Spavone v. New York State Department of Correctional Services

DEBRA ANN LIVINGSTON, Circuit Judge:

This case concerns how the New York State Department of Correctional Ser vices 1 (“DOCS”) determines when an inmate receives temporary medical leave from prison for the treatment of mental illness. Plaintiff-Appellee Steven Spavone (“Spavone”) requested a leave of absence from prison in order to obtain additional treatment for his post-traumatic stress disorder (“PTSD”). DOCS officials Brian Fischer, Deborah Joy, and Nick Chalk (collectively, with DOCS, “Defendants-Appellants”) denied his request. Spavone then brought suit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and the…