vitek jones argued december decided march appellee convicted felon transferred state prison mental hospital pursuant nebraska statute provides designated physician psychologist finds prisoner suffers mental disease defect given proper treatment prison director correctional services may transfer prisoner mental hospital action challenging constitutionality procedural due process grounds district declared statute unconstitutional applied appellee holding transferring mental hospital without adequate notice opportunity hearing deprived liberty without due process law contrary fourteenth amendment transfers must accompanied adequate notice adversary hearing independent decisionmaker written statement factfinder evidence relied reasons decision availability appointed counsel indigent prisoners permanently enjoined state transferring appellee meanwhile transferred back prison mental hospital without following prescribed procedures subsequently appellee paroled condition accept mental treatment violated parole returned prison relying appellee history mental illness state representation serious threat others safety district held parole revocation thereof render case moot appellee still subject transferred mental hospital held judgment affirmed modified pp affirmed modified justice white delivered opinion respect parts ii iii concluding district properly found case moot reality controversy appellee state lessened cancellation parole return prison protected transfer district judgment injunction circumstances absolutely clear absent injunction state alleged wrongful behavior reasonably expected recur pp involuntary transfer appellee mental hospital implicates liberty interest protected due process clause fourteenth amendment pp district properly identified liberty interest rooted prisoner reasonably expect transferred mental hospital without finding suffering mental illness secure adequate treatment prison state reliance opinion designated physician psychologist determining whether conditions warranting transfer exist neither removes prisoner interest due process protection answers question process due constitution pp district also correct holding independently transfer prisoner prison mental hospital must accompanied appropriate procedural protections involuntary commitment mental hospital within range conditions confinement prison sentence subjects individual conviction sentence extinguish individual right freedom confinement term sentence authorize state classify mentally ill subject involuntary psychiatric treatment without affording additional due process protections stigmatizing consequences transfer mental hospital involuntary psychiatric treatment coupled subjection prisoner mandatory behavior modification treatment mental illness constitute kind deprivations liberty requires procedural protections pp district properly identified weighed relevant factors arriving judgment pp although state interest segregating treating mentally ill patients strong prisoner interest arbitrarily classified mentally ill subjected unwelcome treatment also powerful risk error making determinations required substantial enough warrant appropriate procedural safeguards error medical nature inquiry whether transfer prisoner mental hospital justify dispensing due process requirements prisoners facing involuntary transfer mental hospital threatened immediate deprivation liberty interests risk mistaken transfer district properly determined certain procedural protections including notice adversary hearing appropriate circumstances present case pp justice white joined justice brennan justice marshall justice stevens concluded part appropriate counsel provided indigent prisoners state seeks treat mentally ill prisoner even greater need legal assistance prisoner illiterate uneducated likely unable understand exercise rights pp justice powell concluded although state free appoint licensed attorney represent prisoner threatened involuntary transfer mental hospital constitutionally required due process satisfied long prisoner provided qualified independent assistance pp melvin kent kammerlohr assistant attorney general nebraska argued cause appellants brief paul douglas attorney general thomas wurtz appointment argued cause filed brief appellee justice white delivered opinion except part question case whether due process clause fourteenth amendment entitles prisoner convicted incarcerated state nebraska certain procedural protections including notice adversary hearing provision counsel transferred involuntarily state mental hospital treatment mental disease defect nebraska rev stat authorizes director correctional services designate available suitable appropriate residence facility institution place confinement state prisoner transfer prisoner one place confinement another section however provides designated physician psychologist finds prisoner suffers mental disease defect given proper treatment facility director may transfer examination study treatment another institution within without department correctional services prisoner transferred mental hospital returned department prior expiration sentence treatment longer necessary upon expiration sentence state desires retain prisoner mental hospital civil commitment proceedings must promptly commenced may jones convicted robbery sentenced term three nine years state prison transferred penitentiary hospital january two days later placed solitary confinement set mattress fire burning severely treated burn unit private hospital upon release based findings required suffering mental illness defect receive proper treatment penal complex transferred security unit lincoln regional center state mental hospital jurisdiction department public institutions jones intervened case brought prisoners appropriate state officials state challenging procedural due process grounds adequacy procedures nebraska statutes permit transfers prison complex mental hospital august district convened pursuant ed denied state motion summary judgment trial ensued september district declared unconstitutional applied jones holding transferring jones mental hospital without adequate notice opportunity hearing deprived liberty without due process law contrary fourteenth amendment transfers must accompanied adequate notice adversary hearing independent decisionmaker written statement factfinder evidence relied reasons decision availability appointed counsel indigent prisoners miller vitek supp neb counsel requested suggest appropriate relief response request jones revealed may prior district decision transferred lincoln regional center psychiatric ward penal complex prayed injunction transfer lincoln regional center state conceded injunction enter district firm belief section unconstitutional district entered judgment declaring unconstitutional applied jones permanently enjoining state transferring jones lincoln regional center without following procedures prescribed judgment noted probable jurisdiction meanwhile jones paroled condition accept psychiatric treatment veterans administration hospital vacated judgment district remanded case consideration question mootness vitek jones state jones juncture insisted case moot state represented jones history mental illness indicates serious threat safety well others real expectation transferred injunction removed app juris statement jones insisted receiving treatment mental illness continuing suffer stigmatizing consequences previous determination mentally representations district found case moot jones subject fact threat transferred state mental hospital ibid district reinstated original judgment postponed consideration jurisdiction hearing merits meanwhile jones violated parole parole revoked reincarcerated penal complex ii agree parties case live controversy exists case moot jones declared mentally ill pursuant transferred mental hospital treated later paroled condition accept mental treatment violated parole returned penal complex remand consider mootness district relying jones history mental illness state representation represented serious threat safety well others found jones fact threat transferred state mental hospital see reason disagree district assessment time reality controversy jones state lessened cancellation parole return state prison protected transfer outstanding judgment injunction district state believing case moot wants injunction removed reversal district judgment jones hand insists judgment district sustained protection transfer mental hospital except accordance specified procedures retained background absolutely clear absent injunction allegedly wrongful behavior reasonably expected recur phosphate export county los angeles davis grant furthermore matter stands determination jones suffered mental illness declared infirm district vacating district judgment moot vacate injunction transfer also declaration procedures employed state afforded inadequate basis declaring jones mentally ill posture case moot iii merits threshold question case whether involuntary transfer nebraska state prisoner mental hospital implicates liberty interest protected due process clause district held offered two related reasons conclusion district first identified liberty interest rooted prisoner reasonably expect transferred mental hospital without finding suffering mental illness secure adequate treatment correctional facility second district convinced characterizing jones mentally ill patient transferring lincoln regional center stigmatizing consequences together mandatory behavior modification treatment jones subject lincoln center constituted major change conditions confinement amounting grievous loss imposed without opportunity notice adequate hearing agree district respects repeatedly held state statutes may create liberty interests entitled procedural protections due process clause fourteenth amendment constitutional inherent right parole greenholtz nebraska penal inmates state grants prisoner conditional liberty properly dependent observance special parole restrictions due process protections attach decision revoke parole morrissey brewer true revocation probation gagnon scarpelli wolff mcdonnell held right credits forfeited serious misbehavior constituted liberty interest protected due process clause also noted reasoning justify extension due process protections decision impose solitary confinement represents major change conditions confinement normally imposed claimed proved major act misconduct state granted prisoners liberty interest held due process protections necessary insure right arbitrarily abrogated meachum fano montanye haymes held transfer prisoner one prison another infringe protected liberty interest cases transfers discretionary prison authorities neither case prisoner possess right justifiable expectation transferred except misbehavior upon occurrence specified events hence predicate invoking protection fourteenth amendment construed applied wolff mcdonnell totally nonexistent meachum fano supra following meachum fano montanye haymes continued recognize state statutes may grant prisoners liberty interests invoke due process protections prisoners transferred solitary confinement disciplinary administrative reasons enomoto wright summarily supp nd cal similarly greenholtz nebraska penal inmates supra held state law granted petitioners sufficient expectancy parole entitle measure constitutional protection respect parole decisions think district properly understood applied decisions section provides designated physician finds prisoner suffers mental disease defect given proper treatment prison director correctional services may transfer prisoner mental hospital district also found practice prisoners transferred mental hospital determined suffer mental disease defect adequately treated within penal complex objective expectation firmly fixed state law official penal complex practice prisoner transferred unless suffered mental disease defect adequately treated prison gave jones liberty interest entitled benefits appropriate procedures connection determining conditions warranted transfer mental hospital cases conclusion district unexceptionable appellants maintain liberty interest jones completely satisfied physician psychologist designated director made findings required jones entitled procedural protections state grants prisoner right expectation adverse action taken except upon occurrence specified behavior determination whether behavior occurred becomes critical minimum requirements procedural due process appropriate circumstances must observed wolff mcdonnell minimum requirements matter federal law diminished fact state may specified procedures may deem adequate determining preconditions adverse official action morrissey gagnon wolff adopted procedures determining whether conditions warranting revocation parole probation credits occurred yet held procedures constitutionally inadequate like manner nebraska reliance opinion designated physician psychologist determining whether conditions warranting transfer exist neither removes prisoner interest due process protection answers question process due constitution district also correct holding independently transfer prisoner prison mental hospital must accompanied appropriate procedural protections issue whether conviction robbery jones retained residuum liberty infringed transfer mental hospital without complying minimum requirements due process recognized ordinary citizen commitment mental hospital produces massive curtailment liberty humphrey cady consequence requires due process protection addington texas donaldson burger concurring loss liberty produced involuntary commitment loss freedom confinement indisputable commitment mental hospital engender adverse social consequences individual hether label phenomena stigma choose call something else recognize occur significant impact individual addington texas supra see also parham also mong historic liberties protected due process clause right free obtain judicial relief unjustified intrusions personal security ingraham wright compelled treatment form mandatory behavior modification programs district found jones exposed case proper factor weighed district cf addington texas supra district findings sensitive concerns fact greater limitations freedom action lincoln regional center fact transfer lincoln regional center stigmatizing consequences fact additional mandatory behavior modification systems used lincoln regional center combine make transfer major change conditions confinement amounting grievous loss inmate miller vitek undoubtedly valid criminal conviction prison sentence extinguish defendant right freedom confinement greenholtz nebraska penal inmates conviction sentence sufficiently extinguish defendant liberty empower state confine prisons meachum fano emphasis deleted also true changes conditions confinement substantial adverse impact prisoner alone sufficient invoke protections due process clause long conditions degree confinement prisoner subjected within sentence imposed upon montanye haymes appellants maintain transfer prisoner mental hospital within range confinement justified imposition prison sentence least certification qualified person prisoner suffers mental disease defect agree none decisions holds conviction crime entitles state confine convicted person also determine mental illness subject involuntarily institutional care mental hospital consequences visited prisoner qualitatively different punishment characteristically suffered person convicted crime cases recognize much reflect understanding involuntary commitment mental hospital within range conditions confinement prison sentence subjects individual baxstrom herold specht patterson humphrey cady jackson indiana criminal conviction sentence imprisonment extinguish individual right freedom confinement term sentence authorize state classify mentally ill subject involuntary psychiatric treatment without affording additional due process protections light findings made district jones involuntary transfer lincoln regional center pursuant purpose psychiatric treatment implicated liberty interest protected due process clause many restrictions prisoner freedom action lincoln regional center might constitute deprivation liberty interest retained prisoner see wolff mcdonnell cf baxter palmigiano stigmatizing consequences transfer mental hospital involuntary psychiatric treatment coupled subjection prisoner mandatory behavior modification treatment mental illness constitute kind deprivations liberty requires procedural protections iv district held afford sufficient protection liberty interest identified state required observe following minimum procedures transferring prisoner mental hospital written notice prisoner transfer mental hospital considered hearing sufficiently notice permit prisoner prepare disclosure prisoner made evidence relied upon transfer opportunity heard person present documentary evidence given opportunity hearing present testimony witnesses defense confront witnesses called state except upon finding arbitrarily made good cause permitting presentation confrontation independent decisionmaker written statement factfinder evidence relied reasons transferring inmate availability legal counsel furnished state inmate financially unable furnish effective timely notice foregoing rights think district properly identified weighed relevant factors arriving judgment concededly interest state segregating treating mentally ill patients strong interest prisoner arbitrarily classified mentally ill subjected unwelcome treatment also powerful however district found risk error making determinations required substantial enough warrant appropriate procedural safeguards error recognize inquiry involved determining whether transfer inmate mental hospital treatment involves question essentially medical question whether individual mentally ill treated prison turns meaning facts must interpreted expert psychiatrists psychologists addington texas medical nature inquiry however justify dispensing due process requirements precisely subtleties nuances psychiatric diagnoses justify requirement adversary hearings prisoners facing involuntary transfer mental hospital threatened immediate deprivation liberty interests currently enjoying inherent risk mistaken transfer district properly determined procedures similar required morrissey brewer appropriate circumstances present notice requirement imposed district recognizes notice essential afford prisoner opportunity challenge contemplated action understand nature happening wolff mcdonnell supra furthermore view nature determinations must accompany transfer mental hospital think elements hearing specified district appropriate interests state avoiding disruption recognized limiting appropriate circumstances prisoner right call witnesses confront cross examine district also avoided unnecessary intrusion either medical correctional judgments providing independent decisionmaker conducting transfer hearing need come outside prison hospital administration justice powell believing jones entitled competent help hearing require state furnish licensed attorney aid judgment affirmed modified conform separate opinion filed justice powell ordered footnotes physician designated director correctional services finds person committed department suffers physical disease defect physician psychologist designated director finds person committed department suffers mental disease defect chief executive officer may order person segregated persons facility physician psychologist opinion person given proper treatment facility director may arrange transfer examination study treatment facility another institution department public institutions proper treatment available person transferred shall remain subject jurisdiction custody department correctional services shall returned department prior expiration sentence treatment facility longer necessary section provides two psychiatrists designated director correctional services find person released discharged facility suffers mental disease defect nature release discharge endanger public safety safety offender director shall transfer already transferred permit remain psychiatric facility department public institutions shall promptly commence proceedings applicable civil commitment detention persons suffering disease defect initially certifying case class action district decertified class permitted intervention three individual plaintiffs including jones district subsequently dismissed claims plaintiffs except jones sole appellee statute authorizing convening ed repealed pub stat effective actions commenced august instant action filed november properly convened jones completed serving sentence remains subject transfer procedures challenges unlike plaintiff weinstein bradford challenge parole procedures held moot plaintiff completed sentence longer likelihood whatsoever subjected parole procedures challenged majority justices rejected identical position arnett kennedy opinion powell joined blackmun opinion white opinion marshall joined douglas brennan justice powell opinion observed plurality opinion evidently reasons nature appellee interest continued federal employment necessarily defined limited statutory procedures discharge constitutional guarantee procedural due process accords appellee procedural protections arbitrary erroneous discharge expressly provided statute plurality thus conclude statute governing federal employment determines nature appellee property interest also extent procedural protections may lay claim seems approach incompatible principles laid board regents roth perry sindermann indeed lead directly conclusion whatever nature individual statutorily created property interest deprivation interest accomplished without notice hearing time view misconceives origin right procedural due process right conferred legislative grace constitutional guarantee legislature may elect confer property interest federal employment may constitutionally authorize deprivation interest conferred without appropriate procedural safeguards cases consistently recognized adequacy statutory procedures deprivation statutorily created property interest must analyzed constitutional terms goldberg kelly bell burson board regents roth supra perry sindermann supra part joined justice brennan justice marshall justice stevens justice powell concurring part join opinion except part agree part insofar holds qualified independent assistance must provided inmate threatened involuntary transfer state mental hospital agree however requirement independent assistance demands licensed attorney provided gagnon scarpelli opinion held counsel necessarily required probation revocation hearing reaching decision recognized effects providing counsel probationer likely benefits derived assistance counsel introduction counsel revocation proceeding alter significantly nature proceeding hearing inevitably become adversary noted probationers always need counsel hearings essential facts undisputed lieu per se rule held necessity providing counsel determined basis particular stressed factors governing decision provide counsel include existence factual disputes issues complex otherwise difficult develop present ii whether probationer appears capable speaking effectively consideration factors particularly capability inmate persuades correct independent assistance must provided inmate may transferred involuntarily mental hospital essence issue involuntary commitment proceeding mental health inmate resolution factual disputes less important ability understand analyze expert psychiatric testimony often expressed language relatively incomprehensible laymen unlikely inmate threatened involuntary transfer mental hospitals possess competence training protect adequately interest proceedings circumstances imprisoned without normal access others may assist places additional handicap upon inmate ability represent therefore agree due process requires provision assistance inmate threatened involuntary transfer mental hospital ii believe however inmate must always supplied licensed attorney ue process flexible calls procedural protections particular situation demands morrissey brewer see mathews eldridge decisions defining necessary qualifications impartial decisionmaker demonstrate requirements due process turn nature determination must made due process never thought require neutral detached trier fact law trained judicial administrative officer parham case held due process satisfied staff physician determines whether child may voluntarily committed state mental institution parents holding based upon recognition issues civil commitment essentially medical nature neither judges administrative hearing officers better qualified psychiatrists render psychiatric judgments quoting roger cal clark dissenting see also morrissey brewer supra goldberg kelly view principle due process always require decisionmaker supports ancillary conclusion due process may satisfied provision qualified independent adviser lawyer parham issue essentially medical state law prisoner may transferred suffers mental disease defect given proper treatment prison complex neb rev stat opinion allows nonlawyer act impartial decisionmaker transfer proceeding ante essence procedural due process fair hearing think fairness informal hearing designed determine medical issue requires participation lawyers due process merely requires state provide inmate qualified independent assistance assistance may provided licensed psychiatrist mental health professional indeed view nature issue involved transfer hearing person possessing professional qualifications normally preferred notes question whether individual mentally ill treated prison turns meaning facts must interpreted expert psychiatrists psychologists ante quoting addington texas exclude however possibility required assistance may rendered competent laymen cases essential requirements person provided state competent independent free act solely inmate best interest sum although state free appoint licensed attorney represent inmate constitutionally required due process satisfied long inmate facing involuntary transfer mental hospital provided qualified independent assistance also agree holding case moot question whether appellee faces substantial threat transferred state mental hospital see doran salem inn steffel thompson doe bolton involuntarily transferred prison complex mental institution thereafter paroled upon condition continue receive psychiatric treatment violated parole returned prison state advises us appellee history mental illness indicates serious threat safety well others real expectation transfer district injunction removed app juris statement district concluded appellee threat transfer circumstances clear live controversy remains appellee personal stake see seatrain shipbuilding shell oil district specifically held judicial officer required decisionmaker need outside prison hospital administration miller vitek supp neb justice stewart chief justice justice rehnquist join dissenting seems clear case moot accordingly vacate judgment remand case district directions dismiss complaint munsingwear points class action appellee incarcerated nebraska penal correctional complex anticipated release date march see ante status appellee simply one thousands nebraska prisoners standing attack constitutionality neb rev stat sole basis mere possibility someday statute might invoked transfer another institution although appellee transferred accord demonstrated probability ever happen weinstein bradford case one nature falls within ambit capable repetition yet evading review exception established principles mootness see southern pacific terminal icc super tire engineering mccorkle appellee threatened transfer allegedly infirm statute ample time reach merits claim adjudicate cause longer exists proceeding uniformly declined entertain brownlow schwartz oil workers missouri mr agree justice stewart case properly us write separately express reasons reaching conclusion claimed harm gave birth lawsuit alleged deprivation liberty attending appellee transfer lincoln regional center clear asserted injury disappeared latest appellee granted parole cf preiser newkirk immediate threat injury suffered appellee returned custody however parties agree reincarceration coupled history mental problems brought controversy back life given facts issue much one mootness one ripeness although think otherwise case presenting mixed question ripeness mootness hinging possibility challenged procedures applied appellee confronted mixed questions kind cases presenting issues capable repetition yet evading review see nebraska press assn stuart sosna iowa cases concerning cessation challenged conduct pendency litigation see walling helmerich payne contexts lowered ripeness threshold preclude manipulation parties mere passage time frustrating judicial review justice stewart correctly observes apparently concedes however capable repetition doctrine apply neither liberal rule applied voluntary cessation cases since current state affairs way product appellants voluntary discontinuation challenged conduct certainly result effort part appellants avoid review thus since mixed rules inapplicable case presents nothing plain question ripeness cases lay mechanistic test determining whether dispute ripe adjudication past formulations uniformly rigorous one applies observed ast exposure illegal conduct show present case controversy littleton general assertions inferences illegal conduct recur render case ripe hypothetical threat enough public workers mitchell must actual present immediately threatened injury resulting unlawful governmental action laird tatum see linda richard requiring threatened actual injury massachusetts mellon requiring litigant sustained immediately danger sustaining direct injury substantial controversy parties adverse legal interests sufficient immediacy reality required golden zwickler quoting maryland casualty pacific coal oil applying principles difficulty perceiving existing case controversy since remand state officials indicated nothing general right apply statute apply appellee necessary expressed present intent desire transfer appellee mental facility pursuant challenged provisions suggested may transfer appellee lincoln regional center basis diagnosis made five years ago suggested subject appellee immediately fresh psychiatric evaluation district injunction lifted appellee represented reside psychiatric unit nebraska penal correctional complex receiving accepting psychiatric treatment brief appellee brief containing statement filed six months ago nine months revocation appellee parole sum appears appellee assimilated general prison population appellants least time content leave given facts determining whether prison officials within two years seek send appellee mental institution takes us area speculation conjecture littleton cf longshoremen boyd reasons vacate judgment district remand case directions dismiss complaint appear share view even veterans administration hospital appellee jones insisted receiving treatment mental illness ante adds appellee paroled condition accept psychiatric treatment ibid identify precise import facts fair inference meant suggest case even time appellee parole might properly pursued theory appellee continuing feel effects alleged deprivation constitutional rights receiving care veterans administration hospital accept suggestion first premise appears faulty district find appear clearly record parole board offer appellee acceptance parole way related prior transfer lincoln regional center appellee chose accept conditional parole moreover time appellee elected go parole housed penal complex lincoln regional center thus surprising district based finding nonmootness solely conclusion appellee notwithstanding conditioned release threat transferred state mental hospital app juris statement second continuing injury theory seems incorrect matter law appellee seek evince interest seeking release veterans administration hospital declaration initial transfer illegal neither justified predictably led appellee removal facility words accepting conditional grant parole appellee longer show required requirement personally benefit tangible way intervention warth seldin also finds support holding fact vacating district order remove declaration challenged procedures afforded inadequate basis declaring jones mentally ante statement means imply appellee suit somehow due continuing stigma resulting transfer mental hospital accept sweeping proposition never suggested collateral consequences doctrine sibron new york saves action challenging validity conviction prisoner served sentence also saves challenge commitment patient released mental hospital logic sibron focusing tangible remediable collateral consequences use prior conviction enhance sentence later crime impeach credibility one appears witness comfortably extend claim former mental patient see referring adverse collateral legal consequences decisions award revoke parole made nebraska parole board appellants clear whether views voluntary cessation case nowhere expressly relies doctrine explain factors might justify characterizing appellee present situation result voluntary cessation illegal conduct appellants hand three decisions cited support application creampuff ripeness standard county los angeles davis phosphate export grant pivoted presence voluntary cessation therefore unclear whether deems voluntary cessation case without explaining deems reasonable expectation recurrence standard date litmus carefully confined principled voluntary cessation rule applicable amorphous cluster facts nothing parties artful dodging litigation either event analysis invites criticism increasingly voiced decisions threshold issues concealed decisions merits underlying constitutional claim tushnet new law standing plea abandonment cornell rev appellants sure announced intention continue use challenged procedures fact however small significance hardly surprising hear state officials say plan abide state laws see public workers mitchell existence law regulations alone render suit ripe cf poe ullman desuetude statute go far justice stewart says appellee simply one thousands nebraska prisoners ante purposes case controversy requirement appellee differs fellow inmates two relevant respects recent history perceived psychiatric problems fact previously transferred pursuant challenged statutes cf littleton course past wrongs evidence bearing whether real immediate threat repeated injury