(HC) Matecki v. Thompson ( 2021 )

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 JASON MATECKI, No. 2:21-CV-0268-WBS-DMC-P 12 Petitioner, 13 v. FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 14 PAUL THOMPSON, 15 Respondent. 16 17 Petitioner, who is proceeding pro se, brings this petition for a writ of habeas 18 corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241. Pending before the Court is Respondent’s unopposed 19 motion to dismiss. See ECF No. 6. 20 21 I. BACKGROUND 22 Petitioner is a federal prisoner incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution – 23 Herlong. See ECF No. 1, pg. 1. Petitioner states that he is serving a 75-month sentence for 24 violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a). See id. at 3. According to Petitioner, as a first-time offender and 25 with application of time credits for good conduct, his sentence is set to end on September 10, 26 2022. See id. Petitioner also states that he becomes eligible for home confinement on March 10, 27 2022. See id. Petitioner claims that he is entitled to relief under the First Step Act (FSA) of 2018 28 in the form of additional credits and, as a result, immediate release to home confinement or a 1 halfway house. See id. at 10. With his petition, Petitioner has filed a motion for preliminary 2 injunction seeking the same relief. See ECF No. 2. 3 4 II. DISCUSSION 5 Respondent contends the Court should dismiss the petition. By way of 6 background, Respondent offers the following summary of the relevant provisions of the FSA: 7 On 12/21/2018, Congress enacted the FSA to prescribe criminal justice reform. See Pub. L. No. 115-391, 132 Stat. 5194. The U.S. 8 Department of Justice, under BOP, was permitted 210 days to develop and then publicly release a risk and needs assessment system to assess 9 inmates’ risk of recidivism. See 18 U.S.C. § 3632(a). BOP timely published its risk and needs assessment system on 7/19/2019; BOP timely 10 implemented and completed initial intake risk and needs assessment for each inmate before 1/15/2020. Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3621(h)(1)(A), 11 BOP assigns inmates to appropriate evidence-based recidivism reduction programs based on that determination. 12 Against this background, as a matter of law, Bureau of Prisons has two years to “phase-in” programming and provide “evidenced-based 13 recidivism reduction programs and productive activities for all prisoners . . . .” Id. § 3621(h)(2)(A-B); see also Betts-Gaston v. Entzel, No. 19- 14 03295 (C.D. Ill. Feb. 27, 2020) (BOP has until January 2022 to phase in programming in order to determine when a prisoner is ready to transfer 15 into prerelease custody) (internal quotations omitted). Under FSA, prisoners, such as Petitioner Matecki, who qualify and who “successfully 16 complete evidence-based recidivism reduction programming or productive activities, shall earn time credits.” Id. § 3632(d)(4)(A). These credits can 17 accrue at the rate of “10 days of time credits for every 30 days of successful participation in evidence-based recidivism programming or 18 productive activities.” Id. § 3632(d)(4)(A)(i). Some prisoners who are scored at a low or minimum risk of recidivating, and who have not 19 increased this risk over a period of two consecutive assessments, will earn an additional 5 days of time credits for every 30 days of successfully 20 participation. Id. § 3632(d)(4)(A)(ii). The award of any credits is not retroactive to any programs the prisoner successfully completed “prior to 21 the date of enactment of this subchapter.” Id. § 3632(d)(4)(B). 22 Id. at 3. 23 Respondent argues the Court lacks Article III standing because the phase-in period 24 has not expired. Respondent also argues Petitioner fails to state a claim upon which relief can be 25 granted because the Bureau of Prisons has sole discretion to place an inmate in end-of-sentence 26 transition programs. Finally, Respondent contends Petitioner has failed to exhaust administrative 27 remedies. 28 / / / 1 A. Standing 2 According to Respondent: 3 Article III limits the federal courts to deciding “cases” and “controversies.” To ensure that any matter presented to a federal court 4 meets such requirement, this Court must consider the doctrines of standing, ripeness, and mootness. See Ellis v. Tribune Television, 443 F.3d 5 71, 80 (2d Cir.2006). The most important of these doctrines is standing. See Allen v. Wright, 468 U.S. 737, 750 (1984). To establish standing, “[a] 6 plaintiff must allege personal injury fairly traceable to the defendant's allegedly unlawful conduct and likely to be redressed by the requested 7 relief.” Id. at 751. The injury must be “an invasion of a legally protected interest which is (a) concrete and particularized and (b) ‘actual or 8 imminent,’ “not conjectural or hypothetical". Lujan v. Defenders of Wildlife, 504 U.S. 555, 560 (1992) (citations omitted). A determination of 9 standing is based on the facts at the time the action is filed. See Hargrave v. Vermont, 340 F.3d 27, 34 n. 7 (2d Cir.2003) (citations omitted). 10 Here, neither Petitioner Matecki's custodial status nor custody term has been impacted by any BOP action or theoretical inaction. In other 11 words, BOP has not rendered any decision regarding FSA/ETC sentence end-phase programing options. See Liwag Declaration at 9-10. 12 Accordingly, Matecki lacked Article III standing at the time he filed the petition and he continues to lack standing. See Sanders v. Sanders, 2006 13 WL 751281, at *4 (E.D. Ark. Mar. 21, 2006) (dismissing § 2241 petition as premature and for lack of standing); Allen v. Federal Bureau of Prisons, 14 2006 WL 20527 (D. N.J. Jan. 3, 2006). Without authority, Petitioner demands — contrary to the FSA — that this Court usurp BOP discretion 15 and order BOP discretionary release. 16 EF No. 6, pg. 4. 17 Respondent also contends: 18 Further, this Court should dismiss for lack of ripeness. “Ripeness is a justiciability doctrine designed to prevent the courts, through avoidance 19 of premature adjudication, from entangling themselves in abstract disagreements over administrative policies, and also to protect the 20 agencies from judicial interference until an administrative decision has been formalized and its effects felt in a concrete way by the challenging 21 parties.” National Park Hospitality Ass'n v. Department of Interior, 538 U.S. 803, 807–08 (2003) (internal quotes and citation omitted). Petitioner's 22 2241 petition is not ripe for review, and this Court should dismiss for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction. Here, the temporally distant and speculative 23 nature underlying Petitioner's demands do not establish that “he ‘will sustain immediate injury’ and ‘that such injury would be redressed by the 24 relief requested.'" See Cinel v Connick, 15 F.3d 1338, 1341 (5th Cir. 1994) (citation omitted). See Sample v. Morrison, 406 F.3d 310, 312–13 (5th 25 Cir.2005). See also Rudd v. Smith, No. 1:07-cv-01073 DLB (HC), 2007 WL 4557105 (E.D. Cal. Dec. 21, 2007) (dismissing premature claim and 26 2241 petition for lack of ripeness). 27 ECF No. 6, pgs. 4-5. 28 / / / 1 These arguments, which Petitioner does not challenge, are persuasive. The Court 2 finds Petitioner’s claim is nonjusticiable for lack of standing and ripeness based on the same 3 reason – Petitioner’s claim is premature. As explained above, the phase-in period does not expire 4 until January 2022. Until that time, Petitioner cannot establish a live case or controversy upon 5 which this Court can be called upon to pass judgment. Similarly, because the phase-in period has 6 not expired, Petitioner can only speculate as to what the BOP may or may not do in his case. 7 Until the phase-in period expires and the BOP has or has not taken some action with respect to 8 the availability of credits for petitioner under the FSA, there is no ripe claim for this Court to 9 review. Respondent’s motion to dismiss should be granted. 10 B. Failure to State a Claim 11 At footnote 2 of his motion to dismiss, Respondent argues Petitioner fails to state a 12 claim upon which relief can be granted because Petitioner seeks to compel a discretionary act. 13 According to Respondent: 14 This Court lacks jurisdiction to review BOP discretionary, individualized, decisions concerning release to home confinement and 15 application of time credits. As a matter of law, 34 U.S.C. § 60541(g) grants to the Attorney General the discretion to release certain prisoners to 16 serve the latter part of their sentence on home confinement. For implementation, the Attorney General's BOP must make unique, agency 17 specific, determinations. Indeed, for any decision regarding First Step Act sentence end-phase programing (home detention), the Attorney General, 18 via BOP, must make inter alia determinations regarding costs, savings, and further find that the offender, if eligible, does not pose a risk of 19 engaging in future criminal conduct or is otherwise a danger. As the statute makes clear, the "Attorney General" is granted the discretion and 20 "may release" some eligible offenders. The "failure to receive relief that is purely discretionary in nature does not amount to a deprivation of a liberty 21 interest." See Mejia Rodriguez v. Reno, 178 F.3d 1139, 1146 (11th Cir. 1999) (citing Conn. Bd. of Pardons v. Dumschat, 452 U.S. 458, 465 22 (1981)). 23 ECF No. 6, pg. 4, n.2. 24 The Court also finds this argument persuasive and again notes that Petitioner does 25 not challenge Respondent’s contention. Here, the FSA provides a mechanism for the BOP to 26 exercise its discretion concerning credits and early release. Specifically, once the phase-in period 27 expires, Petitioner may be entitled to additional early release credits. As Respondent’s notes, 28 whether or not to grant Petitioner early release pursuant to the as-yet implemented provisions of 1 the FSA is a matter within the BOP’s discretion. And as Respondent also notes, the denial of 2 early release in the exercise of the BOP’s discretion would not give rise to the deprivation of a 3 liberty interest such as would support Petitioner’s claim. Petitioner does not state a claim upon 4 which relief can be granted under 28 U.S.C. § 2241. 5 C. Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies 6 Finally, Respondent contends the Court should dismiss the case because Petitioner 7 failed to exhaust administrative remedies. Respondent argues: 8 Moreover, this Court should dismiss for lack of statutory jurisdiction and failure to challenge via administrative process. On the one 9 hand, Petitioner is a federal prisoner who is not presently eligible for FSA/ETC sentence end-phase programing. Liwag Declaration at 8-10. 10 Even if he were to become eligible, any theoretical decision is entrusted by law to BOP discretion. On the other hand, “[a]s a prudential matter, 11 courts require that habeas petitioners exhaust all available judicial and administrative remedies before seeking relief under § 2241.” Ward v. 12 Chavez, 678 F.3d 1042, 1045 (9th Cir. 2012). Congress was clear in giving the BOP an additional two years, or until January 2022, to phase in 13 the programming to reduce recidivism for the specific reasons as outlined in 18 U.S.C. 3621(h)(2). 14 In order to carry out paragraph (1) [implementation 15 of the risk and needs assessment system], so that every prisoner has the opportunity to participate in 16 and complete the type and amount of evidence- based recidivism reduction programs or productive 17 activities they need, and be reassessed for recidivism risk as necessary to effectively 18 implement the System, the Bureau of Prisons shall—(B) develop and validate the risk and needs 19 assessment tool to be used in the reassessments of risk and recidivism, while prisoners are 20 participating in and completing evidence-based recidivism reduction programs and productive 21 activities. 22 18 U.S.C. 3621(h)(2). 23 EF No. 6, pg. 5. 24 Here, it is clear that Petitioner has not yet sought administrative relief from the 25 BOP for the simple reason that it would be premature for him to do so prior to expiration of the 26 phase-in period. For this additional reason, the Court finds that relief under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 is 27 not appropriate at this time. 28 / / / 1 I. CONCLUSION 2 Based on the foregoing, the undersigned recommends that: 3 1. Respondent’s unopposed motion to dismiss, ECF No. 6, be granted; 4 2. Petitioner’s motion for injunctive relief, ECF No. 2, be denied; and 5 3. This action be dismissed. 6 These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District 7 | Judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(). Within 14 days 8 | after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written objections 9 | with the Court. Responses to objections shall be filed within 14 days after service of objections. 10 | Failure to file objections within the specified time may waive the right to appeal. See Martinez v. 11 Yist, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991). 12 13 | Dated: June 16, 2021 Ssvcqo_ DENNIS M. COTA 15 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28