Opinion ID: 2040693
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: applicability of hss 303.86 (4)

Text: Given that Mr. Hoover did waive his right to a formal hearing, the issue is whether the provisions of Wis. Admin. Code section HSS 303.86(4) (1981) apply to the informal hearing procedure under HSS 303.75. HSS 303.86(4) provides: HSS 303.86 Evidence . . . . (4) If a witness refuses to testify in person and if the committee finds that testifying would pose a significant risk of bodily harm to the witness, the committee may consider a corroborated, signed statement under oath from that witness without revealing the witness's identity. The contents of the statement shall be revealed to the accused, though the statement may be edited to avoid revealing the identity of the witness. The committee may question the witnesses, if they are otherwise available. Two anonymous statements by different persons may be used to corroborate each other. A statement can be corroborated in either of the following ways:  (a) By other evidence which substantially corroborates the facts alleged in the statement such as, eyewitness account by a staff member or circumstantial evidence; or (b) By evidence of a very similar violation by the same person. In the instant case, the adjustment committee relied in part upon the information supplied by the inmate informant. The inmate informant refused to testify at Mr. Hoover's hearing and remained a confidential witness. Mr. Hoover's counsel contends that Mr. Hoover was denied the hearing he was entitled to under HSS 303.75 because the adjustment committee never made a finding that testifying could have posed a significant risk of bodily harm to this confidential witness. We conclude, contrary to the court of appeals and the circuit court, that the provisions of HSS 303.86 (4) do not apply to informal hearings under HSS. 303.75 and that the adjustment committee did not err as a matter of law. HSS 303.75(2) sets out the procedure to be followed in informal hearings for minor violations or in cases such as this in which the right to a formal hearing has been waived. It provides: HSS 303.75 Hearing procedure for minor violations. . . . (2) At the hearing, a hearing officer, appointed under sub. (6), shall review the conduct report and discuss it with the inmate. The inmate shall be provided with an opportunity to respond to the report and make a statement about the alleged violation. The hearing officer may question the inmate. The inmate has no right to a staff advocate, to confront witnesses, or to have witnesses testify on his or her behalf. [11] HSS 303.75(2) provides simply that the hearing officer will review the conduct report, discuss it with the inmate and give the inmate the opportunity to respond to the report and make a statement concerning the alleged violation. It specifically states that the inmate has no right to present or confront witnesses. Since there is no provision for witnesses at the informal hearing, HSS 303.86(4) does not apply because it only becomes operative when witnesses refuse to testify. HSS 303.86(4), by its terms, contemplates a hearing procedure in which witnesses may be called upon to testify. The informal hearing procedure of HSS 303.75, does not provide for witness testimony. In construing the administrative rule, great consideration should be given to the harm which the rule seeks to remedy or prevent and the purpose sought to be accomplished. State ex rel. Staples v. DHSS , 115 Wis. 2d at 368-369. The Note to HSS 303.86 provides in pertinent part: Sub. (4) permits the identity of the witness to be withheld after a finding by the committee or hearing officer that to reveal it would substantially endanger the witness. This is not often a problem, but it does arise, particularly in cases of sexual assault. To protect the accused, it is required that there be corroboration; that the statement be under oath; that the content of the statement be revealed, consistent with the safety of the inmate. In addition, the committee or hearing officer may question the people who given the statements. HSS 303.86(4) is designed to protect the accused. In particular, it is designed to protect the accused's right to confront witnesses presented against him and his right to present witnesses on his behalf. This is accomplished by limiting the instances in which the adjustment committee may consider the statement of a witness who refused to testify in person at the accused's hearing. The committee must find that testifying would pose a significant risk of bodily harm to the witness. The committee must also find the following indicia of reliability: the statement was made under oath; the statement was corroborated. The protection provided by HSS 303.86(4) is not necessary in an informal hearing under HSS 303.75. Since the accused inmate has no right to confront or to present witnesses at his informal hearing, there is no basis for the application of HSS 303.86(4). Therefore, we conclude that HSS 303.86(4) does not apply to informal hearings under HSS 303.75. There is no constitutional right to confrontation and cross-examination in prison disciplinary cases: Confrontation and cross-examination present greater hazards to institutional interests. If confrontation and cross-examination of those furnishing evidence against the inmate were to be allowed as a matter of course, as in criminal trials, there would be considerable potential for havoc inside the prison walls. . . . it does not appear that confrontation and cross-examination are generally required in this context [of state prison disciplinary proceedings]. We think that the Constitution should not be read to impose the procedure. . . . Wolff v. McDonnell, 418 U.S. 567-568. HSS 303.76(5) provides in part: 303.76 Hearing procedure for minor violations. . . . (5) The inmate shall be informed that he or she may waive the right to a due process hearing and the rights specified in sub. (4). The inmate shall be informed that if the right to a due process hearing is waived, the conduct report shall be disposed of as follows: . . . . (d) The hearing officer or adjustment committee may question the inmate and otherwise investigate the case and shall decide the guilt or innocence of the inmate and punishment to be imposed. . . . The authority of the adjustment committee to consider the informant's statement comes within its authority to otherwise investigate the case.