Covington v. Coughlin

Petitioner was an inmate at Great Meadow Correctional Fa*982cility in Washington County when he attempted to prepare pancakes in his cell by placing them on his metal cot and lighting a fire thereunder. The fire created a large amount of smoke before it was extinguished by correction officers.

At the tier III hearing that ensued, petitioner was found guilty of violating the prison disciplinary rule which prohibits inmates from starting fires unless directed to do so by facility staff. A penalty of 60 days’ confinement in the special housing unit, together with a concomitant loss of privileges, was…