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SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE SUPPORTED THE MISBEHAVIOR REPORT ALLEGING THE INMATE WAS ISSUED A RAZOR FOR SHAVING BUT THE ROUTINE “RAZOR CHECK” INDICATED THE RAZOR WAS MISSING; THE INMATE CLAIMED HE WAS NEVER ISSUED A REPLACEMENT AND UNSUCCESSFULLY SOUGHT TO PRESENT WITNESSES TO DEMONSTRATE THE RAZOR CHECK SYSTEM IS NOT RELIABLE; THERE WAS AN EXTENSIVE DISSENT (CT APP).

The Court of Appeals, over an extensive dissent, determined the hearing officer’s finding the inmate was guilty of the infraction charged in the misbehavior report was supported by substantial evidence. The dissent fleshes out the facts. The misbehavior report alleged the inmate had been issued a razor (for shaving) but no razor was found in a routine “razor check”–raising the possibility that the missing razor could be used to make a weapon. The inmate claimed he had not been issued a replacement razor and sought to present  witnesses to demonstrate the razor security system was unreliable (the witness-request was denied):

Substantial evidence supported the administrative determination because there was “a rational basis for the conclusion adopted by the agency” … . The record proof, including the inmate misbehavior report, “razor check records,”… and contraband receipt, was adequate to permit a reasonable person to conclude that petitioner was guilty of the charged infraction. In reaching the opposite conclusion, the dissent exceeds the judicial function by impermissibly crediting testimony rejected by the agency and re-weighing the record evidence in petitioner’s favor.

The hearing officer did not violate petitioner’s constitutional right to call witnesses, as “implemented by the prison regulations in this State” … . The hearing officer explained that the requested witnesses’ testimony was not material and, in the circumstances presented, that conclusion was justified. Petitioner’s other arguments are unpersuasive … . Matter of Zielinski v Venettozzi, 2020 NY Slip Op 04905, CtApp 9-15-20

 

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