Smith v. State Department of Corrections

The primary issue is whether Department of Corrections, by the acts of its employees, committed one or more contempts of court by unlawfully interfering with petitioner’s access to this court. These cases, consolidated only for the purpose of a contempt proceeding, began as petitions for judicial review of Corrections Department rules under ORS 183.400. This contempt proceeding arose from the transfer of petitioner Smith (hereinafter “petitioner”) to the Nevada State Prison (NSP), his subsequent transfer back to Oregon State Penitentiary (OSP) and the manner in which prison officials handled…