Pella v. Adams, CV-R-85-0098-ECR.

• Decision Date: 18 September 1989
• Docket Number: No. CV-R-85-0098-ECR.,CV-R-85-0098-ECR.
• Parties: Michael PELLA, Plaintiff, v. Paul ADAMS, et al., Defendants.
• Court: U.S. District Court — District of Nevada

723 F. Supp. 1394

Michael PELLA, Plaintiff, v. Paul ADAMS, et al., Defendants.

No. CV-R-85-0098-ECR.

United States District Court, D. Nevada.

September 18, 1989.

James W. Wessel, Carson City, Nev., for plaintiff.

Brian McKay, Atty. Gen., Carson City, Nev., for defendants.

MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER

EDWARD C. REED, Jr., Chief Judge.

The facts of this matter were fully set forth in Pella v. Adams, 638 F.Supp. 94 (D.Nev.1986). Concisely stated, a green leafy substance was discovered in Plaintiff's cell. His urine tested positive for the presence tetrohydrocannabinol (THC), the principal psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. At a subsequent disciplinary hearing, he requested an additional test at his expense, which was denied. In an order issued on December 22, 1988 702 F.Supp. 244, this court determined that the test itself — the Enzyme Multiple Immunoassay Test (EMIT test) — and the manner in which the test was conducted, were sufficiently reliable to satisfy the "some evidence" standard applicable to the review of decisions by a prison disciplinary committee. Superintendent, Mass. Correctional Institution v. Hill, 472 U.S. 445, 457, 105 S.Ct. 2768, 2775, 86 L.Ed.2d 356 (1985). Nevertheless, the Court was concerned about the disciplinary committee's denial of Plaintiff's request for an alternative test — the only opportunity Plaintiff would have to collect evidence that might exonerate him. An inmate's right to present evidence at a disciplinary hearing is not absolute however. As stated in the prior order:

An inmate's right to call witnesses and present evidence necesarily is limited by the need of prisons to preserve security and to provide efficient and effective discipline. Id., Wolff v. McDonnell, 418 U.S. 539, at 566 94 S.Ct. 2963, 2979, 41 L.Ed.2d 935 1974; see also Ponte v. Real, 471 U.S. 491 at 495-96 105 S.Ct. 2192, 2195, 85 L.Ed.2d 553 (1985); Baxter v. Palmigiano, 425 U.S. 308, 321, 96 S.Ct. 1551, 1559, 47 L.Ed.2d 810 (1976). "Prison officials must have the necessary discretion to keep prison disciplinary hearings within reasonable limits and to refuse to call witnesses that may create a risk of reprisal or undermine authority ..." Wolff, 418 U.S. at 566 94 S.Ct. at 2979. Thus, an inmate has no right to collect evidence or call witnesses where permitting him to do so would be "unduly hazardous to institutional safety or correctional goals." Ponte, 471 U.S. at 495 105 S.Ct. at 2195 (quoting Wolff, 418 U.S. at 566); see also Hughes v. Rowe, 449 U.S. 5, 9 101 S.Ct. 173, 175, 66 L.Ed.2d 163 (1980); Baxter, 425 U.S. at 320-21, 96 S.Ct. at 1559, Harrison v. Pyle, 612 F.Supp. 850, at 854 (D.Nev.1984).

Nevertheless, prison officials cannot arbitrarily prevent inmates who are subject to disciplinary proceedings from calling witnesses and collecting evidence. Prison officials must have a legitimate peneological reason for limiting an inmate's efforts to defend himself before a prison disciplinary committee. Ponte, 471 U.S. at 498-99 105 S.Ct. at 2196-97; Harrison, 612 F.Supp. at 855.

702 F.Supp. at 248. Consequently, the Magistrate was instructed to hold an evidentiary hearing to ascertain Defendants' reasons for denying Plaintiff's request for an alternative testing. The Magistrate held a hearing on February 22, 1989, and on March 15, 1989, her Report and Recommendation was Filed. (Docket # 67). She recommended deciding in favor of Defendants. Plaintiff has filed objections to the report. (Docket # 69).

STANDARD OF REVIEW

The Court must balance the interests of the inmate against those of the institution, for even if a regulation impinges on the constitutional rights of an inmate, it is valid if it is "reasonably related to legitimate penological interests." Turner v. Safley, 482 U.S. 78, 107 S.Ct. 2254, 2261, 96 L.Ed.2d 64 (1987). Four factors to consider when applying this rational relationship test are:

1) the existence of a valid, rational connection between the prison regulation and the legitimate governmental interest put forward to justify it; 2) the existence of alternative means of exercising the rights that remain open to prison inmates; 3) the impact that accommodation of the asserted constitutional right will have on guards and other inmates, and on the allocation of prison resources generally; and 4) the absence of ready alternatives as evidence of the reasonableness of the regulation (the presence of obvious easy alternatives may evidence the opposite).

Michenfelder v. Sumner, 860 F.2d 328, 331 (9th Cir.1988). Additionally, the traditional deference accorded to prison officials' assessment regarding the operation of their prisons continues to apply under this test. Id. Although this case does not present a challenge to a prison regulation, the court believes that the Turner test is appropriate.

It cannot be reasonably contested that institutions have as a paramount penological interest in maintaining control over the institution. To do so, inmates who violate the institution's rules and regulations are subject to disciplinary action, and the institutions have a legitimate penological...