Filed: Nov. 02, 2015
Latest Update: Mar. 02, 2020
Summary: NOT PRECEDENTIAL UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT _ No. 15-1462 _ WILLIAM STAPLES, Appellant v. WARDEN SCHUYLKILL FCI _ On Appeal from the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania (D.C. Civil Action No. 13-cv-01991) District Judge: Honorable William J. Nealon, Jr. _ Submitted Pursuant to Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a) August 14, 2015 Before: FUENTES, SHWARTZ and ROTH, Circuit Judges (Opinion filed November 2, 2015) _ OPINION* _ PER CURIAM * This disposi
Summary: NOT PRECEDENTIAL UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT _ No. 15-1462 _ WILLIAM STAPLES, Appellant v. WARDEN SCHUYLKILL FCI _ On Appeal from the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania (D.C. Civil Action No. 13-cv-01991) District Judge: Honorable William J. Nealon, Jr. _ Submitted Pursuant to Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a) August 14, 2015 Before: FUENTES, SHWARTZ and ROTH, Circuit Judges (Opinion filed November 2, 2015) _ OPINION* _ PER CURIAM * This disposit..
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NOT PRECEDENTIAL
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
___________
No. 15-1462
___________
WILLIAM STAPLES,
Appellant
v.
WARDEN SCHUYLKILL FCI
____________________________________
On Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
(D.C. Civil Action No. 13-cv-01991)
District Judge: Honorable William J. Nealon, Jr.
____________________________________
Submitted Pursuant to Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a)
August 14, 2015
Before: FUENTES, SHWARTZ and ROTH, Circuit Judges
(Opinion filed November 2, 2015)
___________
OPINION*
___________
PER CURIAM
*
This disposition is not an opinion of the full Court and pursuant to I.O.P. 5.7 does not
constitute binding precedent.
William Staples appeals the District Court’s order denying his petition for a writ
of habeas corpus filed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241. For the reasons below, we will
affirm the District Court’s order.
The procedural history of this case and the details of Staples’s claims are well
known to the parties, set forth in the District Court’s thorough memorandum, and need
not be discussed at length. Briefly, Staples, a federal prisoner, filed a § 2241 petition in
which he challenged the loss of good time credits imposed for three disciplinary
incidents. The District Court denied the petition, and Staples filed a timely notice of
appeal.
We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and review the District Court’s
denial of federal habeas relief de novo. Denny v. Schultz,
708 F.3d 140, 143 (3d Cir.
2013). A decision to revoke good time credits must be supported by some evidence.
Superintendent v. Hill,
472 U.S. 445, 454 (1985). “Ascertaining whether this standard is
satisfied does not require examination of the entire record, independent assessment of the
credibility of witnesses, or weighing of the evidence. Instead, 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. Due process entitles prisoners to advance written
notice of disciplinary charges and a written statement by the factfinder of the evidence
relied upon and the reasons for the action taken. Wolff v. McDonnell,
418 U.S. 539, 563-
64 (1974). Prisoners may call witnesses and present evidence as long as it would not be
hazardous to prison safety or correctional goals.
Id. at 566.
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The District Court set forth in detail the factual background and procedural history
of the three disciplinary charges Staples is challenging and performed a thorough analysis
of Staples’s claims. We agree with the District Court that there was some evidence to
support the hearing officers’ decisions to revoke Staples’s good time credits and Staples
was not denied due process. The District Court did not err in denying Staples’s § 2241
petition.
For the reasons above, as well as those set forth by the District Court, we will
affirm the District Court’s order.
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