Case Name: In the Matter of Kevin Martin, Appellant, v. Glenn S. Goord, as Commissioner of Correctional Services, et al., Respondents
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 2003-05-22
Citations: 305 A.D.2d 899
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of Kevin Martin, Appellant, v Glenn S. Goord, as Commissioner of Correctional Services, et al., Respondents.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 305
Pages: 899–900

Head Matter:
In the Matter of Kevin Martin, Appellant, v Glenn S. Goord, as Commissioner of Correctional Services, et al., Respondents.
[758 NYS2d 862]

Opinion:
Mercure, J.
Appeal from a judgment of the Supreme Court (Feldstein, J.), entered September 10, 2002 in Franklin County, which dismissed petitioner's application, in a proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78, to review two determinations of respondent Director of Temporary Release Programs denying petitioner's applications for participation in a presumptive work release program and a temporary work release program.
In May 2000, petitioner was sentenced as a second felony offender to a prison term of IV2 to 3 years upon his plea of guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree. He had previously been convicted of rape in the first degree, burglary in the second degree and assault in the second degree for which he had served time in state prison. Thereafter, petitioner applied for temporary and presumptive work release. His applications were denied and he was directed not to reapply for these programs until June 2003. In March 2002, he commenced this CPLR article 78 proceeding challenging these determinations. Supreme Court dismissed the petition, finding that petitioner's challenge to the July 18, 2001 determination denying his request to participate in the presumptive work release program was time barred and that his challenge to the February 22, 2002 determination denying his request to participate in the temporary work release program was without merit. He now appeals.
We affirm. Initially, inasmuch as the July 18, 2001 determination denying petitioner's application for participation in the presumptive work release program was issued and received by petitioner more than four months before he commenced the instant CPLR article 78 proceeding, Supreme Court properly concluded that petitioner's challenge to it was untimely (see CPLR 217 [1]; Matter of Ruffin v Joy, 298 AD2d 724, 724-725 [2002]). With respect to petitioner's challenge to the denial of his application for participation in the temporary work release program, we find no error. It is well settled that participation in a temporary release program is a privilege, not a right (see Correction Law § 855 [9]; Matter of McGee v Recore, 277 AD2d 555, 556 [2000]). Our review "is limited to whether the determination Violated any positive statutory requirement or denied a constitutional right of the inmate and whether [it] is affected by irrationality bordering on impropriety " (Matter of Dixon v Recore, 271 AD2d 778, 778 [2000], quoting Matter of Gonzalez v Wilson, 106 AD2d 386, 386-387 [1984]). In the instant case, the record establishes that petitioner's custodial adjustment, his violent criminal history and possession of cocaine while on parole were all considered in connection with his application for participation in the temporary work release program. His application was denied based upon the conclusion that his violent criminal background and use of dangerous illegal drugs would have a negative impact upon the community rendering him unsuitable for temporary release. Inasmuch as these were appropriate considerations (see 7 NYCRR 1900.4 [Z]), we decline to disturb the denial of this application.
Cardona, P.J., Peters, Carpinello and Lahtinen, JJ., concur. Ordered that the judgment is affirmed, without costs.