ROOSEVELT MAURICE HOGG v. COX NDOC (2016)

MEMORANDUM *

Roosevelt Maurice Hogg, a Nevada state prisoner, appeals pro se from the district court's judgment dismissing his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action alleging federal and state law claims arising out of his classification as a sex offender. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo a district court's dismissal for failure to state a claim under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A. Resnick v. Hayes, 213 F.3d 443, 447 (9th Cir. 2000). We reverse and remand.

Although the district court properly dismissed Hogg's due process claim because Hogg failed to allege facts sufficient to show that his classification as a sex offender implicated a liberty interest and that he was denied procedural due process protections prior to his classification, the district court abused its discretion in dismissing Hogg's complaint without a single opportunity to amend. See Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1130-31 (9th Cir. 2000) (setting forth standard of review and explaining that leave to amend should be granted if it appears at all possible that a pro se plaintiff can correct the defect in the pleading); see also Neal v. Shimoda, 131 F.3d 818, 830-31 (9th Cir. 1997) (explaining that “the stigmatizing consequences” of a sex offender classification “coupled with the subjection of the targeted inmate to a mandatory treatment program whose successful completion is a precondition for parole eligibility” is a liberty interest requiring procedural protection and setting forth procedural due process requirements). Accordingly, we reverse the judgment and remand to the district court to give Hogg an opportunity to file an amended complaint.

All pending motions and requests are denied.

REVERSED and REMANDED.

FOOTNOTES

FOOTNOTE.   This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.