Opinion
No. C 05-3947 JSW (PR), (Docket nos. 2, 4).
November 14, 2005
ORDER DISMISSING COMPLAINT WITHOUT PREJUDICE AND DENYING LEAVE TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS
INTRODUCTION
Plaintiff, currently incarcerated in the Hill Road County Facility in Lakeport, California, has filed a pro se civil rights complaint under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff seeks leave to proceed in forma pauperis (docket nos. 2, 4). This order dismisses the petition and DENIES leave to proceed in forma pauperis as moot (docket nos. 2, 4).
DISCUSSION
Plaintiff's complaint, though largely incomprehensible, appears to challenge Plaintiff's detention as a result of being found incompetent in a criminal proceeding. Plaintiff has attached documents from Lake County Superior Court with a criminal case number. Plaintiff asserts that his attorney, as well as the police and other unknown individuals withheld information from him. In his complaint, Plaintiff seeks release from custody.
A. Standard of Review
Federal courts must engage in a preliminary screening of cases in which prisoners seek redress from a governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). In its review the court must identify any cognizable claims, and dismiss any claims which are frivolous, malicious, fail to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or seek monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. See id. at 1915A(b)(1), (2). Pro se pleadings must be liberally construed. See Balistreri v. Pacifica Police Dep't, 901 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir. 1990).
To state a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, a plaintiff must allege two essential elements: (1) that a violation of a right secured by the Constitution or laws of the United States was violated, and (2) that the alleged deprivation was committed by a person acting under the color of state law. See West v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 48 (1988).
B. Legal Claim
In this case, Plaintiff has improperly filed his claim as a civil rights action. Traditionally, challenges to prison conditions have been cognizable only via § 1983, while challenges implicating the fact or duration of confinement must be brought through a habeas petition. Docken v. Chase, 393 F.3d 1024, 1026 (9th Cir. 2004).
Any claim by a prisoner attacking the validity or duration of his confinement must be brought under the habeas sections of Title 28 of the United States Code. Calderon v. Ashmus, 523 U.S. 740, 747 (1998); Preiser v. Rodriguez, 411 U.S. 475, 500 (1973). A prisoner must bring a habeas petition if the nature of his claim is such that it would necessarily imply the invalidity of his conviction or continuing confinement. Butterfield v. Bail, 120 F.3d 1023, 1024 (9th Cir. 1997) (§ 1983 claim).
A district court may construe a habeas petition by a prisoner attacking the conditions of his confinement as a civil rights action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Wilwording v. Swenson, 404 U.S. 249, 251 (1971). The opposite is not true, however: a civil rights complaint seeking habeas relief should be dismissed without prejudice to bringing it as a petition for writ of habeas corpus. Trimble v. City of Santa Rosa, 49 F.3d 583, 586 (9th Cir. 1995).
In this case, Plaintiff's claims necessarily imply the invalidity of his continuing confinement. As such, they are DISMISSED without prejudice.
CONCLUSION
Based on the foregoing, leave to proceed in forma pauperis is DENIED as moot (docket nos. 2, 4). The Clerk of Court shall close the file and enter judgment.
IT IS SO ORDERED.