IN RE: John WHITFIELD (2002)

Proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 to review a determination of the Superintendent of the Sing Sing Correctional Facility, New York State Department of Correctional Services, dated September 19, 2000, which confirmed a determination of a Hearing Officer dated September 8, 2000, made after a Tier II disciplinary hearing, finding the petitioner guilty of violating a prison disciplinary rule prohibiting the possession of stolen property, and imposing a penalty.

ADJUDGED that the petition is granted, on the law, with costs, the determination is annulled, and the respondent is directed to expunge from the petitioner's institutional record all references to the charges underlying the determination.

The petitioner, an inmate at Sing Sing Correctional Facility, was found guilty of violating a disciplinary rule proscribing possession of stolen property (see, 7 NYCRR 270.2[B][17][iv] ).   These charges arose from his failure to return three overdue books to the prison library.   The petitioner returned the books after receiving notice of the charges, and he testified, inter alia, that he was unaware that they were overdue.   Because the petitioner had borrowed books in the past, the Hearing Officer presumed that he was familiar with library rules, and determined that his guilt could be “assumed” from the mere failure to return the books even absent proof of larcenous intent.   We disagree.

Contrary to the respondent's contention, the charge against the petitioner was not established by substantial evidence (see, Matter of Agosto v. Goord, 264 A.D.2d 840, 698 N.Y.S.2d 244).   The evidence adduced at the hearing established only that the petitioner unintentionally retained three borrowed library books beyond the date for their return;  he immediately returned them upon being notified that they were overdue.   His behavior does not give rise to an inference of any intentional wrongdoing with regard to the books and can be distinguished from cases in which inmates intentionally damage library books or otherwise evidence an intent to prevent their recovery (see, Matter of Benton v. Couture, 269 A.D.2d 642, 703 N.Y.S.2d 558;  Matter of Webb v. Goord, 254 A.D.2d 551, 679 N.Y.S.2d 719;  Matter of Daniel v. Coughlin, 147 A.D.2d 896, 537 N.Y.S.2d 359).   Accordingly, absent any proof of criminal intent, the respondent's determination must be annulled (see, Matter of Walker v. Goord, 262 A.D.2d 742, 692 N.Y.S.2d 187;  Matter of Trottie v. Goord, 253 A.D.2d 935, 679 N.Y.S.2d 710;  Matter of Rand v. Herbert, 219 A.D.2d 878, 632 N.Y.S.2d 345;  cf., Matter of Dawes v. Selsky, 247 A.D.2d 773, 669 N.Y.S.2d 252;  Matter of Jackson v. Dufrain, 221 A.D.2d 778, 633 N.Y.S.2d 421).