ORDER

LESLIE A. BOWMAN, Magistrate Judge.

On June 19, 2013, Kelly Lynn Kincer, an inmate confined (at that time) in the United States Penitentiary in Tucson, Arizona, filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus pursuant to Title 28, United States Code, Section 2241. (Doc. 1) Kincer claims the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) wrongfully deprived him of 47 days of Good Conduct Time.

Magistrate Judge Bowman presides over this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c). (Doc. 12)

The petition will be denied on the merits.

Summary of the Case

On December 20, 2011, staff at the U.S. Penitentiary in Tucson reviewed a letter Kincer sent to his mother. (Doc. 14, p. 4) That letter read, in relevant part, as follows:

(Doc. 14-4, p. 5) Staff determined that Kincer was trying to "circumvent mail monitoring procedures" by having his mother forward mail from Kincer to unknown individuals. (Doc. 14, p. 4) Kincer was subsequently charged with "Use of mail for abuses other than criminal activity which circumvent mail monitoring procedures." (Doc. 14, p. 4)

On March 29, 2012, the Discipline Hearing Officer upheld the charge and sanctioned Kincer with, among other things, the forfeiture of 47 days of Good Conduct Time. (Doc. 14, p. 5) Kincer appealed to both the Western Regional Office and the General Counsel, but neither appeal was successful. (Doc. 14, pp. 5-6)

Kincer now appeals to this court, arguing that the BOP wrongfully sanctioned him. (Doc. 1, p. 4) Kincer maintains the list referenced in the letter contained the addresses of his attorneys. Id. He further states the purpose of his scheme was to allow his mother to forward correspondence and to attach documents that she could possess, but he could not. Id. He asks this court to expunge the incident report and restore his Good Conduct Time. (Doc. 1, p. 9)

The respondent argues that Kincer failed to exhaust his administrative appeals and that this petition must be dismissed as a result. Assuming without deciding that Kincer adequately exhausted his administrative remedies, this court finds the petition should be denied on the merits.

Discussion

Federal prisoners have a statutory right to good time credits. See 18 U.S.C. § 3624. Accordingly, they have a due process interest in the disciplinary proceedings that may take away those credits. Wolff v. McDonnell, 418 U.S. 539, 556-57 (1974).

The final decision to revoke good time credits must be based on "some evidence." Superintendent, Massachusetts Correctional Instn., Walpole v. Hill, 472 U.S. 445, 455 (1985). "The relevant question is whether there is any evidence in the record that could support the conclusion reached by the disciplinary board." Id. at 455-56. If so, then due process is satisfied. Id. The court need not examine the entire record, independently assess the credibility of the witnesses, or weigh the evidence. Id. at 455.

Code 296 of 28 C.F.R. § 541.3 prohibits the "[u]se of the mail for abuses other than criminal activity which circumvent mail monitoring procedures." Such activity includes "directing others to send, sending, or receiving a letter or mail through unauthorized means." Id.

Here, Kincer sent mail to his mother with instructions for forwarding correspondence to third persons. Kincer argues the letter was strictly legal mail, but he failed to properly mark it as such. (Doc. 14-4, p. 4) Consequently, there was "some evidence" supporting the BOP conclusion that Kincer was circumventing mail monitoring procedures. The BOP's decision in this case did not violate due process. Accordingly,

IT IS ORDERED that the Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus pursuant to Title 28, United States Code, Section 2241, filed on June 19, 2013 by Kelly Lynn Kincer is DENIED. (Doc. 1)

The Clerk is directed to prepare a judgment and close this case.