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Crowe v. Leeke

Supreme Court of South Carolina
Oct 25, 1979
273 S.C. 763 (S.C. 1979)

Summary

holding transfer within prison system or downgrading of custody status is not subject to judicial review as long as prison officials do not act arbitrarily, capriciously, or from personal bias or prejudice

Summary of this case from Skipper v. South Carolina Department of Corrections

Opinion

21073

October 25, 1979.

John R. Ferguson, Clinton, for Appellant. Atty. Gen. Daniel R. McLeod, Deputy Atty. Gen. Emmet H. Clair and Staff Atty. Betty J. Willoughby, Columbia, for Respondents.


October 25, 1979.


The appellant filed an application for Post-Conviction Relief which was denied. Through this appeal, he asserts the hearing judge should have found his constitutional rights were violated by the actions of the Department of Corrections in transferring him within the prison system and downgrading his custody status. We disagree.

In addition to the aforementioned allegations, the appellant's petition contained other allegations which were properly cognizable under the Uniform Post-Conviction Procedures Act. Due to the actions of the parties and the court below, we have construed the appellant's petition with regard to the issues on appeal to be in the nature of a habeas corpus proceeding. Viewed otherwise, the hearing judge would have been without authority to consider this matter because a proceeding for the harm asserted by the appellant is not envisioned by the Uniform Post-Conviction Procedures Act.

The record is indicative of the good faith exercise of the discretionary power of the prison officials in the maintenance of order, discipline, and security among the prison population and, as such, is not subject to judicial review. It is void of proof that they acted arbitrarily, capriciously or from personal bias or prejudice. See Sellers v. State, 259 S.C. 564, 193 S.E.2d 513 (1972); Swinton v. State, 261 S.C. 372, 200 S.E.2d 77 (1973). On the contrary, the respondent's determinations concerned routine administrative actions that were accomplished in good faith.

Affirmed.

LITTLEJOHN, NESS, RHODES and GREGORY, JJ., concur.


Summaries of

Crowe v. Leeke

Supreme Court of South Carolina
Oct 25, 1979
273 S.C. 763 (S.C. 1979)

holding transfer within prison system or downgrading of custody status is not subject to judicial review as long as prison officials do not act arbitrarily, capriciously, or from personal bias or prejudice

Summary of this case from Skipper v. South Carolina Department of Corrections
Case details for

Crowe v. Leeke

Case Details

Full title:Niles L. CROWE, Appellant, v. William D. LEEKE, Department of Corrections…

Court:Supreme Court of South Carolina

Date published: Oct 25, 1979

Citations

273 S.C. 763 (S.C. 1979)
259 S.E.2d 614

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