Opinion ID: 796521
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Application to DiMarco

Text: 40 In applying the above factors to DiMarco, it is helpful to keep a few background facts in mind. DiMarco was an admittedly unique prisoner, with a physiological and psychological condition never before encountered by Wyoming prison officials. No one suggests the initial segregation for evaluative purposes was inappropriate or excessive. Prison officials consulted medical professionals in evaluating DiMarco's condition and relied, in part, on those opinions in their placement decision. DiMarco had access to prison staff and doctors throughout her confinement. Her placement was evaluated every ninety days, and she was given an opportunity to be heard at each evaluation. While her confinement was isolating, it provided the ordinary essentials of prison life. Finally, the prison had to consider the needs of the general prison population, including rehabilitative goals and programs designed for them. Perhaps most importantly, DiMarco does not contend that segregation itself was unreasonable. 7 41 In this context, we examine the factors set forth above. Purpose of Segregation 42 Wyoming established several reasons for its placement of DiMarco in administrative segregation. First and foremost was safety. It determined that DiMarco might be a risk if introduced to the general population of the prison. Many of the women confined in the prison were victims of sexual assault. Some might be fearful of DiMarco, even though she functioned as a woman; others might threaten DiMarco for different reasons. While DiMarco was not deemed a particularly high risk, we cannot discount the prison's concerns about placing her in what it perceived as a potential security problem. As the district court found, prison officials had (1) a legitimate reason to believe there was a potential, substantial risk of serious harm to either WWC inmates or Plaintiff, and (2) the housing assignment and separation of Plaintiff from the general population was for a legitimate security reason. Aplts. App. at 166. 43 Second, Wyoming concluded that it did not have adequate facilities for inmates such as DiMarco. Wyoming is a small state with a relatively small prison population. Large states with larger urban populations have begun to establish facilities for transsexual inmates, but most states have yet to develop specific facilities or programs directed to this population. While states now have the option of transferring prisoners to out-of-state facilities, the record in this case does not suggest that option was available to Wyoming, especially considering DiMarco's term of confinement and the cost of transfer. Prudence dictates that sending her to Wyoming's men's prison was not a plausible alternative. Conditions of Confinement 44 DiMarco's conditions of confinement were admittedly spartan, but not atypical of protective custody. She had access to the basic essentials of life, although her access to certain amenities was more limited than the general population. She had adequate clean clothing; ate the same meals as the general population; had access to library, recreational, and religious facilities; participated in out-of-cell time of at least five-and-one-half hours a day; and was given personal hygiene items. She was denied interaction with other inmates, and certain amenities such as nail clippers and mirrors in her cell that were not allowed in her pod. The prison has no constitutional duty to equalize these type of amenities in every detail. Nor does a prisoner have a right to access every type of program available to other inmates, ranging from work to recreation. The district court found as much in rejecting DiMarco's equal protection and cruel and unusual punishment claims. 45 DiMarco was also provided access to a number of prison programs. She was part of small group counseling sessions with other inmates, she had weekly individual psychiatric sessions, and monthly visits from a psychiatric specialist. Her caseworker met regularly to discuss her concerns about her conditions and placement. 46 Having said this, given her unique condition it is hard to believe the prison could not make better accommodations for her long-term placement. Many of her complaints about living conditions were commonplace and the petty denial of certain amenities borders on the absurd. For example, the prison did not allow her to own playing cards or eat meals outside her cell. While DiMarco's circumstances were a challenge to the prison, Wyoming could have been more flexible in responding to her needs. Duration of Confinement 47 Wyoming's placement decision did not extend DiMarco's confinement. In fact, she was released after serving 14 months of a two- to four-year sentence. Given the fact that DiMarco only attacks the conditions of her segregation and not her placement in segregated housing, this factor does not weigh in her favor. Indefiniteness of Confinement 48 DiMarco's placement was reviewed every ninety days. And unlike the inmate in Wilkinson, whose placement in supermax was subject only to an annual review and disqualified the inmate from parole consideration, DiMarco had regular reevaluations throughout her confinement. The prison used a management team process to evaluate her behavior and mental health progress, and to provide goals to attain prior to her next review. This team recommended continued separated housing in Pod 3. Importantly, she was interviewed as a part of the review, and allowed to present her views. While the management team concluded administrative segregation was the proper assignment, DiMarco was not isolated from prison staff nor was she denied the opportunity to object to the conditions of her confinement. As noted above, DiMarco has conceded that segregation was a reasonable placement decision. 49 Taken together, these factors do not weigh in favor of finding that DiMarco has an enforceable liberty interest. While we are sympathetic with her complaints about the petty deprivations resulting from her confinement, and are confident prison officials could have done better, we cannot conclude that the prison imposed such an atypical and significant hardship on her as to meet the Sandin standard.