Opinion ID: 2101388
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Relief to Which Petitioner Is Entitled.

Text: Petitioner contends that because his punishment was not adjudicated in accordance with the procedural requirements of rule 804(C)(12) and the state is enjoined from conducting prison disciplinary proceedings in contravention of that rule, he is entitled to the relief specified in rule 804(E). The provisions of that rule which we have previously quoted provide that with respect to claims not adjudicated in accordance with the various provisions of section [rule] 804 as set forth in the federal court decree, all records of the alleged violation shall be expunged from the inmate's files. Implicit in that rule is a disposition which returns the inmate to his pre-report status and free from the sanctions which had been imposed. In Kelly v. Nix, 329 N.W.2d 287, 292-93 (Iowa 1983), we interpreted a clarifying order issued by the federal court in Kane v. Brewer on September 30, 1982, as providing that expungement of the incident report was not required with respect to insubstantial and non-prejudicial violations. The state urges that the violation of rule 804(C)(12), if any, in the present case, is insubstantial and does not warrant the remedy of expungement. We agree that expungement is not warranted but for a different reason. Rule 804(E) upon which petitioner and the district court relied in providing the remedy of expungement specifies that this shall be the remedy where the alleged rule violation is not adjudicated in accordance with the section [rule] 804 procedures set forth in the federal court decree. The violation of rule 804(C)(12) which we have found to exist in the present case does not in any manner affect the adjudication of the rule violation which has been charged against petitioner. It only affects the sanction which was imposed following the disciplinary committee's finding that petitioner was guilty of such violation. Accordingly, the application of rule 804(E) in determining the relief to be afforded is inappropriate based upon the clear language of that rule. We conclude that the relief to which petitioner is entitled is to require the disciplinary committee to expand its written decision so as to separately state its reasons for the sanctions imposed. Upon failure to timely do so, or, if the reasons given are believed to be legally insufficient, petitioner may bring a supplemental action for postconviction relief. The decision of the district court is affirmed in part, reversed in part and remanded for an order consistent with this opinion. AFFIRMED IN PART, REVERSED IN PART AND REMANDED.