Opinion ID: 164328
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Segregation of Prisoners

Text: Finally, with respect to the alleged failure of Sheriff Whetsel and Deputy Deer to segregate Mr. Dittmeyer from certain other inmates before they attacked him, Mr. Dittmeyer claims officials knowingly placed him in a population of African-Americans, gang members, and convicted felons. The district court found Sheriff Whetsel knew of a letter and affidavit concerning the failure of prison officials to segregate certain inmates, but that modifications occurred prior to Mr. Dittmeyer’s altercation. We note the affidavit on which the district court apparently relied is dated January 8, 2001 – over a year after the altercation Mr. Dittmeyer experienced with the three African-American inmates – and therefore, does not establish Sheriff Whetsel knew about the affidavit or the circumstances described therein. In addition, the letter at issue describes a problem with the segregation of a prisoner who officials placed in the same cell as a prisoner he was scheduled to testify against. Neither the affidavit nor the letter describes -20- situations in which different gang members were placed together in the same pod, or where problems arose from placing prisoners of different races in the same pod. Similarly, neither shows a prior problem existed with placing “convicted felons” in the same pods as “detainees” like Mr. Dittmeyer. While Mr. Dittmeyer continues on appeal to claim officials knowingly placed him in a population of African-Americans, gang members, and convicted felons, he fails to direct us to any evidence in the record which shows these types of segregation problems existed or that the sheriff or his deputy knew they existed or were prevalent. In carrying his burden to show the district court erred in granting summary judgment to the officials, Mr. Dittmeyer has the burden of providing us the essential record references, and this court will not sift through the record to find such references. See Mile High Indus. v. Cohen, 222 F.3d 845, 85354 (10th Cir. 2000). Consequently, Mr. Dittmeyer fails to show either Sheriff Whetsel or Deputy Deer knew: 1) problems existed with placement of inmates of different gangs, race, or detention status together in the same pod, or 2) Mr. Dittmeyer belonged to a whites-only gang or was otherwise unsafe. Thus, Mr. Dittmeyer fails to show either officer possessed knowledge of facts from which they could make an inference that placing Mr. Dittmeyer in the same pod as the three African-American inmates would result in substantial safety concerns or -21- injury. Equally important is the fact Mr. Dittmeyer believes the attack resulted primarily because he refused to pay the three inmates for use of the public phone, and not because of his or their gang, race or detention status. Nothing in the record shows Sheriff Whetsel or Deputy Deer knew these individuals were demanding money for use of the public phone, or that they otherwise drew an inference that these individuals would injure Mr. Dittmeyer while he waited to use the public phone.