Opinion
March 11, 1993
Appeal from the Supreme Court, Albany County.
Petitioner was found guilty after a Superintendent's hearing of violating various prison disciplinary rules. Petitioner contends in this proceeding that he was denied his right to employee assistance pursuant to the regulations of the Department of Correctional Services and that the Hearing Officer was biased. Initially, we find that petitioner indicated on his employee assistance form that he wished to waive his right to employee assistance. In any event, any deficiency in employee assistance was corrected when the Hearing Officer adjourned the hearing to allow petitioner to select an employee assistant and reconvened the hearing 24 hours after petitioner met with his assistant (see, Matter of Brown v. Coughlin, 165 A.D.2d 935; Matter of Aviles v. Scully, 154 A.D.2d 371). Finally, we find no evidence of bias on the part of the Hearing Officer requiring annulment (see, Matter of Nieves v. Coughlin, 157 A.D.2d 943, 944).
Weiss, P.J., Mikoll, Mercure, Mahoney and Casey, JJ., concur. Adjudged that the determination is confirmed, without costs, and petition dismissed.