Opinion ID: 558743
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Placement in Segregation

Text: 7 Terry contends that he had a liberty interest in being in the general population and that the defendant prison officials violated his constitutional right to due process of law. Although the due process clause itself does not create a liberty interest in a prisoner's remaining in the general population, an enforceable liberty interest may be created by state law by placing substantive limitations on official discretion. Kellas v. Lane, No. 89-2923, slip op. at 4 (7th Cir. Jan. 22, 1991) (citing Kentucky Dept. of Corrections v. Thompson, 490 U.S. 454, 461-62 (1989)). 8 The district court judge assumed that Illinois Department of Corrections Rule Sec. 504.40 granted an inmate a protected liberty interest in avoiding temporary confinement in segregation pending a disciplinary hearing, but concluded that Terry had received all the process that is due. Memorandum and Order at 6-8. Subsequent to the district court's decision, this court held that Section 504.40 does not create a liberty interest. Woods v. Thieret, 903 F.2d 1080, 1083 (7th Cir.1990). Therefore, though we affirm the district court's dismissal of this issue, we do so on a different ground. Baucher v. Eastern Indiana Production Credit Ass'n, 906 F.2d 332, 335 (7th Cir.1990) (we can affirm on any ground that appears in the record). 9 Terry also alleges that he was placed in segregation arbitrarily in violation of section 504.40. He states that he was not posing a threat or danger to the safety or security of Tazelaar and that Tazelaar had limited discretion in placing him in segregation before a hearing. An action under section 1983 requires an allegation of a deprivation of a federal right. Estate of Himelstein v. City of Fort Wayne, Ind., 898 F.2d 573, 575 (7th Cir.1990). Terry is alleging a violation of a state regulation, however, and this court has held that [a] violation of state law does not state a claim under Sec. 1983. Kasper v. Bd. of Election Comm'rs of the City of Chicago, 814 F.2d 332, 342 (7th Cir.1987). 10 Finally, on appeal Terry alleges that he was placed in segregation without a finding of a serious rule violation or misconduct. This issue was not raised below and is therefore waived on appeal. Colon v. Schneider, 899 F.2d 660, 671 n. 18 (7th Cir.1990).