Justices decide PLRA applies to complaints

The Supreme Court decided there are no circumstances that allow inmates to take their cases to federal courts before exhausting administrative proceedings.

The question before the high court in Porter v. Nussle, 00-853, was whether the Prison Litigation Reform Act of 1995 applies only to "prison

The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals found in favor of inmate Ronald Nussle, clearing the way for him to sue two corrections officers for allegedly beating him at a Connecticut's Cheshire prison.

But the justices ruled that allowing the 2nd Circuit decision to stand would eviscerate the intent of the PLRA and flood the courts with frivolous lawsuits.

"The PLRA's exhaustion requirement applies to all inmate suits about prison life, whether they involve general circumstances or particular episodes, and whether they allege excessive force or some other wrong," the high court held.

The justices also criticized the 2nd Circuit for allowing Nussle to proceed in court on the basis of a single incident.

"We emphasize a concern over and above the complexity augured by the 2nd Circuit's disposition: Scant sense supports the single occurrence, prevailing circumstance dichotomy.

"Why should a prisoner have immediate access to court when a guard assaults him on one occasion, but not when beatings are widespread or routine?"