Opinion
July 15, 1999
Proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 (transferred to this court by order of the Supreme Court, entered in Albany County) to review a determination of respondent Commissioner of Correctional Services which found petitioner guilty of violating a prison disciplinary rule.
Dominick Lagano, Rome, petitioner in person.
Eliot Spitzer, Attorney-General (Marcus J. Mastracco of counsel), Albany, for respondents.
Before: CARDONA, P.J., MIKOLL, YESAWICH JR., PETERS and GRAFFEO, JJ.
MEMORANDUM AND JUDGMENT
Petitioner was found guilty of violating the prison disciplinary rule that prohibits inmates from using controlled substances after two tests performed on petitioner's urine sample yielded positive results for the presence of opiates. Contrary to petitioner's contention, the misbehavior report, which we conclude was sufficient to apprise petitioner of the charge against him (see, Matter of Faison v. Senkowski, 255 A.D.2d 625, 679 N.Y.S.2d 480, appeal dismissed 93 N.Y.2d 847), and the positive results of the urinalysis tests, combined with the testimony of the two correction officers who took the sample and performed the tests, constitute substantial evidence supporting the charge of drug use (see, Matter of Foster v. Coughlin, 76 N.Y.2d 964, 966). The clerical error on the part of the reporting officer in failing to write down the correct name of the correction officer who took the sample was sufficiently explained during the hearing (see, Matter of Frazier v. Goord, 251 A.D.2d 800, lv denied 92 N.Y.2d 813). Notably, the Hearing Officer was within her province in resolving issues of credibility against petitioner (see, Matter of De La Rosa v. Portuondo, 247 A.D.2d 810, 811). We have examined the remaining issues raised by petitioner and find them to be unpersuasive.
ADJUDGED that the determination is confirmed, without costs, and petition dismissed.