Learn About the Law
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
IN RE: Douglas FAYTON, Petitioner, v. Glenn S. GOORD, as Commissioner of Correctional Services, Respondent.
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 certain prison disciplinary rules.
Petitioner was found guilty of conspiring to smuggle and steal state property in violation of certain prison disciplinary rules after a fellow inmate identified petitioner as the program clerk who offered to provide stolen Social Security numbers in exchange for cigarettes. The charges stem from an investigation into a letter written by the other inmate wherein he indicated that there was a man working in programs who could give him a Social Security number. We are unpersuaded by petitioner's contention that the misbehavior report is insufficient because it failed to indicate the specific date and time that the incident occurred as required by 7 NYCRR 251-3.1(c)(3). Although the precise date and time that the offer was made by petitioner was not ascertained, the misbehavior report specifically indicates that the offer to provide Social Security numbers was made during petitioner's performance of his assigned duties as programs committee clerk, which programs generally are scheduled between 8:30 A.M. and 11:30 A.M. Furthermore, testimony at the hearing established that the incident occurred approximately two weeks prior to the issuance of the misbehavior report, which was consistent with how long petitioner had been assigned to the program committee clerk position. Under these circumstances, we find that petitioner received adequate notice of the alleged misconduct to afford him sufficient information to prepare an effective response to the charges (see Matter of Sheppard v. Goord, 292 A.D.2d 694, 696, 741 N.Y.S.2d 128 [2002]; Matter of Camacho v. Goord, 284 A.D.2d 678, 728 N.Y.S.2d 208 [2001]; Matter of Shannon v. Goord, 282 A.D.2d 909, 910, 726 N.Y.S.2d 151 [2001]; Matter of Morales v. Ossining Correctional Facility, 278 A.D.2d 725, 718 N.Y.S.2d 240 [2000]; Matter of Knight v. Goord, 267 A.D.2d 523, 698 N.Y.S.2d 922 [1999], lv. denied 94 N.Y.2d 760, 706 N.Y.S.2d 81, 727 N.E.2d 578 [2000] ). Furthermore, the misbehavior report and the corroborating testimony at the hearing provide substantial evidence to support the determination of guilt (see Matter of Colon v. Selsky, 296 A.D.2d 682, 745 N.Y.S.2d 233 [2002] ).
ADJUDGED that the determination is confirmed, without costs, and petition dismissed.
Thank you for your feedback!
A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes visit FindLaw's Learn About the Law.
Decided: April 07, 2005
Court: Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Department, New York.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)
Harness the power of our directory with your own profile. Select the button below to sign up.
Learn more about FindLaw’s newsletters, including our terms of use and privacy policy.
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)