Starks v. Johnson, Unpublished Decision (5-2-2000)
Starks v. Johnson, Unpublished Decision (5-2-2000)
Opinion of the Court
OPINION
Pro-se Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus was filed in this matter on December 23, 1999. On the face of the petition the relief sought was a discharge from solitary confinement. On February 18, 2000 Respondent filed a Motion to Dismiss asserting six reasons why the petition should be dismissed.It may be gleaned from the documents before this court that Petitioner was being disciplined internally for developing a friendly relationship with a corrections officer, without authorization from the proper authority.
Respondent first contends that complaints regarding conditions of confinement are not cognizable by actions in habeas corpus. Citing to Jones v. Engle (Oct. 22, 1979), Ross App. No. 698, unreported, the Respondent argues that habeas corpus is not available to challenge segregation from the general prison population. We agree. Under R.C.
"Whoever is unlawfully restrained of his liberty, or entitled to the custody of another, of which custody such person is unlawfully deprived, may prosecute a writ of habeas corpus, to inquire into the cause of such imprisonment, restraint, or deprivation."
Petitioner's admitted segregation is the result of an internal administrative proceeding on a rule violation. It is not cognizable in habeas corpus.
Respondent next argues that the extraordinary remedy of habeas corpus is not available because the issue of a due process violation is more appropriately raised in a legal proceeding as a civil rights violation under
Respondent next asserts that the petition has become moot by virtue of Petitioner's transfer to the North Central Correctional Institution located in Marion County, Ohio and for the further reason that he has been released from the segregation unit. Attached to Respondent's motion is an Offender Data Report which reflects that Petitioner is currently incarcerated at the North Central Correctional Institution, not the Ohio State Penitentiary in Youngstown, Ohio. As noted in Pewitt v. Lorain CorrectionalInstitution (1992),
"In Miner v. Witt (1910),
82 Ohio St. 237 ,92 N.E. 21 , we held that an event that causes a case to become moot may be proved by extrinsic evidence outside the record. Here, the fact that appellant was released from confinement did not appear in the record or in any other cited source. However, appellant does not deny that the case is now moot because he has been released from custody. Rather, he claims a great or general public interest in the restriction imposed by the last sentence of Ohio Adm. Code5120-2-03 (C)."`Habeas corpus lies only if the petitioner is entitled to immediate release upon the determination that the claim urged in the action is well founded.' Rollins v. Haskins (1964),
176 Ohio St. 394 ,395 , 27 O.O.2d 359, 360,199 N.E.2d 868 , moreover, we find no great public or general interest in deciding appellant's claim that he be credited with one hundred fifty-one days jail time when he only served eighty-nine."
The Pewitt reasoning applies in that Petitioner is no longer segregated and has been transferred to another correctional facility. Under R.C.
Respondent next asserts that Petitioner has failed to attach copies of his commitment papers as required by R.C.
It is axiomatic that failure to attach copies of commitment papers requires dismissal of the petition. Boyd v. Money (1998),
As regards a violation of R.C.
For the reasons expressed above we find that the Respondent's notion to dismiss is with merit and is sustained.
We further note that although the gravaman of the petition was to be discharged from solitary confinement, Petitioner also argues in his petition an improper transfer from a "medium" security facility (Allen Correctional Institution) to a high maximum security prison facility (Ohio State Penitentiary in Youngstown). Inasmuch as Petitioner has been released from solitary confinement and transferred to a less restrictive prison (North Central Correctional Institution), the transfer issue is moot.
Petition dismissed. Final order. Clerk to serve a copy on counsel of record and
Mr. Earl Starks Jr. #206-204 North Central Correctional Institution P.O. Box 1812 Marion, Ohio 43302-1812
HON. GENE DONOFRIO, HON. JOSEPH J. VUKOVICH, HON. CHERYL L. WAITE, JUDGES.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.