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Washington Prisoners Have No Right to Earned Time
The state court of appeals for Division III has held that Washington state prisoners have no constitutional or statutory right to be allowed to earn "earned time" credits. Dagoberto Galvez was placed in administrative segregation where he was not allowed to earn "earned time" credits to reduce his sentence. Galvez filed a Personal Restraint Petition (PRP) in the state court of appeals seeking restoration of the credits he would have otherwise earned. The appeals court denied the PRP.
The court noted that prisoners have no constitutional right to remain in the general population of a prison and no due process rights if they are transferred to ad seg. Washington DOC Policy 350.130 states that prisoners are not eligible to earn earned time credits if they are placed in ad seg for more than 20 days in one month unless that placement is for protective custody reasons. The issue to be decided by the court was whether Washington prisoners have a constitutionally protected liberty interest in earning early release time credits.
While prisoners have no inherent federal constitutional right to amassing good time credits or earning early release, such a liberty interest can be created by state law. RCW 72.09.130 is the statutory source of Washington's earned time system (readers will note that earned time is a time reduction resulting from prisoners working or otherwise programming. Good time is a time reduction granted by prisoners not breaking prison rules. Depending upon their conviction prisoners can receive up to five days a month in earned time and ten days a month in good time up to a maximum time reduction of one third, ten days, per month.)
Prior court decisions have found this section of the RCW to be permissive and not to create a liberty interest. However, prior cases have dealt with Washington prisoners seeking restoration of earned time and good time credit they had lost. The court held this case was most similar to In Re Ayers, 105 Wn.2d 161 (1986), which held Washington prisoners had no liberty interest in the potential for parole. "We hold neither Washington statutes nor policies governing earned early release time contain the mandatory language necessary to establish a state-created liberty interest." The court also rejected the contention that the distinction between prisoners in ad seg and in protective custody violated Galvez's right to equal protection. The court cites numerous Washington cases concerning good time and earned time. See: In Re Galvez, 79 Wash. App. 655, 904 P.2d 790 (Wa Ct. App. Div. III).
The court noted that prisoners have no constitutional right to remain in the general population of a prison and no due process rights if they are transferred to ad seg. Washington DOC Policy 350.130 states that prisoners are not eligible to earn earned time credits if they are placed in ad seg for more than 20 days in one month unless that placement is for protective custody reasons. The issue to be decided by the court was whether Washington prisoners have a constitutionally protected liberty interest in earning early release time credits.
While prisoners have no inherent federal constitutional right to amassing good time credits or earning early release, such a liberty interest can be created by state law. RCW 72.09.130 is the statutory source of Washington's earned time system (readers will note that earned time is a time reduction resulting from prisoners working or otherwise programming. Good time is a time reduction granted by prisoners not breaking prison rules. Depending upon their conviction prisoners can receive up to five days a month in earned time and ten days a month in good time up to a maximum time reduction of one third, ten days, per month.)
Prior court decisions have found this section of the RCW to be permissive and not to create a liberty interest. However, prior cases have dealt with Washington prisoners seeking restoration of earned time and good time credit they had lost. The court held this case was most similar to In Re Ayers, 105 Wn.2d 161 (1986), which held Washington prisoners had no liberty interest in the potential for parole. "We hold neither Washington statutes nor policies governing earned early release time contain the mandatory language necessary to establish a state-created liberty interest." The court also rejected the contention that the distinction between prisoners in ad seg and in protective custody violated Galvez's right to equal protection. The court cites numerous Washington cases concerning good time and earned time. See: In Re Galvez, 79 Wash. App. 655, 904 P.2d 790 (Wa Ct. App. Div. III).
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Related legal case
In Re Galvez
| Year | 1995 |
|---|---|
| Cite | 79 Wa. App. 655, 904 P.2d 790 Ct.App. Div. I 1995 |
| Level | State Court of Appeals |
In re Application for Relief From Personal Restraint of Dagoberto Galvez, 79 Wash. App. 655, 904 P.2d 790 (Wa.App. 11/02/1995)
[1] COURT OF APPEALS OF WASHINGTON, DIVISION THREE, PANEL FOUR
[2] No. 14228-1-III
[3] 1995.WA. 904 P.2d 790; 79 Wash. App. 655
[4] filed: November 2, 1995.
[5] IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR RELIEF FROM PERSONAL RESTRAINT OF: DAGOBERTO GALVEZ, PETITIONER.
[6] Appeal from SUPERIOR COURT. Date first document (petition, etc.) was filed in Court of Appeals: 8/8/94.
[7] DAGOBERTO GALVEZ, Walla Walla, WA.
[8] MARION E. MORGENSTERN, Assistant Attorney General, Seattle, WA.
[9] John A. Schultheis, Philip J. Thompson, Dennis J. Sweeney, concur
[10] Author: Schultheis
[11] SCHULTHEIS, J.--Dagoberto Galvez seeks relief from personal restraint imposed as a result of his placement in administrative segregation. He is currently serving his sentence for his conviction of first-degree assault. He contends: his constitutional rights were violated (1) when he was placed in administrative segregation; and (2) because he was not allowed to earn "earned time" credits while in administrative segregation. This court denied his petition; however, the Department of Corrections (DOC) requests this court publish its decision. The request is granted.
[12] Mr. Galvez' first contention is without merit. RAP 16.4 provides relief may be granted only if the petitioner is under restraint and the restraint is unlawful. Here, Mr. Galvez is no longer in administrative segregation. Furthermore, inmates do not have a constitutional right or liberty interest in remaining in the general prison population. Hewitt v. Helms, 459 U.S. 460, 468, 103 S. Ct. 864, 869-70, 74 L. Ed. 2d 675 (1983). An inmate's transfer to administrative segregation is not protected by the due process clause. In re Dowell, 100 Wash. 2d 770, 773, 674 P.2d 666 (1984).
[13] Second, Mr. Galvez requests adjustment of his earned early release date contending he has lost good conduct time by virtue of his placement in administrative segregation and thus his constitutional due process and equal protection rights have been violated. DOC Policy No. 350.130 provides inmates are not eligible to earn earned time credits and will fail to earn earned time credits if placed in administrative segregation for more than twenty days in one month, unless that placement is for protective custody reasons. The issue presented is whether inmates have a constitutionally protected liberty interest in earning early release time credits.
[14] Inmates do not have an inherent federal constitutional interest in amassing good time credits or earning early release. Wolff v. McDonnell, 418 U.S. 539, 94 S. Ct. 2963, 41 L. Ed. 2d 935 (1974). However, a liberty interest may also be created by state law. Hewitt, 459 U.S. at 466; Toussaint v. McCarthy, 801 F.2d 1080, 1089 (9th Cir. 1986), cert. denied, 481 U.S. 1069, 95 L. Ed. 2d 871, 107 S. Ct. 2462 (1987). To create such an interest, state law must direct that "'a given action will be taken or avoided only on the existence or nonexistence of specified substantive predicates."' Smith v. Noonan, 992 F.2d 987, 989 (9th Cir. 1993) (quoting Toussaint, 801 F.2d at 1094)); In re Cashaw, 123 Wash. 2d 138, 144, 866 P.2d 8 (1994). There must be relevant, mandatory language that explicitly directs a decisionmaker that if specific substantive predicates are present, a particular outcome must follow. Kentucky Dep't of Corrections v. Thompson, 490 U.S. 454, 109 S. Ct. 1904, 1909-10, 104 L. Ed. 2d 506 (1989); Baumann v. Arizona Dep't of Corrections, 754 F.2d 841, 844 (9th Cir. 1985); Cashaw, 123 Wash. 2d at 144.
[15] Here, RCW 72.09.130 is the statutory source of Washington's earned early release time system and provides in part:
[16] The department shall adopt a system providing incentives for good conduct and disincentives for poor conduct. The system may include increases or decreases in the degree of liberty granted the inmate within the programs operated by the department and recommended increases or decreases in the number of earned early release days that an inmate can earn for good conduct and good performance.
[17] (Emphasis added.) The Supreme Court found this section to be "permissive and not mandatory upon the Department." Dowell, 100 Wash. 2d at 774. Also, the structure of Washington's earned early release time system is defined in RCW 9.94A. RCW 9.94A.150(1) provides in pertinent part:
[18] Except as otherwise provided for in subsection (2) of this section, the term of the sentence of an offender committed to a correctional facility operated by the department, may be reduced by earned early release time in accordance with procedures that shall be developed and promulgated by the correctional agency having jurisdiction in which the offender is confined.
[19] (Emphasis added.) This statute gives the various correctional facilities plenary authority over good time awards for offenders under their jurisdiction. In re Williams, 121 Wash. 2d 655, 661, 853 P.2d 444 (1993). RCW 9.94A.150(1) "allows correctional facilities to reduce the sentences" of inmates, Williams, 121 Wash. 2d at 658, and gives them control over the award or denial of good time of inmates under their jurisdiction. Williams, 121 Wash. 2d at 662. The broad and permissive language in these statutes does not meet the requirements necessary to create a liberty interest.
[20] In re Anderson, 112 Wash. 2d 546, 548, 772 P.2d 510, cert. denied, 493 U.S. 1004, 110 S. Ct. 565, 107 L. Ed. 2d 559 (1989) and In re Johnston, 109 Wash. 2d 493, 496, 745 P.2d 864 (1987) are not on point. Those cases involved the taking away of good time credits already earned, not the issue involved in this case, which is whether there is a constitutional right to earn good time credits. This case is more akin to In re Ayers, 105 Wash. 2d 161, 164, 713 P.2d 88 (1986), which held petitioners have no liberty interest in the potential of parole.
[21] We hold neither Washington statutes nor policies governing earned early release time contain the mandatory language necessary to establish a state-created liberty interest.
[22] Mr. Galvez also contends the distinction in DOC Policy No. 350.130 between those in administrative segregation for protective reasons and those placed there because they are a potential threat to prison security violates his equal protection rights. This contention is without merit. "The equal protection clauses of both the state and federal constitutions require that 'persons similarly situated with respect to the legitimate purpose of the law receive like treatment."' In re Runyan, 121 Wash. 2d 432, 448, 853 P.2d 424 (1993) (quoting Harmon v. McNutt, 91 Wash. 2d 126, 130, 587 P.2d 537 (1978)). Mr. Galvez is not similarly situated to protective custody inmates. Where persons of different classes are treated differently, there is no equal protection violation. Forbes v. Seattle, 113 Wash. 2d 929, 943, 785 P.2d 431 (1990). However, even if Mr. Galvez was similarly situated to inmates in administrative segregation for protective concerns, his equal protection claim fails because the distinction in classification is constitutional. It is rationally related to a legitimate governmental purpose, see In re Borders, 114 Wash. 2d 171, 176, 786 P.2d 789 (1990), that is, maintaining security within the prison by serving as a disciplinary tool and deterrent to those inmates who are administratively segregated for behavioral reasons.
[23] For the above reasons, this petition is denied. This petition being denied, the motion for in camera review of confidential information is also denied.
[24] Schultheis, J.
[25] WE CONCUR:
[26] Thompson, C.J.
[27] Sweeney, J.
[1] COURT OF APPEALS OF WASHINGTON, DIVISION THREE, PANEL FOUR
[2] No. 14228-1-III
[3] 1995.WA. 904 P.2d 790; 79 Wash. App. 655
[4] filed: November 2, 1995.
[5] IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR RELIEF FROM PERSONAL RESTRAINT OF: DAGOBERTO GALVEZ, PETITIONER.
[6] Appeal from SUPERIOR COURT. Date first document (petition, etc.) was filed in Court of Appeals: 8/8/94.
[7] DAGOBERTO GALVEZ, Walla Walla, WA.
[8] MARION E. MORGENSTERN, Assistant Attorney General, Seattle, WA.
[9] John A. Schultheis, Philip J. Thompson, Dennis J. Sweeney, concur
[10] Author: Schultheis
[11] SCHULTHEIS, J.--Dagoberto Galvez seeks relief from personal restraint imposed as a result of his placement in administrative segregation. He is currently serving his sentence for his conviction of first-degree assault. He contends: his constitutional rights were violated (1) when he was placed in administrative segregation; and (2) because he was not allowed to earn "earned time" credits while in administrative segregation. This court denied his petition; however, the Department of Corrections (DOC) requests this court publish its decision. The request is granted.
[12] Mr. Galvez' first contention is without merit. RAP 16.4 provides relief may be granted only if the petitioner is under restraint and the restraint is unlawful. Here, Mr. Galvez is no longer in administrative segregation. Furthermore, inmates do not have a constitutional right or liberty interest in remaining in the general prison population. Hewitt v. Helms, 459 U.S. 460, 468, 103 S. Ct. 864, 869-70, 74 L. Ed. 2d 675 (1983). An inmate's transfer to administrative segregation is not protected by the due process clause. In re Dowell, 100 Wash. 2d 770, 773, 674 P.2d 666 (1984).
[13] Second, Mr. Galvez requests adjustment of his earned early release date contending he has lost good conduct time by virtue of his placement in administrative segregation and thus his constitutional due process and equal protection rights have been violated. DOC Policy No. 350.130 provides inmates are not eligible to earn earned time credits and will fail to earn earned time credits if placed in administrative segregation for more than twenty days in one month, unless that placement is for protective custody reasons. The issue presented is whether inmates have a constitutionally protected liberty interest in earning early release time credits.
[14] Inmates do not have an inherent federal constitutional interest in amassing good time credits or earning early release. Wolff v. McDonnell, 418 U.S. 539, 94 S. Ct. 2963, 41 L. Ed. 2d 935 (1974). However, a liberty interest may also be created by state law. Hewitt, 459 U.S. at 466; Toussaint v. McCarthy, 801 F.2d 1080, 1089 (9th Cir. 1986), cert. denied, 481 U.S. 1069, 95 L. Ed. 2d 871, 107 S. Ct. 2462 (1987). To create such an interest, state law must direct that "'a given action will be taken or avoided only on the existence or nonexistence of specified substantive predicates."' Smith v. Noonan, 992 F.2d 987, 989 (9th Cir. 1993) (quoting Toussaint, 801 F.2d at 1094)); In re Cashaw, 123 Wash. 2d 138, 144, 866 P.2d 8 (1994). There must be relevant, mandatory language that explicitly directs a decisionmaker that if specific substantive predicates are present, a particular outcome must follow. Kentucky Dep't of Corrections v. Thompson, 490 U.S. 454, 109 S. Ct. 1904, 1909-10, 104 L. Ed. 2d 506 (1989); Baumann v. Arizona Dep't of Corrections, 754 F.2d 841, 844 (9th Cir. 1985); Cashaw, 123 Wash. 2d at 144.
[15] Here, RCW 72.09.130 is the statutory source of Washington's earned early release time system and provides in part:
[16] The department shall adopt a system providing incentives for good conduct and disincentives for poor conduct. The system may include increases or decreases in the degree of liberty granted the inmate within the programs operated by the department and recommended increases or decreases in the number of earned early release days that an inmate can earn for good conduct and good performance.
[17] (Emphasis added.) The Supreme Court found this section to be "permissive and not mandatory upon the Department." Dowell, 100 Wash. 2d at 774. Also, the structure of Washington's earned early release time system is defined in RCW 9.94A. RCW 9.94A.150(1) provides in pertinent part:
[18] Except as otherwise provided for in subsection (2) of this section, the term of the sentence of an offender committed to a correctional facility operated by the department, may be reduced by earned early release time in accordance with procedures that shall be developed and promulgated by the correctional agency having jurisdiction in which the offender is confined.
[19] (Emphasis added.) This statute gives the various correctional facilities plenary authority over good time awards for offenders under their jurisdiction. In re Williams, 121 Wash. 2d 655, 661, 853 P.2d 444 (1993). RCW 9.94A.150(1) "allows correctional facilities to reduce the sentences" of inmates, Williams, 121 Wash. 2d at 658, and gives them control over the award or denial of good time of inmates under their jurisdiction. Williams, 121 Wash. 2d at 662. The broad and permissive language in these statutes does not meet the requirements necessary to create a liberty interest.
[20] In re Anderson, 112 Wash. 2d 546, 548, 772 P.2d 510, cert. denied, 493 U.S. 1004, 110 S. Ct. 565, 107 L. Ed. 2d 559 (1989) and In re Johnston, 109 Wash. 2d 493, 496, 745 P.2d 864 (1987) are not on point. Those cases involved the taking away of good time credits already earned, not the issue involved in this case, which is whether there is a constitutional right to earn good time credits. This case is more akin to In re Ayers, 105 Wash. 2d 161, 164, 713 P.2d 88 (1986), which held petitioners have no liberty interest in the potential of parole.
[21] We hold neither Washington statutes nor policies governing earned early release time contain the mandatory language necessary to establish a state-created liberty interest.
[22] Mr. Galvez also contends the distinction in DOC Policy No. 350.130 between those in administrative segregation for protective reasons and those placed there because they are a potential threat to prison security violates his equal protection rights. This contention is without merit. "The equal protection clauses of both the state and federal constitutions require that 'persons similarly situated with respect to the legitimate purpose of the law receive like treatment."' In re Runyan, 121 Wash. 2d 432, 448, 853 P.2d 424 (1993) (quoting Harmon v. McNutt, 91 Wash. 2d 126, 130, 587 P.2d 537 (1978)). Mr. Galvez is not similarly situated to protective custody inmates. Where persons of different classes are treated differently, there is no equal protection violation. Forbes v. Seattle, 113 Wash. 2d 929, 943, 785 P.2d 431 (1990). However, even if Mr. Galvez was similarly situated to inmates in administrative segregation for protective concerns, his equal protection claim fails because the distinction in classification is constitutional. It is rationally related to a legitimate governmental purpose, see In re Borders, 114 Wash. 2d 171, 176, 786 P.2d 789 (1990), that is, maintaining security within the prison by serving as a disciplinary tool and deterrent to those inmates who are administratively segregated for behavioral reasons.
[23] For the above reasons, this petition is denied. This petition being denied, the motion for in camera review of confidential information is also denied.
[24] Schultheis, J.
[25] WE CONCUR:
[26] Thompson, C.J.
[27] Sweeney, J.