McNamara v. Goord

Proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 (transferred to this Court by order of the Supreme Court, entered in Albany County) to review a determination of respondent which found petitioner guilty of violating certain prison disciplinary rules.

Petitioner, a chapel aide, was charged with violating several prison disciplinary rules after a correction officer observed him at his desk in the chapel typing a letter on paper bearing the letterhead of the facility’s Coordinating Chaplain, John Gainey. The letter was addressed to the Salvation Army and sought assistance “for an inmate and his family” who…