Hayward v. Procunier

CANBY, Circuit Judge.

In this appeal we must decide whether state prisoners’ constitutional rights to procedural due process and freedom from cruel and unusual punishment were violated by a five-month “lockdown”1 of the prison. The district court held that there was no constitutional violation. We agree and affirm.

FACTS:

Between 1970 and 1974 California’s San Quentin Prison became an increasingly turbulent institution. The rate of violent incidents more than tripled during this period, and the influence of prison gangs steadily grew. 1974 was a particularly violent year. There were 82 assaults…