ORDER AND JUDGMENT*

After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the determination of this appeal. See Fed. R.App. P. 34(a); 10th Cir. R. 34.1.9. The cause is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.

Scott Duffy, Richard Dowdell, Clarence Fisher, Frank Garcia, Alex Vogel, Terry Hughes, Donald Gee, and David Hartley (hereinafter "the Appellants"), appeal from the district court's dismissal of their pro se 42 U.S.C. § 1983 complaints as frivolous under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(d) (1994).1 This court exercises jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and affirms.

The Appellants brought this suit in the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming alleging that certain officers of the Wyoming State Prison had violated the Appellants' rights to substantive and procedural due process, equal protection, and freedom from cruel and unusual punishment. According to the Appellants, the prison officials had arbitrarily and capriciously placed the Appellants in administrative segregation in an effort to "break[ ] their spirit." The district court dismissed the complaint as frivolous under section 1915(d), finding as follows: (1) the due process clause does not confer a liberty interest in placement within the general prison population; (2) Appellants had not identified an applicable state law creating such an interest; (3) Appellants' equal protection claim was conclusory and, therefore, did not state a claim; and (4) the conduct complained of, even if proved, did not state a claim under the Eighth Amendment. On appeal, Appellants contend that the due process clause does indeed create a substantive right to remain within the general prison population.2

A district court may dismiss an in forma pauperis complaint if it determines that the action is frivolous. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(d) (1994). A complaint is frivolous when it "lacks an arguable basis either in law or in fact." Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325 (1989). That is to say, a complaint is frivolous if it is based on an "indisputably meritless legal theory" or on "clearly baseless" facts. Id. at 327. On appeal, construing pro se pleadings liberally, Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520 (1972); Brown v. Zavaras, 63 F.3d 967, 970 (10th Cir.1995), this court reviews a section 1915(d) dismissal for abuse of discretion. Denton v. Hernandez, 504 U.S. 25, 33 (1992); Green v. Seymour, 59 F.3d 1073, 1077 (10th Cir.1995).

We conclude that the district court abused its discretion in dismissing Appellants' complaint as frivolous. Although this Circuit has yet to address the issue, at least two other courts have recognized the existence of a substantive due process claim post-Sandin v. Connor, 115 S. Ct. 2293 (1995). See Birdo v. Smith, No. 95-5970, 1996 WL 465031, at * 4 (6th Cir. Aug. 13, 1996); Smith v. McCaughtry, Nos. 94-2743, 94-2930, and 95-2609, 1996 WL 137869, at * 4-5 (7th Cir. Mar 19, 1996). Accordingly, this court is not prepared to say that the Appellants' substantive due process claims are based on an "indisputedly meritless legal theory."

Despite our conclusion that Appellants' complaint is not frivolous, we nevertheless affirm. Assuming, without deciding, that the substantive component of the Due Process Clause protects prisoners against arbitrary changes in their prison classifications, it is clear that the Appellants have not alleged facts rising to the high standard necessary to state such a claim. Williams v. City & County of Denver, 99 F.3d 1009, 1015 (10th Cir.1996) (holding that plaintiff asserting substantive due process violation must assert egregious and outrageous conduct that is so fraught with unreasonable risk as to shock the conscience). We have reviewed in detail the acts alleged by the appellants and find neither the length of incarceration nor the conditions of administrative segregation sufficient to shock the conscience.3

Because Appellants' claims are not indisputedly meritless, we hereby GRANT their motion to proceed in forma pauperis on appeal. The judgment of the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming dismissing Appellants' complaint is hereby AFFIRMED.