Allen v. Nelson

354 F. Supp. 505, 1973 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14891
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. California
DecidedFebruary 15, 1973
DocketC-72-928
StatusPublished
Cited by22 cases

This text of 354 F. Supp. 505 (Allen v. Nelson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. California primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Allen v. Nelson, 354 F. Supp. 505, 1973 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14891 (N.D. Cal. 1973).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

OLIVER J. CARTER, Chief Judge.

Petitioner was a prisoner in “B-Section” at San Quentin State Prison when he filed his petition for writ of habeas corpus praying transfer to the general prison population. In August, 1972, he was transferred to Palm Hall, California Institution for Men at Chino for “decompression” programming. At present, he is again at San Quentin State Prison in “B-Section” in out-of-court status awaiting the outcome of this proceeding.

Petitioner was convicted in the Los Angeles County Superior Court for second degree murder. He is not challenging his conviction, but attacks his confinement in “B-Section” at San Quentin which he has previously unsuccessfully contested in state habeas petitions. In its Order dated August 23, 1972, this Court rejected resondent’s arguments that federal habeas was not an appropriate vehicle to effectuate a change in petitioner’s custodial confinement and that a segregated placement fails to reach federal constitutional dimensions. Shortly after petitioner was transferred to Palm Hall, respondent filed a supplemental return contending that the relief prayed for was now moot. In its Order dated September 28, 1972, the Court found that the matter was not moot and ordered an evidentiary hearing. Such *507 hearing was held on November 15, 1972, at which time the petitioner and other witnesses testified and exhibits were introduced and admitted into evidence, Petitioner and respondent have filed post-hearing briefs and reply briefs.

The Court has carefully reviewed all records, documents, exhibits and the testimony adduced at the hearing.

I.

Respondent contends as a preliminary matter that the issue before the Court is limited to whether petitioner’s classification to undergo “decompression” at Palm Hall is proper and that the validity of his earlier classification to “B-Section” at San Quentin should not be considered. The issues cannot be so artificially separated. Adverse collateral effects from his segregated confinement may remain to vex petitioner in the future, e. g., subsequent classification, parole consideration, etc. The Court therefore rejects any arbitrary limitation on the scope of the inquiry. See West v. Cunningham, 456 F.2d 1264 (4th Cir. 1972); Black v. Warden, 467 F.2d 202 (10th Cir. 1972).

II.

The facts surrounding petitioner’s confinement are complicated and will therefore be set out at length. It appears that petitioner began serving his sentence as a member of the mainline prison population. During that time he received several favorable reports on his behavior from correctional officers. (Petitioner’s Exh. 1). On July 30, 1970, while he was at Soledad State Prison, he became a suspect in the killing of a correctional officer and was placed in the adjustment center. He remained there until February 2, 1971, when charges against him for the officer’s death were dismissed for lack of evidence. He was transferred to San Quentin State Prison “because of serious complications that the dropping of this charge presents with managing these four men in the same facility in which we are managing the other three men still charged.” (Petitioner’s Exh. 3). He was thereupon confined in the segregated unit, “B-Section”.

Petitioner’s segregated confinement at Soledad ig not in dispute) but what hap_ pened at San Quentin after his arrival on February 3, 1971, provides the gist 0f this action.

On February 23, 1971, a Classification Committee referred petitioner to the Associate Warden-Custody “for release consideration . . . ” The Committee noted that petitioner should be retained in administrative segregation, but that “due to the fact that that case is still pending against three inmates, the Committee feels that the decision should be made at a higher level as to proper placement of this man.” (Petitioner’s Exh. 3). He was not released, for Warden Nelson of San Quentin, in a memorandum dated March 4, 1971, to Director Procunier stated: “. Mr. Jacobs, Associate Warden, Custody, decided not to release the man so that review in 90 days is the next action to occur.” The reason given was that “Mr. Jacobs notes that there is a possibility of reopening the murder charge.” (Respondent’s Return, Exh’s. C and D, emphasis added). In April and May, 1971, petitioner was found guilty of institutional violations and was punished with cell status for brief periods. (Respondent’s Return, Exh’s. E, F, G, H, I and J). These are not discussed here because they are not an issue, and respondent admits petitioner is not a disciplinary problem but rather a management problem.

Nothing further apparently took place until June 1, 1971, when Mr. Hearnsberger, Classification and Parole Representative at Soledad Prison, wrote the following to Mr. J. O’Brien, his counterpart at San Quentin:

Mr. B. Doran, Chief of Classification Service, has asked that a DRB recommendation for Departmental Interest Designation be prepared on each of *508 the inmates originally charged with participation in the assault and death of Correctional Officer Shull of CTG-North;

Petitioner’s name was one of those included in the list of those charged. (Respondent’s Return, Exh. K).

In compliance with this request, Mr. O’Brien wrote to Chief Deputy Director Stutsman on June 10, 1971, referring petitioner to the Departmental Review Board. He reviewed the reasons for referral, characterizing the petitioner as “ . . .an active aggressive inmate and his interest centers around his Muslim affiliation and apparent desire to be a leader of this group . . . ” Particular attention was called to comments made by the Adult Authority at petitioner’s parole hearing on March 24, 1971, viz., petitioner “has no remorse for killing the victim in the committing offense . . . ” His significant past criminal history was summarized, and discussion of his departmental history returned to the earlier theme of his “strong desire to be recognized as a militant leader using his Muslim affiliation as the vehicle to challenge rules and regulations . . .” Emphasis was given to petitioner’s “strong desires to be sure his relationship to the murder of a correctional officer was recognized by his peers. It seems a necessity to prevent his position as a leader from being challenged. Considering recent behavior and philosophy this man is following there is serious danger to other persons coming in conflict with his militant goals whether inmate or staff.” Therefore, it was concluded that “a recommendation as a special case designation as a dangerous and wilful person is necessary at this time to call attention to staff in the future, to handle this man with caution and proper control at all times.” (Respondent’s Return, Exh. L)

On June 24, 1971, a memorandum was sent under the name of R. E. Doran, Secretary, Departmental Review Board, to Chief Deputy Director Stutsman, which essentially repeated the language of Mr.

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Bluebook (online)
354 F. Supp. 505, 1973 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14891, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/allen-v-nelson-cand-1973.