Banks v. Federal Bureau of Prisons

• Court: District Court, W.D. Louisiana
• Decided: January 19, 2022
• Docket: 2:21-cv-00498
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA LAKE CHARLES DIVISION

FREDERICK BANKS : DOCKET NO. 2:21-cv-00498 REG. # 05711-068 SECTION P

VERSUS : JUDGE TERRY A. DOUGHTY

FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS, : MAGISTRATE JUDGE KAY ET AL

MEMORANDUM ORDER

Before the court is a petition for writ of habeas corpus filed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241 by pro se petitioner Frederick Banks on February 24, 2021, and amended, on proper forms, on June 1, 2021. Docs. 1, 6. Banks is an inmate in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons (“BOP”) and is currently incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Center at Fort Dix, New Jersey. At the time of filing, he was incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Center in Oakdale, Louisiana. This matter has been referred to the undersigned for review, report, and recommendation in accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 636 and the standing orders of this Court. I. BACKGROUND

Banks is currently serving a sentenced imposed on June 9, 2020, and July 12, 2020, by the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. Doc. 6, p. 1, ¶ 4. He contends that the Bureau of Prisons (“BOP”) has erroneously calculated his sentence, depriving him of “800 First Step Act time credits” for classes he has completed. Id. at p. 6, ¶ 13. II. LAW & ANALYSIS

A. Screening of Habeas Corpus Petitions A district court may apply any or all of the rules governing habeas petitions filed under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 to those filed under § 2241. See Rule 1(b), Rules Governing § 2254 Cases in the United States District Courts. Rule 4 of the Rules Governing § 2254 Cases authorizes preliminary review of such petitions, and states that they must be summarily dismissed “[i]f it plainly appears from the petition and any attached exhibits that the petitioner is not entitled to relief.” Id. at Rule 4. To avoid summary dismissal under Rule 4, the petition must contain factual allegations pointing to a “real possibility of constitutional error.” Id. at Rule 4, advisory committee note (quoting Aubut v. Maine, 431 F.2d 688, 689 (1st Cir. 1970)). Accordingly, we review the pleadings and exhibits before us to determine whether any right to relief is indicated, or whether the petition must be dismissed. B. Application

1. Exhaustion

A § 2241 petition on behalf of a sentenced prisoner “attacks the manner in which a sentence is carried out or the prison authorities’ determination of its duration.” Pack v. Yusuff, 218 F.3d 448, 451 (5th Cir. 2000). In order to prevail, a § 2241 petitioner must show that he is “in custody in violation of the Constitution or laws or treaties of the United States.” 28 U.S.C. § 2241(c)(3). An initial issue that must be addressed is whether petitioner is required to exhaust administrative remedies. Generally, a federal prisoner must exhaust his administrative remedies before seeking habeas relief in federal court under 28 U.S.C. § 2241. Skinner v. Wiley, 355 F.3d 1293, 1295 (11th Cir. 2004), cert. denied, 124 S. Ct. 2112 (2004); Fuller v. Rich, 11 F.3d 61, 62 (5th Cir. 1994); see also Rourke v. Thompson, 11 F.3d 47, 49 (5th Cir. 1993). Exceptions to the exhaustion requirement apply only in "extraordinary circumstances" and the petitioner bears the burden of demonstrating the futility of administrative review. Fuller, 11 F.3d at 62; Gardner v. School Bd. Caddo Parrish, 958 F.2d 108, 112 (5th Cir. 1992). The BOP, which administers the prison in which petitioner is incarcerated, has a four-step process for resolving complaints by prisoners. Initially, a prisoner must attempt to informally

resolve the complaint with staff. 28 C.F.R. § 542.13(a). If informal attempts are unsuccessful, the prisoner must submit a Request for Administrative Remedy to the Warden. 28 C.F.R. § 542.14. If the prisoner is not satisfied with the Warden's response, he may appeal to the Regional Director. 28 C.F.R. 542.15. If still unsatisfied, the prisoner may appeal to the Office of General Counsel. Id. The Attorney General has vested the BOP with authority to determine issues related to the manner in which sentences are to be carried out, including the calculation of sentence credits. 28 C.F.R. § 0.96. If the BOP miscalculated petitioner's sentence calculation or release date, it has the authority to correct that error and should be permitted to do so. See Smith v. Thompson, 937 F.2d

217, 219 (5th Cir. 1991) (agency should be given opportunity to correct its own error before aggrieved party seeks judicial intervention). Further, the fact that petitioner believes his grievances will be denied does not make the remedy futile. See Adams v. Warden, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 124404 at *3 (W.D. La. July 5, 2017). Banks has represented to the Court that he has appealed his claim to the Federal Bureau of Prisons; however, he has not provided proof, nor has he alleged, that he has completed the four- step process for resolving complaints by prisoners He should amend to provide proof that he exhausted available remedies or show why he should be excused from this requirement. Ii. CONCLUSION In order for this court to determine whether the petition should survive our initial review, Banks must amend his complaint within the next 60 days and provide proof that he exhausted available remedies. If the administrative remedy response indicates that his claim was not properly exhausted, Banks must explain why an exception to the exhaustion requirement applies to his case or provide documentation showing that the BOP’s conclusion is incorrect. Otherwise, his suit is subject to dismissal for failure to exhaust. Accordingly, THE CLERK IS DIRECTED to mail a copy of this order to Banks at his last address on file. IT IS ORDERED that Banks amend his complaint within sixty (60) days of the filing of this order to cure the deficiencies as outlined above. Failure to comply with this order may result in dismissal of the claims above under Rule 4 of the Rules Governing § 2254 Cases, or under Rule 41(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. See Link v. Wabash R. Co., 82 S. Ct. 1386 (1962). Jones is further required to notify the court of any change in his address under LR 41.3. Failure to do so will result in a recommendation that this action be dismissed without prejudice. THUS DONE AND SIGNED in Chambers this 19" day of January, 2022.

UNITED STATES MAGIS TE JUDGE

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