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HomeMy WebLinkAbout94-0106 Miscellaneous JOHN A. NIGRO, JR., Petitioner : IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF v. . CUMBERLAND COUNTy, PENNSYLVANIA ARTHUR AUXER, ROBERT : BILOUs, GARy COONEy, : and KENNETH LEWIs, : Respondents : : NO. 94-0106 MISCELLANEous TERM IN RE: PETITION FOR WRIT OF HABEAS CORPus BEFORE OLER j. ORDER OF COURT AND NOW, this 5~day of December, 1994, upon Consideration of Petitioner,s Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus and for the reasons stated in the accompanying Opinion, the Petition is DENIED to the extent that it seeks immediate release of Petitioner into general population and GRANTED to the extent that Respondents are directed not to extend Petitioner,s confinement in administrative custody by means of a policy automaticall requiring his participation in each administrative custody phase of the SMU program, with each phase having a minimum period of 90 days· BY THE COURT, Clifford D. Swift, Esq. Assistant Counsel Department of Corrections P.O. Box 598, 2520 Lisburn Road Camp Hill, PA 17001-0598 Attorney for Respondents ~chael A. Scherer, Esq. West South Street Carlisle, Pa 17013 Attorney for Petitioner JOHN A. NIGRO, JR., : IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF Petitioner : CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA : v. : ARTHUR AUXER, ROBERT : BILOUS, GARY COONEY, : and KENNETH LEWIS, : Respondents : NO. 94-0106 MISCELLANEOUS TERM IN RE: PETITION FOR WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS BEFORE OLER, J. OPINION and ORDER OF COURT Oler, J. This habeas corpus action~ arises out of an inmate's administrative custody status in a "special management unit" in a state correctional institution. Relief in the form of the inmate's release from administrative custody and return to general population, as well as such other remedial measures as are deemed appropriate, is requested. The inmate's claim is based upon an alleged failure of officials of the special management unit to follow a Department of Corrections administrative directive on placement and continuation of an inmate in administrative custody - resulting in his exclusion from general population and his ineligibility for parole. Defenses to the claim include an alleged failure of the inmate to exhaust administrative remedies and the absence of enforceable rights under the directive. A hearing on the matter was held on May 12, 1994, and July 21, 1994. For the reasons stated in this Opinion, the Petition will be See Pa. R. Crim. P. 1701(b). NO. 94-0106 MISCELLANEOUS TERM denied in part and granted in part. PROCEDURAL HISTORY AND STATEMENT OF FACTS Procedural history. On January 4, 1994, John Albert Nigro, Jr. (Petitioner), filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus, pro se. By Order of Court dated January 14, 1994, Michael A. Scherer, Esq., was appointed to represent Petitioner. On March 23, 1994, Petitioner's counsel requested that a hearing on the Petition be scheduled, and on March 24, 1994, a hearing was set for May 12, 1994. Respondents filed preliminary objections to the Petition on April 15, 1994. By Order of Court dated April 18, 1994, consideration of the preliminary objections was deferred to the hearing already scheduled for May 12, 1994. On May 9, 1994, Petitioner filed a motion for continuance of the hearing. In view of the pendency of the Petition since January, the Court declined to grant a continuance, but advised the parties by Order dated May 12, 1994, that it would consider a motion to receive further testimony at the conclusion of the scheduled hearing. The scheduled hearing was held on May 12, 1994. At the conclusion of the proceeding, the Court granted Petitioner's motion to schedule an additional hearing date. This further proceeding was held on July 21, 1994. By Order of Court dated July 21, 1994, the record was left NO. 94-0106 MISCELLANEOUS TERM open for an additional period of two weeks to permit Petitioner to supply certain exhibits; in addition, the stenographer was directed to transcribe the notes of testimony of the hearing and counsel were given three weeks after the filing of the transcript for submission of briefs. On August 26, 1994, the final portion of the transcript was filed. Counsel thereafter submitted briefs in support of their respective positions. Statement of facts. The Petitioner is Joseph Albert Nigro, Jr., an inmate housed in the special management unit (SMU) of the State Correctional Institution at Camp Hill.2 Respondents are various officials or officers with the Department of Corrections.3 Petitioner is presently serving a sentence of one and a half to five years,4 his minimum sentence having expired on January 11, 1994, and his maximum sentence to expire on or about July 21, 1997.5 He arrived at the State Correctional Institution at Camp Hill on February 1, 1993.6 At the time of his arrival at Camp Hill, Petitioner was on disciplinary custody status as a result of misconducts at the State 2 N.T. 10, Hearing, May 12, 1994. This institution is in Cumberland County. See Respondents' Exhibit 2, Hearing, May 12, 1994. N.T. 20, Hearing, May 12, 1994. N.T. 10, Hearing, May 12, 1994. N.T. 21, Hearing, May 12, 1994. 3 NO. 94-0106 MISCELLANEOUS TERM Correctional Institution at Huntingdon;7 he had been transferred to the State Correctional Institution at Huntingdon as a result of misconducts at the State Correctional Institution at Dallas.8 In recommending his transfer to Camp Hill, the superintendent at Huntingdon characterized Petitioner's history of behavior as "atrocious" and "deplorable."9 The special management unit at Camp Hill in which Petitioner was and is housed is described by its manager as follows: The Special Management Unit originally started as a pilot project for the Department of Corrections because of overcrowding to the restrictive housing unit facilities throughout Pennsylvania. The restricted housing units didn't provide the necessary staff and the involvement to reintegrate certain inmates back into the general population. The SMU provides that opportunity. It provides inmates who were held in AC. status or DC status and couldn't get along in the restricted housing units, where they received several misconducts that they wouldn't be placed back in general population[.]~° The formal definition of an SMU is "a special unit within designated Department of Corrections institutions designed to safely and humanely handle inmates whose behavior presents a serious threat to the safety and security of the facility, staff, N.T. 21, Hearing, May 12, 1994. Respondents' Exhibit 1, Hearing, May 12, 1994. Respondents' Exhibit 1, Hearing, May 12, 1994. N.T. 46, Hearing, May 12, 1994. 4 NO. 94-0106 MISCELLANEOUS TERM other inmates or him or herself.''~ Inmates typically comprising the population of the SMU at Camp Hill are [i]nmates that have been a problem at the various facilities .... [M]ost of the inmates in the SMU have been transferred from one facility to another because of their behavior. For the most part, they've either assaulted other staff or inmates.~2 An inmate housed in the SMU in Camp Hill is necessarily on either disciplinary custody status or administrative custody status.~3 Disciplinary custody is a "restrictive status of confinement to which inmates found guilty of Class I misconducts may be committed."~4 Administrative custody is "[a] status of confinement for non-disciplinary reasons which provides closer supervision, control, and protection than is provided for in general population."~s Disciplinary custody is "punishment for misconduct," whereas administrative custody is "a status arising out of a person's danger to other persons or guards or a danger to ~ Petitioner's Exhibit 2, Hearing, May 12, 1994 (Department of Corrections Policy Statement, DC-ADM 802). ~2 N.T. 48-49, Hearing, May 12, 1994. ~3 Petitioner's Exhibit 1, Hearing, May 12, 1994 (Special Management Unit Manual). ~4 Petitioner's Exhibit 2, Hearing, May 12, 1994 (Department of Corrections Policy Statement, DC-ADM 802). ~s Petitioner's Exhibit 2, Hearing, May 12, 1994 (Department of Corrections Policy Statement, DC-ADM 802). 5 NO. 94-0106 MISCELLANEOUS TERM himself or herself."~6 An inmate housed in the SMU at Camp Hill is, at a given time, in one of four "phases" of the SMU program. The phases are graduated in degree of restrictiveness and the program is ostensibly designed to lead to an SMU resident's reentry into general population.~7 Phase V of the program is disciplinary custody, and Phases IV through II are progressively less restrictive forms of administrative custody.~8 Phase I involves a sort of conditional release into general population.~9 The invariable practice at the SMU at Camp Hill is that an inmate in Phase V (disciplinary custody) must, following completion of his disciplinary custody period, proceed through Phases IV, III and II (administrative custody), prior to any reentry into general population.2° The standard practice also is that Phases IV, III, and II have durations of no less than 90 days each.2~ Consequently, ~6 N.T. 48, Hearing, May 12, 1994. ~7 Petitioner's Exhibit 1, Hearing, May 12, 1994 (Special Management Unit Manual); see N.T. 54-55, Hearing, May 12, 1994. ~8 Petitioner's Exhibit 1, Hearing, May 12, 1994 (Special Management Unit Manual). ~9 N.T. 23-24, Hearing, July 21, 1994. 20 Petitioner's Exhibit 1, May 12, 1994 (Special Management Unit Manual); see N.T. 47, 59-60, Hearing, May 12, 1994; N.T. 11, Hearing, July 21, 1994. ~ N.T. 15, 59, Hearing, May 12, 1994; N.T. 6, Hearing, July 21, 1994. Phase I apparently also usually lasts 90 days. N.T. 24, Hearing, July 21, 1994. 6 NO. 94-0106 MISCELLANEOUS TERM inmates entering the SMU are told to expect a minimum period of nine months in Phases IV, III and II, following expiration of any disciplinary custody period.22 Even if the 90-days-per-phase policy were discarded, the timing of status reviews is such that each of the three phases would last at least 30 days, for a minimum total of 90 days in administrative custody.23 An inmate's status in administrative custody in the SMU program is reviewed, at least nominally, every 30 days by a "program review committee."24 By appointment of the institution's superintendent, the committee typically consists of the SMU unit manager, the lieutenant assigned to the SMU, and the inmate's counselor.~5 It is apparently the practice of the Parole Board not to authorize parole for an inmate housed in the SMU - i.e., in Phase V (disciplinary custody) or Phases IV, III or II (administrative custody) of the SMU program.~6 Evidence adduced at the hearings herein established a number of facts concerning (a) Petitioner's history in terms of status in ~ N.T. 13, 57, 59, Hearing, May 12, 1994; N.T. 27, Hearing, July 21, 1994. N.T. 59-60, Hearing, May 12, 199'4. N.T. 53, Hearing, May 12, 1994. N.T. 62-63, Hearing, May 12, 1994. N.T. 27, Hearing, May 12, 1994; N.T. 29, Hearing, July 21, 1994. 7 NO. 94-0106 MISCELLANEOUS TERM the SMU program, (b) the procedures relating to administrative custody employed in his case, (c) administrative appeals taken by him from decisions of his program review committee, (d) a certain parole-related interview in which he participated, and (e) a certain federal lawsuit commenced by him. These matters will be discussed seriatim. From February 1, 1993, until September 23, 1993, Petitioner was in Phase V (disciplinary custody)' of the SMU program; he then proceeded into Phase IV (administrative custody).27 While in Phase IV, he filed the instant Petition.2° Because of misconducts, however, he returned twice to Phase V status, and was in Phase V as of the time of both proceedings herein.29 An anticipated date of September 7, 1994, for his return to Phase IV status existed as of the second hearing.3° The prospect upon any such return to Phase IV was for nine additional months of administrative custody in the SMU as he proceeded through Phases IV, III and II of the program.3~ When Petitioner initially passed from disciplinary custody in Phase V to administrative custody in Phase IV, the only explanation N.T. 11, 53, Hearing, May 12, 1994. N.T. 44, Hearing, July 21, 1994. N.T. 37, 63, Hearing, May 12, 1994; N.T. 31, Hearing, July 21, 1994. 30 N.T. 45, Hearing, July 21, 1994. 3~ N.T. 34, Hearing, July 21, 1994. 8 NO. 94-0106 MISCELLANEOUS TERM given for his placement in the latter phase, according to his testimony, was that the program of the SMU required it.32 Petitioner also testified that only following a 30-day review in February, 1994, did a "review slip" f~nally state that he was considered a threat to Department of Corrections facilities.3~ In addition, according to Petitioner's testimony, only recently have SMU inmates been permitted to make statements at their administrative custody hearings.34 Petitioner apparently appealed to the superintendent of the institution from decisions of the program review committee which provided for his confinement in administrative custody.~5 He apparently did not appeal from the superintendent's adverse decisions on this subject, to an entity called the "Central Office Review Committee.''~6 On March 21, 1994, Petitioner was interviewed by a person named Brenda Johnson regarding parole.~7 However, he was never seen N.T. 18, Hearing, May 12, 1994. N.T. 19, Hearing, May 12, 1994. N.T. 35, Hearing, May 12, 1994. N.T. 41, Hearing, May 12, 1994; N.T. 47, Hearing, July 21, 1994. N.T. 41, Hearing, May 12, 1994; N.T. 47-48, Hearing, July 21, 1994. N.T. 35, Hearing, May 12, 1994; N.T. 35, Hearing, July 21, 1994. 9 NO. 94-0106 MISCELLANEOUS TERM by the Parole Board,TM and the import of the interview, if any, is unclear from the record. Prior to commencement of the present habeas corpus action, Petitioner filed a civil rights action in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania - against Respondents herein, inter alios.TM In the federal action, he challenged his status in administrative custody on the basis of the department's failure to follow the provisions of the administrative directive referred to initially herein, resulting in his exclusion from general population and ineligibility for parole.4° On July 15, 1994, United States Magistrate J. Andrew Smyser recommended dismissal of the action on the ground that the directive did not create a federally protected liberty interest.4~ No further information on the federal action appears in the record of this case. In this habeas corpus action, Petitioner maintains that his placement and continuation in administrative custody has been inconsistent with the administrative directive referred to above, 38 N.T. 36, Hearing, July 21, 1994. 39 Respondents' Exhibit 2, Hearing, July 21, 1994. The federal action was filed on December 22, 1993. Id. 40 Respondents' Exhibit 2, Hearing, July 21, 1994. A reading of Respondents' Exhibit 2 suggests that Petitioner's recollection that his federal complaint did not include as a ground for relief the unavailability of parole to a prisoner housed in the SMU is inaccurate. See N.T. 36, Hearing, July 21, 1994. ~ Respondents' Exhibit 2, Hearing, July 21, 1994 (Department of Corrections Policy Statement, DC-ADM 802). 10 NO. 94-0106 MISCELLANEOUS TERM in that (a) authorities did not provide a rationale for his confinement in such custody, (b) the program review committee overseeing his case was not composed of the proper persons, and (c) the extended period of administrative custody provided for under the SMU program precludes release from such custody in circumstances where the directive provides for release.42 STATEMENT OF LAW Administrative Directive 802. In 1970, twenty-one individual prisoners and an unincorporated association of prisoners of the Commonwealth, at six state penitentiaries, brought a class action against various state officials, challenging conditions of confinement at the six institutions.43 The State Correctional Institution at Camp Hill, however, was not among the facilities involved.~ This action was resolved by a May, 1978, consent decree~s and several subsequent orders.~ In a section entitled""Compliance with Administrative Directives," the decree provides that "Defendants 42 Brief of Petitioner John Nigro, Jr. ~ See Imprisoned Citizens Union v. Shapp, 451 F. Supp. 893, 894 (E.D. Pa. 1978); Brief for Respondents at 14. ~ See Imprisoned Citizens Union v. Shapp, 451 F. Supp. 893, 894 (E.D. Pa. 1978) ~ See Imprisoned Citizens Union v. Shapp, 451 F. Supp. 893, 894 (E.D. Pa. 1978). 4~ Unfortunately, the consent decree and some of the related orders are not contained in the present record, nor are they reported. This Court has taken judicial notice of the decree and these orders. 11 NO. 94-0106 MISCELLANEOUS TERM shall comply with the regulations of the Bureau of Corrections (hereinafter the 'Administrative Directives') and the amendments and additions thereto."47 By a stipulation accepted by the federal court in May of 1983, certain procedural and substantive rules of the type asserted by Petitioner herein regarding administrative custody were also agreed to by the parties.48 Although the federal decree and related orders do not by their terms apply to institutions other than the six involved in the suit, a regulation promulgated by the Department of Corrections on the subject of restricted housing units and an administrative directive issued by the Commissioner of Corrections on administrative custody are not so limited. The regulation provides, in part, as follows: Confinement in a Restricted Housing Unit (RHU), other than under procedures established for inmate discipline, will not be done for punitive purposes. The Department of Corrections will maintain written procedures which describe the reasons for housing an inmate in the RHU and require due process in accord with established principles of law for an inmate who is housed in the RHU. Ail inmates confined in the RHU will be reviewed periodically by institution staff. 37 Pa. Code §93.11(b) (1984) (emphasis added).~9 "7 Consent Decree, May 22, 1978, ~Section V, Paragraph 1, Imprisoned Citizens Union v. Shapp, Nos. 70-3054, 71-513, 71-1006, 70-1545 (E.D. Pa. 1978); see note 46 supra. ~8 Order, May 11, 1983, Imprisoned Citizens Union v. Shapp, Nos. 70-3054, 71-513, 71-1006, 70-1545 (E.D. Pa. 1983); see note 46 supra. ~ The regulation in question also states that "[n]o inmate shall have a right to be housed in a particular institution or in 12 NO. 94-0106 MISCELLANEOUS TERM In accordance with this regulation, an administrative directive known as DC-ADM 802 was issued by the Commissioner of Corrections. This directive regarding administrative custody was intended to establish "an Administrative Hearing process which provides clear notice to inmates of the reason for their confinement and outlines a fair hearing process."5° The directive applies "to all Restricted Housing Units, Administrative Custody Units and Special Management Units within the Department of Corrections.,,5~ The directive (a) enumerates specific reasons which will justify transfer of an inmate into administrative custody, (b) establishes a program review committee composed of two deputy superintendents and the inmate program director or unit manager, or "appropriate substitutes" designated by the superintendent, (c) provides for a hearing by the committee upon an inmate's initial placement in administrative custody, at which the rationale for placement is to be explained to the inmate, he or she is to be allowed to respond, and a decision is to be based on "a valid security reason," and from which the inmate may appeal to the superintendent and then to a Central Office Review Committee, and (d) provides for 30-day reviews of an inmate's status in a particular area within an institution." 37 Pa. Code §93.11(a) (1984). 50 Petitioner's Exhibit 2, Hearing, May 12, 1994 (Department of Corrections Policy Statement, DC-ADM 802). 5~ Petitioner's Exhibit 2, Hearing, May 12, 1994 (Department of Corrections Policy Statement, DC-ADM 802). 13 NO. 94-0106 MISCELLANEOUS TERM administrative custody by the committee,s2 With respect to these periodic reviews, the directive further states as follows: Specific items should be evaluated in making the decision whether to continue or release an inmate from Administrative Custody: a. Time in RHU b. Number, type and frequency of misconducts c. Continued public or institution risk d. Safety of the inmate, other inmates and staff e. Behavior in RHU including sanitation, personal hygiene and grooming, response to authority, response to other inmates and response to verbal and written orders f. Recommendation of RHU and treatment staffs3 Under the directive, a decision following a 30-day review by the committee to continue an inmate's administrative custody status is to be automatically reviewed by the institution's superintendent.54 In addition, a formal report to, and review by, the Regional Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Corrections ~2 Petitioner's Exhibit 2, Hearing, May 12, 1994 (Department of Corrections Policy Statement, DC-ADM 802). s3 Petitioner's Exhibit 2, Hearing, May 12, 1994 (Department of Corrections Policy Statement, DC-ADM 802). s4 Petitioner's Exhibit 2, Hearing, May 12, 1994 (Department of Corrections Policy Statement, DC-ADM 802). 14 NO. 94-0106 MISCELLANEOUS TERM is to be undertaken where an inmate is retained in administrative custody beyond a 90-day period.Ss Finally, the directive contains this provision, entitled "Rights under this Directive": This directive sets out policy and procedure. It does not create rights in any person nor should it be interpreted or applied in such a manner as to abridge the rights of any individual. The directive should be interpreted to have sufficient flexibility so as to be consistent with law and to permit the accomplishment of the purpose of the directives and policies of the Department of Corrections.s6 Exhaustion of administrative remedies. It has been said that "Habeas Corpus is ... an extraordinary remedy and is available after other remedies have been exhausted or are ineffectual or nonexistent." Commonwealth v. Maute, 263. Pa. Super. 220, 229, 397 A.2d 826, 830 (1979). "[H]abeas corpus should not be entertained ... to correct prison conditions which can be remedied through an appeal to prison authorities or to an administrative agency." Commonwealth ex rel. Bryant v. Hendrick, 444 Pa. 83, 90, 280 A.2d 110, 113 (1971). APPLICATION OF LAW TO FACTS An application of the law recited above to the facts of the present case militates against granting relief to Petitioner on his claim that authorities failed to provide reasons for his initial s5 Petitioner's Exhibit 2, Hearing, May 12, 1994 (Department of Corrections Policy Statement, DC-ADM 802). s6 Petitioner's Exhibit 2, Hearing, May 12, 1994 (Department of Corrections Policy Statement, DC-ADM 802). 15 NO. 94-0106 MISCELLANEOUS TERM placement and for his continued status in administrative custody. In this regard, the propriety of his initial placement in administrative custody has become somewhat moot by virtue of his return to disciplinary custody status in the meantime;s7 furthermore, Petitioner failed to exhaust his administrative remedies by appealing his placement beyond the superintendent's level. Most recently, it may be noted, the program review committee did in fact provide a rationale for its decision to continue Petitioner in administrative custody. Similarly unavailing to Petitioner is his argument for relief based upon an allegedly improper composition of the SMU program review committee. Under Administrative Directive 802, designees of the institution's superintendent may constitute the committee in lieu of the persons otherwise provided for. Petitioner's third argument, however, based upon the extended period of administrative custody effectuated by the SMU requirement that an inmate participate in each of the aforesaid phases and by its policy of continuing each phase for at least 90 days, is more compelling. The effect of this program can be, as Petitioner testified, the subjection of inmates housed at the SMU in Camp Hill to "an .extra nine-month period [of administrative custody] that no one else in the State of Pennsylvania would be inflicted upon," notwithstanding the existence of a uniform directive on the ~ Cf. Bronson v. Domovich, 427 Pa. Super. 312, 628 A.2d 1177 (1993). 16 NO. 94-0106 MISCELLANEOUS TERM subject,s8 Such a result is not consistent with the mandatory language of the directive, nor with its apparent purpose to reintroduce an inmate into general population within a minimal period after the reason for administrative custody ceases. Nor is sUch a result compatible with the Department of Corrections regulation precluding the presence of a punitive element in administrative custody, or with its direction that a written procedure be devised with respect to restricted housing. For these reasons, the Court is in agreement with Petitioner that the procedures of Administrative Directive 802 are more than merely permissive and should be generally followed within the SMU program.59 At the same time, a considerable amount of discretion must be left to prison officials in such matters, and nothing in this Opinion is intended to mandate a specific result following a given periodic review by the program review committee of Petitioner's status in the SMU. In accordance with the foregoing, the following Order will be entered: ORDER OF COURT AND NOW, this ~day of December, 1994, upon consideration of Petitioner's Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus and for the reasons stated in the accompanying Opinion, the Petition is DENIED to the extent that it seeks immediate release of Petitioner into general s8 N.T. 14, Hearing, May 12, 1994. ~ Cf. Hewitt v. Helms, 459 U.S. 460, 103 S. Ct. 864, 74 L. Ed.2d 675 (1983). 17 population and GRANTED to the extent that Respondents are directed not to extend Petitioner's confinement in administrative custody by means of a policy automatically requiring his participation in each administrative custody phase of the SMU program, with each phase having a minimum period of 90 days. BY THE COURT, s/ J. Wesley Oler, Jr. J. Wesley Oler, Jr., J. Clifford D. Swift, Esq. Assistant Counsel Department of Corrections P.O. Box 598, 2520 Lisburn Road Camp Hill, PA 17001-0598 Attorney for Respondents Michael A. Scherer, Esq. 17 West South Street Carlisle, Pa 17013 Attorney for Petitioner :re 18