Matter of Jackson v McGinnis
2008 NY Slip Op 00319 [47 AD3d 1100]
January 17, 2008
Appellate Division, Third Department
Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to Judiciary Law § 431.
As corrected through Wednesday, March 12, 2008


In the Matter of Keyron Jackson, Petitioner, v Michael McGinnis, as Superintendent of Southport Correctional Facility, Respondent.

[*1] Keyron Jackson, Auburn, petitioner pro se.

Andrew M. Cuomo, Attorney General, Albany (Marcus J. Mastracco of counsel), for respondent.

Proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 (transferred to this Court by order of the Supreme Court, entered in Chemung County) to review a determination of the Commissioner of Correctional Services which found petitioner guilty of violating a prison disciplinary rule.

A search of petitioner's prison cell recovered documents containing the names of numerous inmates with detailed personal information, including nicknames associated with members of a particular unauthorized gang. As a result, petitioner was charged in a misbehavior report with violating the prison disciplinary rule prohibiting possession of unauthorized organizational material. At the conclusion of the ensuing tier III disciplinary hearing, petitioner was found guilty as charged. That determination was affirmed upon administrative review, prompting petitioner to commence this CPLR article 78 proceeding.

We confirm. The determination of guilt is supported by substantial evidence consisting of the misbehavior report, hearing testimony and confidential information considered by the Hearing Officer in camera (see Matter of Tevault v Goord, 43 AD3d 1238, 1238-1239 [2007]; Matter of Baxter v Goord, 42 AD3d 798, 798 [2007]). Petitioner's remaining contentions, including his claim that he did not have sufficient notice of the charge against him, have been examined and are rejected. [*2]

Cardona, P.J., Mercure, Spain, Rose and Lahtinen, JJ., concur. Adjudged that the determination is confirmed, without costs, and petition dismissed.