Joseph James, Appellant v. State of Alaska, Department of Corrections, Appellee

Summary

The court held that James's prison disciplinary proceeding was major because he faced a low-moderate infraction and twenty days of punitive segregation, entitling him to enhanced due process protections. The hearing violated those protections because James was denied the opportunity to confront and cross-examine the two staff members whose accounts formed the basis of the charge, and because the hearing was not recorded, which prejudiced appellate review. The court reversed and remanded for the disciplinary determination to be vacated and for a new recorded hearing.