Shively v. White

351 F. Supp. 191, 1972 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11177
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Virginia
DecidedNovember 13, 1972
DocketCiv. A. No. 72-C-119-R
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 351 F. Supp. 191 (Shively v. White) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Virginia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Shively v. White, 351 F. Supp. 191, 1972 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11177 (W.D. Va. 1972).

Opinion

OPINION and JUDGMENT

DALTON, Chief District Judge.

This case is before the court upon a petition for a writ of habeas corpus filed in forma pawperis by James C. Shively, a state prisoner, pursuant to 28 U.S.C.A. § 2241. Petitioner originally filed a “motion of- complaint” in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia and by an order dated September 12, 1972 was transferred to this court. The petition for a writ of habeas corpus substantially reiterates the same charges mentioned in the “motion of complaint,” and the court will consider the petition as a motion for injunctive relief pursuant to 42 U.S.C.A. § 1983.

Petitioner basically alleges that he was discriminated against in his attempts to be enrolled in the college program for inmates, and specifically cites March 23, 1972, when he was refused admittance to the night class college program at Field Unit I, Pulaski, Virginia, on the grounds of 1) conduct and 2) inability to adjust to Field Unit I.

Respondent filed a motion for summary judgment on October 11, 1972, and [193]*193denies any type of racial discrimination and cites petitioner’s poor attitude, lack of interest, failure to attend classes and overall poor adjustment as reasons for his failure to be enrolled in further classes in the educational program. Affidavits of the respondent, Charles E. White; the Director of Education for the Bureau of Correctional Units, Daniel T. Mahon; and the Superintendent of the Bureau of Correctional Units, James F. Howard are presented as evidence in support of respondent’s motion.

In his petition, petitioner states in support of his claim of discrimination that he has not been disobedient and has performed all the duties asked of him. He also claims to have all the necessary requirements for attendance of the college program at Field Unit I. Petitioner mentions another state prisoner, Dennis McAfee, who was attending New River College on a daily basis and was found “Under the influence of drugs or intoxicants” when picked up at the college, and sentenced to 15 days confinement, but was still allowed to attend the night college program at Field Unit I. Petitioner alleges discrimination since he has no record and was denied enrollment.

Petitioner also mentions Freddie A. Click, a state prisoner, who was admitted to the college program at New River Community College in spite of the fact that he was sentenced to ten days confinement for possession of a weapon, “a knife,” while in prison. Petitioner alleges discrimination since he has no record and was refused admittance to the college program.

Charles E. White, Superintendent of Pulaski Correctional Unit (No. 1) testifies in a sworn affidavit that when petitioner Shively was received in his unit on January 5, 1972, he was promptly enrolled in several night school courses— Math 46 and English 27. However, the records of the instructor, Miss Edith M. Ruben, indicate that he never attended class and then withdrew after approximately three weeks. Superintendent White states that Shively was not allowed to enroll in subsequent courses because of the lack of interest displayed after he was enrolled. He was advised that this decision was based not only on the fact that he was dropped from the class roll, but was due also to adjustment problems.

Superintendent White also states that Shively does not want to adjust and develop a good record. He cites as evidence the statements of Highway Foreman J. B. Hawkins, Officers R. J. Higgins, C. D. Clark and Foreman L. Branscome, along with that of fellow worker R. D. Finn, which indicate that his work on the road gang is very poor, he causes disturbances and confusion among other inmates and constantly tries to avoid work. An occasion is mentioned where Shively claimed he was bitten by a snake and was sent to a doctor, where later investigation revealed that he had taken a pair of finger nail clippers and had broken the skin to make the scratches appear to be a snake bite.

. Superintendent White further states that petitioner’s charges of discrimination are completely false and that his record is such that it does not warrant a recommendation that he be allowed to participate in the college program. He says petitioner has never been cooperative, constantly complains and displays a negative attitude.

Concerning inmate Freddie Click, Superintendent White stated that Click possessed a weapon and was allegedly using it for protection from another inmate who had threatened him. The Adjustment Committee, on February 23, 1972, heard the complaint, found Click guilty and gave him ten days in confinement. Superintendent White stated that authorities had reason to believe Click had acted out of fear for his own safety, he was a trusty road laborer and had made a satisfactory institutional adjustment. Click was attending night classes at the unit twice a week at the time of the offense, and he was released on parole on April 24, 1972.

[194]*194Dennis M. McAfee, - another inmate, was attending classes at New River Community College and had made a good adjustment at Unit No. I. He had been granted parole when he became involved in an incident with jimsonweed. He was found guilty on March 1, 1972 of being under the influence of drugs by the Adjustment Committee and received a sentence of fifteen days in isolation. He was removed from the campus program and his parole was postponed for ninety days as a result of this offense. He was allowed to continue his night classes.

Superintendent White disputes petitioner’s allegation that he has never been charged with an offense while at Unit No. I. A report of the Adjustment Committee, dated April 18, 1972, shows that petitioner, on April 12, 1972, was charged with refusing to obey a direct order to go back to work. He was found guilty and given fifteen days in confinement, and thirty days loss of good time, which was later suspended by James F. Howard, Superintendent of the Bureau of Correctional Units, as part of his policy toward first offenders.

Superintendent White further avers that when a case comes before the Adjustment Committee, no consideration is •given to an offender’s race, creed or col- or. Each case is judged on its own merits and the only factors considered idisciplining an offender are the nature of the offense, the prisoner’s prior record, his adjustment to prison and his attitude before the Committee.

In the cases of F. Brown and Carlisle E. Colemen, cited in petitioner’s motion, Superintendent White indicated that the Adjustment Committee tried each case on the merits, and the sentence imposed was based on the attitude of the defendant and his past record.

James F. Howard, Superintendent of the Bureau of Correctional Units, states in his affidavit that he granted Shively the suspension of loss of thirty days good time after being found guilty by the Adjustment Committee as part of his policy of granting suspensions on loss of good time to first offenders.

Daniel T. Mahon, Director of Education for the Bureau of Correctional Units, states in his affidavit that he waived the requirements of enrollment for petitioner Shively, a recent arrival at the unit, in the college program during the winter semester of 1972. The requirements considered as criterion are: six months good record at a unit, sufficient IQ and eighteen months or less until parole eligibility date. Director Mahon stated that a good record for six months is required to assure that the applicant has made a good adjustment.

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378 F. Supp. 729 (E.D. Kentucky, 1974)

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Bluebook (online)
351 F. Supp. 191, 1972 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11177, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/shively-v-white-vawd-1972.