Opinion ID: 385769
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Prison Action

Text: 6 Hayes was a prisoner at the Sheridan Correctional Center on May 12, 1975. He had been a prisoner for six years, and had rendered much assistance to other prisoners in drafting grievances, many of which were successful. On May 12, 1975, there was a gathering of prisoners in the prison yard at about 6:00 P.M. during the normal exercise period. This group of about 50 prisoners, apparently led by Hayes, discussed grievances and grievance procedures. Hayes responded to almost every question with an exhortation to write Springfield, and emphasized the grievance procedures, noting that there were a number of legal buffs with typewriters who would assist prisoners. In answer to one question as to what they would do if no action was forthcoming within six months, he replied You know what we'll do. Three security guards, who had been watching the gathering for most of its duration, dispersed the meeting at approximately 7:30 P.M. 7 At about midnight that night, Hayes was awakened by security guards, strip-searched, and placed in isolation. The next day he received a copy of a violation report written by the warden, Wolff, based upon reports of the officers at the meeting, charging Hayes with conspiracy to incite to riot and commit mutinous acts. 8 On May 14, Hayes appeared before the Institutional Adjustment Committee which considered the report filed against him. He presented several motions, including a request that the Committee call approximately 50 witnesses (prisoners who were present at the yard meeting) in his defense. The Committee took all of the motions under advisement and continued the committee meeting until the 15th. 9 On May 15, Hayes (on his own initiative) reduced his list of requested witnesses to ten. The Committee denied his request for witnesses in total stating the following reason: 10 The residents requested would be placed in highly compromising positions with regards to possible retribution from other residents and to call resident witnesses could prove hazardous to both witnesses and institutional security. 11 Hayes then requested a continuance to obtain affidavits from residents who had attended the group meeting. This was also denied by the Committee, stating that since the administrative regulations did not require sworn affidavits, there was insufficient reason to stay the proceedings. 12 The Committee then proceeded to find Hayes guilty as charged, based on the violation report as written and upon the report by the special investigator. This investigator's report was written by a special investigator from the Department of Corrections called in by the Warden the day after the group meeting. The investigator had interviewed Hayes and the other residents charged with conspiracy, and had reported by telephone to the members of the Committee. The Committee ordered that Hayes be kept in segregation for at least ten days, and it further recommended that he forfeit nine months' statutory good time, that he be transferred from Sheridan, and that he be demoted from A to C grade.