meachum fano argued april decided june due process clause fourteenth amendment held entitle duly convicted state prisoner factfinding hearing transferred prison conditions substantially less favorable absent state law practice conditioning transfers proof serious misconduct occurrence specified events transfer infringe implicate liberty interest prisoner within meaning due process clause pp given valid conviction criminal defendant constitutionally deprived liberty extent state may confine subject rules prison system long conditions confinement otherwise violate constitution due process clause protect duly convicted prisoner transfer one institution another life one prison much disagreeable another signify fourteenth amendment liberty interest implicated prisoner transferred institution severe rules hold substantial deprivation imposed prison authorities triggers procedural protections due process clause subject judicial review wide spectrum discretionary actions traditionally business prison administrators rather federal courts wolff mcdonnell distinguished pp whatever expectation prisoner may remaining particular prison long behaves ephemeral insubstantial trigger procedural due process protections long prison officials discretion transfer reason whatsoever reason white delivered opinion burger stewart blackmun powell rehnquist joined stevens filed dissenting opinion brennan marshall joined post michael donahue assistant attorney general massachusetts argued cause petitioners brief francis bellotti attorney general john irwin david mills assistant attorneys general richard shapiro argued cause filed brief respondents deputy solicitor general jones argued cause amicus curiae urging reversal brief solicitor general bork assistant attorney general thornburgh jerome feit justice white delivered opinion question whether due process clause fourteenth amendment entitles state prisoner hearing transferred prison conditions substantially less favorable prisoner absent state law practice conditioning transfers proof serious misconduct occurrence events hold period nine serious fires massachusetts correctional institution norfolk institution based primarily reports informants six respondent inmates removed general prison population placed receiving building administrative detention area used process new inmates proceedings norfolk prison classification board respect whether respondents transferred another institution possibly institution living conditions substantially less favorable norfolk respondent notified classification hearing informed authorities information indicating engaged criminal conduct individual classification hearings held respondent represented counsel hearing began reading prepared statement classification board board heard camera respondents presence testimony petitioner meachum norfolk prison superintendent repeated information received informants respondent told evidence supported allegations contained notice ever given transcripts summaries meachum testimony board respondent allowed present evidence behalf denied involvement particular infraction investigated respondents submitted supportive testimony written statements correction officers social worker also testified presence respondent furnishing respondent criminal custodial record including prior rule infractions aspects performance general adjustment norfolk board recommended royce placed administrative segregation days fano dussault mcphearson transferred walpole institution living conditions substantially less favorable prisoners norfolk debrosky hathaway transferred bridgewater facilities reasons actions stated board reports however available respondents although respondents aware general import informants allegations told recommendations drew upon informant sources details information revealed respondents included board reports part record us board recommendations reviewed acting deputy commissioner classification treatment commissioner corrections basis written report prepared board accepted recommendations board respect fano dussault hathaway mcphearson debrosky royce ordered transferred walpole transfers carried two exceptions respondent subjected disciplinary punishment upon arrival transfer prison none transfers ordered entailed loss good time disciplinary confinement meanwhile respondents brought action petitioners meachum prison superintendent hall state commissioner corrections dawber acting deputy classification treatment alleging respondents deprived liberty without due process law petitioners ordered transferred less favorable institution without adequate factfinding hearing sought injunction setting aside ordered transfer declaratory relief damages district understood wolff mcdonnell entitle respondents notice hearing held constitutionally inadequate case respondents ordered returned general prison population norfolk transferred proper notice hearing petitioners also ordered promulgate regulations establish procedures governing future transfer hearings involving informant testimony divided panel appeals affirmed holding transfers norfolk institutions involved significant modification overall conditions confinement change circumstances serious enough trigger application due process protections granted prison officials petition writ certiorari order determine whether constitution required petitioners conduct factfinding hearing connection transfers case state law condition authority transfer occurrence specific acts misconduct events whether hearings granted case adequate light resolution first issue reach second ii fourteenth amendment prohibits state depriving person life liberty property without due process law initial inquiry whether transfer respondents norfolk walpole bridgewater infringed implicated liberty interest respondents within meaning due process clause contrary appeals hold reject outset notion grievous loss visited upon person state sufficient invoke procedural protections due process clause board regents roth university professor deprived job loss surely matter great substance professor property interest position due process procedures required connection dismissal held determining factor nature interest involved rather weight similarly agree change conditions confinement substantial adverse impact prisoner involved sufficient invoke protections due process clause due process clause force forbids state convicting person crime depriving liberty without complying fully requirements clause given valid conviction criminal defendant constitutionally deprived liberty extent state may confine subject rules prison system long conditions confinement otherwise violate constitution constitution require state one prison convicted felons guarantee convicted prisoner placed particular prison likely state one correctional institution initial decision assign convict particular institution subject audit due process clause although degree confinement one prison may quite different another conviction sufficiently extinguished defendant liberty interest empower state confine prisons neither view due process clause protect duly convicted prisoner transfer one institution another within state prison system confinement state institutions within normal limits range custody conviction authorized state impose life one prison much disagreeable another signify fourteenth amendment liberty interest implicated prisoner transferred institution severe rules cases hold convicted felon forfeit constitutional protections reason conviction confinement prison retains variety important rights courts must alert protect see wolff mcdonnell cases cited none cases reaches one hold urged substantial deprivation imposed prison authorities triggers procedural protections due process clause subject judicial review wide spectrum discretionary actions traditionally business prison administrators rather federal courts transfers institutions example made variety reasons often involve informed predictions best serve institutional security safety welfare inmate yet approach urged transfer whatever reason require hearing long said transfer place prisoner substantially burdensome conditions experiencing unwilling go far wolff mcdonnell appeals heavily relied contrary case due process clause entitles state prisoner certain procedural protections deprived credits serious misconduct liberty interest identified originate constitution guarantee credit satisfactory behavior prison state constitution provided statutory right good time also specifies forfeited serious misbehavior ibid concluded person liberty equally protected even liberty statutory creation state touchstone due process protection individual arbitrary action government dent west virginia since prisoners nebraska lose credits guilty serious misconduct determination whether behavior occurred becomes critical minimum requirements procedural due process appropriate circumstances must observed massachusetts law conferred right prisoner remain prison initially assigned defeasible upon proof specific acts misconduct insofar advised transfers massachusetts prisons conditioned upon occurrence specified events contrary transfer wide variety circumstances vested prison officials predicate invoking protection fourteenth amendment construed applied wolff mcdonnell totally nonexistent case even massachusetts represented transfers occur occurrence certain events argued charges serious misbehavior case often initiate heavily influence transfer decision allegations misconduct may erroneous hearings held transfer confining institution suffered prisoner inmate conduct general specific instances may often major factor decision prison officials transfer expected unless assumed transfers mindless events prisoner past anticipated future behavior likely taken account selecting prison initially incarcerated transferred best serve state penological goals prisoner behavior may precipitate transfer absent behavior perhaps transfer take place said massachusetts prison officials discretion transfer prisoners number reasons discretion limited instances serious misconduct understand legal interest right respondents massachusetts law violated transfer whether misconduct proved accordance procedures might required due process clause circumstances whatever expectation prisoner may remaining particular prison long behaves ephemeral insubstantial trigger procedural due process protections long prison officials discretion transfer whatever reason reason holding arrangements like within reach procedural protections due process clause place clause astride functioning state prisons involve judiciary issues discretionary decisions business federal judges decline interpret apply due process clause federal courts sit supervise state prisons administration acute interest preiser rodriguez cruz beto johnson avery individual course free follow another course whether statute rule regulation interpretation constitutions may thus decide prudent prison administration requires pretransfer hearings holding due process clause impose rule mandating transfer hearings judgment appeals accordingly reversed footnotes department received information reliable source possession instruments might used weapons ammunition joined plans use contraband items items plans occurred period serious unrest mci norfolk included many fires posed significant threat lives persons mci norfolk well serious property damage department received information reliable sources significantly involved planning execution one serious fires occurring within mci norfolk past weeks fires caused considerable property damage posed real threat personal safety department received information reliable source involved trafficking contraband mci norfolk narcotics barbiturates amphetamines occurred period serious unrest mci norfolk included many fires posed significant threat lives persons mci norfolk well serious property damage respect dussault board recorded reasons decision reliable sources deemed acceptable reliable produced truthful verifiable information prior incidents avoided serious harm prevented dussault made significant use program facilities mci norfolk effect time dussault attorney sufficient significant information made available committee indicates us placed situation mci norfolk adequate programming provided time inclosed summary informant information considered sources considered quite reliable case tend corroborate addition number times subject named conjunction unrest norfolk adds weight judgment board reliability information seriousness involvements considered extreme danger posed weapons materials used violence weighs heavily remaining population addition type involvement man organizer leader nforcer considered detrimental institution prohibitive rehabilitative programming mci norfolk time basis recommendation informant information judged sufficient detail reliability weighed seriously board decision making information regarding subject attitude motivation seemed adequately supported man record attitude board stated never received fair treatment classification reliability information judged quite reliable came three sources asked meachum provided details course events night substantiated general terms informant information presented see attached letter sources considered reliable especially cases sources see attached statement concerning reliability sources basis decision hathaway questioned interview charges expressed notice classification hearing serious fires occurring mci norfolk immediately went long discussion two specific fires denying guilt although privy informant information known specifics two mentioned charges talked appeared involved reliable sources deemed acceptable reliable produced truthful information prior incidents avoided serious harm prevented hathaway avocation made sufficiently available programs mci norfolk might benefit decision presented hathaway committee feels removed environment associates current situation mci norfolk recommendation mci bridgewater programs aa available also new avocational center become active medium security institution committee tried listen said trust give chance stolzberger requested client allowed return population empty room sell avo equipment denied counter suggestion made work jackson social worker accomplish ends hathaway accepted basis recommendation informant information presented larry meachum supt mci norfolk prior hearing although several sources contributed presenting information committee felt sources proved reliable enough become decisive factor indicating transfer meachum report source reliability report follow elsewhere report although royce additional disciplinary report see reports felt committee serious emotional instability rather resorting earlier behavior absolute violence royce appears making effort get together help good relationship lowenstein jackson supportive efforts indicated interest poetry avocation school also reaffirm intent self improvement basis recommendation summary informant information conclusions informant information excised commissioner action reported debrosky attorney follows aware recommendation board placement however thorough review facts considerable concern given intelligence information connected debrosky involvement weapon commissioner decided place debrosky intelligence information referred judged reliable request subject placed back population denied upon careful examination related materials information reached following decision placement mci walpole reasons disagree recommendation board assigning mci walpole feel demonstrated unwilling unable accept responsibility commensurate assignment mci norfolk medium security facility actions whereby destroyed state property displayed disrespect correctional officer played part decision time district hearing debrosky hospitalized norfolk hathaway yet transferred addition notice classification hearing respondent furnished copy disciplinary report specifying instances alleged misconduct applicable regulation however disciplinary proceedings held alleged misconduct referred local district attorney investigation action appeals distinguish disciplinary administrative transfers attach significance present purposes fact proceedings classification rather discipline defendants assert instant case many administrative overtones disciplinary ones already indicated view motive prison officials properly part due process calculus gomes travisono cir whether transfer thought punishment way preserving institutional order effects inmate appropriateness action depends upon accuracy official allegation misconduct courts appeals including appeals second circuit see montanye haymes post held minimum procedures must accompany disciplinary transfers aikens lash carroll sielaff ault holmes stone egeler see also bryant hardy still others indicated transfers inmates call due process hearings gray creamer hillen director cf fajeriak mcginnis time transfers case occurred massachusetts general laws annotated provided follows classification prisoners approval shall established commissioner approval governor council reception center male prisoners except sentenced massachusetts correctional institution bridgewater male convict sentenced correctional institution commonwealth except massachusetts correctional institution bridgewater shall delivered sheriff officer authorized execute sentence said center purpose proper classification prisoner classification female prisoners shall made massachusetts correctional institution framingham supervision deputy commissioner classification treatment deputy commissioner classification treatment general supervision commissioner shall direct professional staff assigned said reception center shall responsible grading classifying prisoners sentenced correctional institutions commonwealth shall addition general charge reception center transfers correctional institutions approval commissioner may transfer sentenced prisoner one correctional institution commonwealth another approval sheriff county institution except prisoner serving life sentence jail house correction sentenced prisoner jail house correction institution except state prison jail house correction jail house correction prisoners removed shall subject terms original sentences provisions law governing parole correctional institutions commonwealth think situation substantially different record made transfer reasons underlay thus perhaps affecting future conditions confinement including possibilities parole granting parole yet deemed function due process requirements applicable see scott kentucky parole board cert granted holding eventuates time enough consider respondents contentions unfounded information contained files justice stevens justice brennan justice marshall join dissenting rationale disturbing narrow holding merely held transfer prisoner one penal institution another cause sufficiently grievous loss amount deprivation liberty within meaning due process clause fourteenth amendment disagree conclusion constitutional analysis holding today however appears rest conception liberty consider fundamentally incorrect indicates liberty interest may either two sources according liberty interest may originate constitution ante may roots state law ibid apart two possible origins unable find person constitutionally protected interest liberty man creature state analysis correct neither bill rights laws sovereign create liberty due process clause protects relevant constitutional provisions limitations power sovereign infringe liberty citizen relevant state laws either create property rights curtail freedom citizen must live ordered society course law essential exercise enjoyment individual liberty complex society source liberty surely exclusive source thought men endowed creator liberty one cardinal unalienable rights basic freedom due process clause protects rather particular rights privileges conferred specific laws regulations correct description source liberty protected constitution course decide case hypothesis dealing persons may deprived liberty convicted criminal conduct fair trial therefore first ask whether deprivation liberty follows conviction total partial one time prevailing view deprivation essentially total penitentiary inmate considered slave state see ruffin commonwealth although wording thirteenth amendment provided support point view courts recent years moderated harsh implications thirteenth amendment moderating trend culminated landmark holding notwithstanding continuation legal custody pursuant criminal conviction parolee measure liberty entitled constitutional protection see therefore liberty parolee although indeterminate includes many core values unqualified liberty termination inflicts grievous loss parolee often others hardly useful longer try deal problem terms whether parolee liberty right privilege whatever name liberty valuable must seen within protection fourteenth amendment termination calls orderly process however informal morrissey brewer view fact physical confinement merely one species legal custody persuaded morrissey actually portends basic conceptual holding liberty protected due process clause may indeed must extent coexist legal custody pursuant conviction deprivation liberty following adjudication guilt partial total residuum constitutionally protected rights remains noted morales schmidt view held inmate mere slave totally rejected restraints punishment criminal conviction entails place citizen beyond ethical tradition accords respect dignity intrinsic worth every individual liberty custody mutually exclusive concepts morrissey decision narrowly limited distinction physical confinement conditional liberty live large society requires due process precede substantial deprivation liberty persons custody believe due regard interests individual inmate well interests substantial segment total society represented inmates requires morrissey read ex rel miller twomey basic premise inconsistent recognition obvious fact state must wide latitude determining conditions confinement imposed following conviction crime supervise control prison population state must retain power change conditions individuals groups prisoners quickly without judicial review many respects state problems governing inmate population comparable encountered governing military force prompt unquestioning obedience individual even commands understand may essential preservation order discipline nevertheless within limits imposed basic restraints governing controlled population individual retains dignity time acquires status entitled respect imprisonment intended accomplish temporary removal offender society order prevent committing like offenses period incarceration custody denies inmate opportunity offend also gives opportunity improve acquire skills habits help participate open society release within prison community basic hypothesis correct protected right pursue limited rehabilitative goals minimum maintain whatever attributes dignity associated status tightly controlled society unquestionably within power state change status abruptly adversely change sufficiently grievous may imposed arbitrarily case due process must afforded mean course every adversity amounts deprivation within meaning fourteenth amendment must grievous loss term somewhat flexible certainly consider every transfer within prison system even onerous conditions confinement loss hand unable identify principled basis differentiating transfer general prison population solitary confinement transfer involving equally disparate conditions one physical facility another view basic holding merely note agree appeals transfer involved case sufficiently serious invoke protection constitution respectfully dissent state shall deprive person life liberty property without due process law amdt section provides neither slavery involuntary servitude except punishment crime whereof party shall duly convicted shall exist within place subject jurisdiction amdt emphasis added morales schmidt modified rehearing en banc dissenting opinion morrissey brewer circuit judge lay quoted following excerpt president commission law enforcement administration justice task force report corrections hereinafter cited task force report see task force report see especially discussion blurring lines institution community substantial portion population affected law area approximately million people one time subject correctional authority untold millions criminal records increasing doubt propriety treating large group persons varying degrees outcasts society increasing recognition treatment ultimate interests society denying offenders chance challenge arbitrary assertions power correctional officials barring legitimate opportunities employment inconsistent correctional goal rehabilitation emphasizes need instill respect willingness cooperate society help offender assume role normal citizen task force report mean however every decision prison officials subject judicial review courts rather experienced administrators write prison regulations morrissey reminds us due process flexible concept takes account importance interests stake thus abundantly clear myriad problems prison administration must remain beyond scope proper judicial concern significant deprivations liberty raise constitutional issues morrissey moreover determining whether require due process need choose full panoply rights accorded defendant criminal prosecution one hand safeguards whatsoever rather morrissey aptly illustrates requirements due process may shaped fit needs particular situation ex rel miller twomey question respondents case suffered loss transfer hathaway lost laundry business source income running norfolk dussault lost job plumber performing difficult job especially well royce separated counselors good relationship helped effort get together losses addition generally restrictive conditions inherent institution compared institution