Opinion ID: 2094512
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Lack of error preservation by Miller.

Text: Before reaching the merits of the main issue raised in this review, we must first address the State's argument that Miller failed to preserve error concerning his challenge that prison officials failed to comply with DOC Policy IN-V-36(V)(D). Before seeking postconviction relief concerning action taken by a prison disciplinary committee, the prisoner must first exhaust his administrative remedies by raising the basis for requested relief in the administrative process. James v. State, 479 N.W.2d 287, 292 (Iowa 1991); Iowa Code §§ 822.3, 822.6, 822.8, 903A.3(2). In other words, the inmate must raise any challenge concerning action taken by the disciplinary committee in appeal to the prison warden and to the director of the department of corrections. The record shows that although Miller raised the issue of noncompliance by prison officials with Policy IN-V-36(V)(D) in his administrative appeal to the warden, he did not mention it in his appeal to the Director of Corrections. Mahan, in contrast, specifically mentioned noncompliance with Policy IN-V-36(V)(D) in his appeals to both the warden and the Director of Corrections. Because Miller did not raise the issue of noncompliance with Policy IN-V-36(V)(D) in his appeal before the Director of Corrections, we therefore agree with the State's contention that he failed to exhaust his administrative remedies as to this issue. James, 479 N.W.2d at 292 (prison inmate seeking postconviction relief must exhaust administrative remedies by asserting ground for relief in administrative process; inmate failed to exhaust administrative remedies by failing to raise certain contentions in administrative appeals to prison warden and to Director of Corrections); Bonds v. State, 447 N.W.2d 135, 136 (Iowa 1989). We therefore conclude that Miller failed to preserve error in the administrative process concerning the failure of prison officials to comply with Policy IN-V-36(V)(D). Thus, he could not validly raise that issue in postconviction relief proceedings. The writ of certiorari must be annulled as to his claim here. We therefore proceed to address the merits of Mahan's claim only.