Opinion
2014-10-30
In the Matter of Lavogia JACKSON, Petitioner, v. Anthony J. ANNUCCI, as Acting Commissioner of Corrections and Community Supervision, Respondent.
Lavogia Jackson, Dannemora, petitioner pro se. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Marcus J. Mastracco of counsel), for respondent.
Lavogia Jackson, Dannemora, petitioner pro se. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Marcus J. Mastracco of counsel), for respondent.
Before: LAHTINEN, J.P., McCARTHY, EGAN JR., LYNCH and CLARK, JJ.
Proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 (transferred to this Court by order of the Supreme Court, entered in Albany County) to review a determination of respondent which found petitioner guilty of violating a prison disciplinary rule.
Petitioner, a prison inmate, was selected randomly for drug testing, and a sample of his urine twice tested positive for cannabinoids. As a result, petitioner was charged in a misbehavior report with using a controlledsubstance and, following a tier III disciplinary hearing, was found guilty. That determination was affirmed upon administrative appeal, with a reduction in the penalty. Petitioner thereafter commenced this CPLR article 78 proceeding.
We confirm. The misbehavior report, the results of two urinalysis tests and the testimony of the correction officer who performed the tests provide substantial evidence of petitioner's guilt ( see Matter of Shepherd v. Fischer, 111 A.D.3d 1213, 1213, 975 N.Y.S.2d 703 [2013], lv. denied22 N.Y.3d 864, 2014 WL 1243633 [2014] ). With regard to petitioner's procedural claims, we find no error in the Hearing Officer's denial of his request to call a witness from the Albany Central Office to testify about the process for selecting inmates for drug testing. The denial was based upon the fact that the random and automated computer process is immaterial to the issue of whether petitioner used drugs, and we agree that inmates are not entitled to this information ( see Matter of Watson v. New York State Dept. of Corr. & Community Supervision, 108 A.D.3d 817, 817–818, 971 N.Y.S.2d 578 [2013], lv. dismissed22 N.Y.3d 914, 975 N.Y.S.2d 733, 998 N.E.2d 397 [2013], lv. denied23 N.Y.3d 902, 2014 WL 1776887 [2013] ). Similarly, petitioner was not deprived of an opportunity to submit relevant or mitigating documentary evidence pertaining to unrelated disciplinary charges involving the same testing officer. Petitioner was permitted to question that officer at the hearing and to establish that he had been found not guilty of those charges, and the misbehavior report for that incident was not relevant to this charge ( cf. Matter of Dennis v. Bezio, 82 A.D.3d 1398, 1399, 918 N.Y.S.2d 666 [2011] ). Petitioner's remaining claims have been reviewed and determined to be either unpreserved for our review or without merit.
ADJUDGED that the determination is confirmed, without costs, and petition dismissed.