Opinion ID: 707800
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Disciplinary Proceedings for Fighting

Text: 49 Likewise, the second disciplinary proceedings, for fighting, satisfied due process. The conduct report read: 50 Inmate Hadley C-7018 was placed in segregation under investigation status on 10-25-92. As a result of that investigation with reliable confidential source information that inmate Hadley was involved in a physical altercation in housing unit twenty-two, Cell thirteen B-wing with inmate Byman N-70679, putting inmate Hadley in violation of the above rule. The Adjustment Committee summary stated: 51 Inmate was read IDR violation # 301 Fighting. Inmate pleads not guilty. He says he was not fighting but was attacked by 2 inmates Byman N-70679 and another inmate named Ron. Hadley says there was a verbal confrontation and that Hadley had no opportunity to fight or even defend himself. 52 The Committee went on to find the plaintiff guilty of fighting, reasoning: 53 Guilt was based on fact inmate was seen at HCU requiring stitches and redness of eye. Also guilt based on conclusions of investigation by Internal Affairs which included information received from reliable confidential sources which are being kept confidential for the safety & security of the institution and of the sources. 54 The fact that the plaintiff lost the fight and that the other inmate was not injured does not exonerate the plaintiff from brawling. The plaintiff's allegations in his complaint are inconsistent with his testimony at the hearing and, in any case, concede that he provoked the altercation by insulting his cellmate. 55 The plaintiff challenges the use of confidential informants. However, the court notes that inmates do not have a constitutional right to confront or cross-examine witnesses against them at disciplinary hearings. Mendoza v. Miller, 779 F.2d 1287, 1292 (7th Cir.1985); cert. denied, 476 U.S. 1142 (1986). Because the defendants have indicated that the identities of the witnesses were withheld for security reasons, they have articulated a legitimate reason for keeping that information confidential. The defendants, furthermore, have stated that the confidential informants' testimony was reliable--they were eye witnesses to the fight. Id., 779 F.2d at 1293; Dawson v. Smith, 719 F.2d 896, 899 (7th Cir.1983), cert. denied, 466 U.S. 929 (1984). The court is particularly reluctant to question the use of confidential information since that additional evidence is somewhat cumulative of the plaintiff's own admission.