Opinion ID: 1816937
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Detention in investigative segregation.

Text: In his final argument on appeal, Key asks us to expunge his disciplinary report because he was held in investigative segregation for thirty-three days, three days longer than allowed by ISP Institutional Policy No. 85-7-16-651 BR. That prison policy states that prison officials may place an inmate in investigative segregation, but that this status is not considered disciplinary and should not last beyond thirty days without written consent of the warden. (Emphasis added.) The warden did not file a written consent concerning Key's detention in investigative segregation. During oral argument, the parties acknowledged that this policy is not one adopted by the director of corrections pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 903A and does not appear in the ISP rulebook. Instead, this policy was implemented by the warden at ISP. With respect to this issue, Key does not contend that prison officials violated his constitutional rights by holding him in investigative segregation three days longer than the period allowed by the policy. He further concedes that he suffered no prejudice as a result of his detention. Key simply contends that prison officials should follow the policies they implement. We find no merit in this assignment of error. With respect to this issue, the district court stated the following: The written policy contains no statement of a remedy if the inmate is held in investigative segregation more than 30 days without official action. The Applicant fails to show to the Court any injury, harm, or prejudice in being kept in this status for 33 days. Additionally, there is no showing that the institution undertook to hold the Applicant in investigative segregation as a pretext. Presumably, Key was kept at this status while the investigation was ongoing. Because no injury or harm can be shown by the Applicant, and additionally, because the institution appears to have acted reasonably, the Court concludes Applicant's. . . ground for relief has no merit and shall be denied. We believe that the district court's statement accurately disposes of this issue and we find it unnecessary to add further comment. We also reject Key's contention that the ISP policy is analogous to Iowa's rule of criminal procedure concerning deadlines for filing of trial indictments. See Iowa R.Crim. P. 27(2)(a). This rule is applicable to criminal proceedings, whereas prison disciplinary matters are civil in nature. See Mabrier v. State, 519 N.W.2d 84, 85 (Iowa 1994).