AMICUS AI
Citation Codes
Equivalent Citations
citation codes
Judges
Are you a practicing lawyer?
Enhance your digital presence and reach by creating a Casemine profile.
Upload pleading to use the new AI search
Cites
Cited by
Citation Codes
Equivalent Citations
citation codes
Judges

In the Matter of JOHNNY OTERO, Petitioner, v. THOMAS A. COUGHLIN, III, as Commissioner of the New York State Department of Correctional Ser

Mercure, J.

We reject the contention that there was not substantial evidence in the record to support the determination that petitioner was guilty of violating a number of prison disciplinary rules as the result of his knife attack on a fellow inmate at a State correctional facility. Fundamentally, a prison disciplinary determination may be predicated upon testimony given by a confidential informant, even though the inmate has not been permitted access to it ( see, Matter of Abdur-Raheem v Mann, 85 N.Y.2d 113, 119; Matter of Vogelsang v Coombe, 66 N.Y.2d 835, affg 105 A.D.2d 913), so long as the Hearing Officer makes an independent assessment of the informant's reliability ( see, Matter of Abdur-Raheem v Mann, supra). In this case, the testimony of the confidential informant, which was properly found to be reliable, together with the other evidence in the record competently established each of petitioner's violations.

Petitioner's remaining contentions are unpreserved for review and found to lack merit in any event.

Cardona, P.J., White, Peters and Spain, JJ., concur. Adjudged that the determination is confirmed, without costs, and petition dismissed.

Use AI to get other relevant cases.

Comments

MATTER OF OTERO v. COUGHLIN
(Mar 7, 1996)