IN RE: Alvin W. MCLEAN (2024)

MEMORANDUM AND JUDGMENT

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 finding petitioner guilty of violating a prison disciplinary rule.

Petitioner was charged in a misbehavior report with possessing drugs, possessing contraband and smuggling.  The charges stemmed from an investigation by the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (hereinafter DOCCS) narcotics unit which prompted a canine search of the housing block.  The search uncovered two balloon-type objects containing a green leafy substance in petitioner's cell that had been secreted in an ice bucket and concealed in cheese wrapped in plastic.  The green leafy substance subsequently tested positive for marihuana.  Following a tier III disciplinary hearing, petitioner was found guilty of possessing drugs but not guilty of the remaining charges.  That determination was affirmed upon administrative appeal.  This CPLR article 78 proceeding ensued.

The misbehavior report, positive drug test results and testimony at the hearing provide substantial evidence to support the determination that petitioner violated the disciplinary rule prohibiting the possession of drugs (see Matter of Washington v. Alderman, 175 A.D.3d 782, 783, 106 N.Y.S.3d 421 [3d Dept. 2019];  Matter of Moise v. Annucci, 168 A.D.3d 1337, 1338, 92 N.Y.S.3d 736 [3d Dept. 2019]).  Petitioner further contends that the policies and procedures of DOCCS using canines in cell searches is improper under the Federal and State Constitutions and that marihuana should not be considered a “dangerous drug” or “dangerous contraband” in the context of prison disciplinary violations.  The proper avenue for challenging the substance or application of a written or unwritten policy of DOCCS, however, is by filing a grievance (see Matter of Wilson v. Annucci, 205 A.D.3d 1163, 1164–1165, 169 N.Y.S.3d 172 [3d Dept. 2022];  Matter of Govia v. New York State Dept. of Corr. & Community Supervision, 171 A.D.3d 1323, 1324–1325, 98 N.Y.S.3d 650 [3d Dept. 2019];  see also 7 NYCRR 701.2[a];  701.3[e][3]).  To the extent that petitioner also asserts that any use of canines in conducting facility searches was required to be set forth in a written directive filed with the Secretary of State, such contention is not preserved for review as it was not raised at the hearing (see Matter of Porter v. McGinnis, 20 A.D.3d 641, 641–642, 798 N.Y.S.2d 540 [3d Dept. 2005]).

ADJUDGED that the determination is confirmed, without costs, and petition dismissed.

Egan Jr., J.P., Clark, Lynch, Reynolds Fitzgerald and Fisher, JJ., concur.