at *2 (E.D. Ky. May 6, 2008). Nothing about the facts and circumstances of this case take it outside the scope of this well-established approach.
Visintine next invokes the civil remedy provisions of the Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552a(g)(1)(C), (D), and suggests that somehow the BOP's records are not "accurate." The cited provisions of the Privacy Act permit an aggrieved party to file a civil action if an agency "fails to maintain any record concerning any individual with  accuracy, relevance, timeliness, and completeness ..."
But Visintine's reliance upon this provision is procedurally improper and factually unavailing. Procedurally, the Privacy Act permits the filing of a "civil action" seeking damages for a violation of its requirements. But habeas corpus proceedings are not "civil actions, " they are original proceedings that are considered "civil in nature." Visintine may file a civil action for damages under the Privacy Act, but it does not appear that he can invoke § 552a(e)(5)'s accuracy requirements in this habeas proceeding as a defense to a disciplinary conviction. See Locklear v. Holland, 194 F.3d 1313, 1999 WL 1000835, at *1 (6th Cir. 1999) (affirming dismissal of § 2241 petition challenging accuracy on inmate records); Deters v. U.S. Parole Comm 'n, 85 F.3d 655, 658 n.2 (D.C. Cir. 1996).
Factually, Visintine makes no effort to explain how the BOP's records are not "accurate." He does not allege that they include false or misleading statements of fact; at most he merely suggests that he disagrees with the DHO's conclusion that he possessed a weapon, a conclusion derived from the uncontroverted fact that a homemade knife was found inside a bag he owned and inside his cell. As noted above, those facts are not disputed by Visintine and are sufficient to uphold his disciplinary conviction. Even if Visintine could invoke the Privacy Act in this habeas proceeding, his vague allegations fail to suggest a violation of § 552a(e)(5)'s accuracy requirements.

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