Opinion ID: 787387
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Administrative Appeal of the Disciplinary Ruling

Text: 23 Proceeding pro se, Sira appealed Morton's disciplinary ruling to Commissioner Goord, see 7 N.Y.C.R.R. § 254.8, citing five grounds for reversal: (1) the hearing officer's failure to complete the hearing within the time required by New York law; (2) the failure to provide Sira with adequate notice as to the date, time, and place of the alleged misconduct; (3) the hearing officer's failure to disclose non-life-threatening information supplied by confidential sources; (4) his failure to make adequate fact findings with respect to misconduct; and (5) the insufficiency of the evidence of misconduct. Acting on behalf of Commissioner Goord, Director Selsky initially affirmed the disciplinary decision in a summary ruling dated April 7, 2000. With the assistance of counsel, Sira sought reconsideration. On September 8, 2000, Selsky reversed the disciplinary ruling, concluding simply that the confidential evidence failed to support [the] charge. By that time, Sira had already served his sentence in the Special Housing Unit; nevertheless, the reversal prevented him from losing good-time credits.