Opinion
527492
08-01-2019
In the Matter of Robert LOUCKS, Appellant, v. Anthony J. ANNUCCI, as Acting Commissioner of Corrections and Community Supervision, et al., Respondents.
Robert Loucks, Ossining, appellant pro se. Letitia James, Attorney General, Albany (Allyson B. Levine of counsel), for respondents.
Robert Loucks, Ossining, appellant pro se.
Letitia James, Attorney General, Albany (Allyson B. Levine of counsel), for respondents.
Before: Mulvey, J.P., Devine, Aarons, Rumsey and Pritzker, JJ.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER Appeal from a judgment of the Supreme Court (McNally Jr., J.), entered September 10, 2018 in Albany County, which dismissed petitioner's application, in a proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78, to review a determination of the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision denying his request to participate in the family reunion program.
Petitioner is serving an aggregate prison term of 45 years to life upon his two separate convictions of murder in the second degree; petitioner beat an elderly man to death in August 2010 and, four months later, strangled his pregnant girlfriend with whom he was residing while separated from his wife. In March 2017, petitioner applied to participate in the family reunion program in order to visit with his wife (in favor of whom an order of protection previously had been entered against petitioner), son and stepdaughter. Shortly thereafter, petitioner supplemented his application to reflect, among other things, his various accomplishments while incarcerated.
Although petitioner's application was approved at the facility level, due to the heinous nature of petitioner's crimes, his history of domestic violence and the prior order of protection, his application was subject to special review (see 7 NYCRR 220.2 [c][1][iii], [x]; Dept of Corr & Community Supervision Directive No. 4500 § IV[C][3], [7] ). Following such review, petitioner's application was denied. Upon petitioner's administrative appeal, the denial was upheld due to the nature of petitioner's underlying crimes, his history of domestic violence and the instability in his marriage prior to his incarceration. Petitioner then commenced this CPLR article 78 proceeding to challenge that determination. Following joinder of issue, Supreme Court dismissed the petition, finding that the denial of petitioner's request to participate in the family reunion program was rational. This appeal ensued.
"[P]articipation in the family reunion program is a privilege and not a right, and the decision whether an inmate may participate is heavily discretionary and, as such, will be upheld if it has a rational basis" ( Matter of Garcia v. Morris, 140 A.D.3d 1441, 1441, 35 N.Y.S.3d 506 [2016] [internal quotation marks and citations omitted], lv denied 28 N.Y.3d 905, 2016 WL 6273223 [2016] ; see Matter of Marshall v. New York State Dept. of Corr. & Community Supervision, 167 A.D.3d 1115, 1116, 89 N.Y.S.3d 747 [2018], lv denied 33 N.Y.3d 901, 2019 WL 1460858 [2019] ; Matter of Cabassa v. Goord, 40 A.D.3d 1281, 1281, 836 N.Y.S.2d 351 [2007] ). The nature of petitioner's crimes, his history of domestic violence and the legitimate safety concerns raised by such history provided a rational basis upon which to deny petitioner's request to participate in the family reunion program (see Matter of Marshall v. New York State Dept. of Corr. & Community Supervision, 167 A.D.3d at 1116–1117, 89 N.Y.S.3d 747 ; Matter of Gordon v. Morris, 144 A.D.3d 1338, 1339, 40 N.Y.S.3d 799 [2016], lv denied 28 N.Y.3d 914, 52 N.Y.S.3d 291, 74 N.E.3d 676 [2017] ; Matter of Payne v. Goord, 12 A.D.3d 733, 734, 783 N.Y.S.2d 702 [2004] ). Petitioner's related claim – that the denial of his request to participate in the family reunion program did not comply with Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Directive No. 4500 – is equally unpersuasive. Even assuming that the challenged subdivision (see Dept of Corr & Community Supervision Directive No. 4500 § [VI][A][7][d] ) applied to petitioner's request, "as long as the [family reunion program] is implemented in a reasonable manner, consistent with the inmate's status as a prisoner and the legitimate operational considerations of the institution, it will withstand judicial scrutiny" ( Matter of Rosas v. Baker, 1 A.D.3d 665, 666, 766 N.Y.S.2d 612 [2003] [internal quotation marks, brackets and citations omitted], lv denied 1 N.Y.3d 508, 776 N.Y.S.2d 540, 808 N.E.2d 860 [2004] ; see Matter of Correnti v. Baker, 19 A.D.3d 945, 947, 797 N.Y.S.2d 627 [2005], lv denied 5 N.Y.3d 715, 807 N.Y.S.2d 16, 840 N.E.2d 1030 [2005] ). Petitioner was advised of the reasons for the denial of his request and of the time frame within which he could reapply; we discern neither an abuse of discretion in this regard nor any infirmity in the administration of the family reunion program. Accordingly, Supreme Court's judgment dismissing the petition is affirmed.
Mulvey, J.P., Devine, Aarons, Rumsey and Pritzker, JJ., concur.
ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed, without costs.