Youngs v. Woods - Prison Disciplinary Rule Violation

New York Appellate Division

Filed March 12th, 2026

Detected March 13th, 2026

Summary

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York dismissed a petition challenging a prison disciplinary finding. The court found the matter moot as the determination was administratively reversed, expunged from the record, and the surcharge refunded.

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What changed

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York dismissed a CPLR article 78 proceeding concerning a prison disciplinary rule violation. The court determined the case was moot because the respondent had administratively reversed the disciplinary determination, expunged all references from the petitioner's record, and refunded the mandatory surcharge. The court also directed reimbursement for filing fees and postage.

While this is an enforcement action, the outcome is a dismissal due to mootness after administrative correction. No new compliance actions are required for regulated entities. The primary implication is for the petitioner who has received all requested relief. The court noted the exception to the mootness doctrine was inapplicable.

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March 12, 2026 Get Citation Alerts Add Note

Matter of Youngs v. Woods

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York

Citations: 2026 NY Slip Op 01439
Docket Number: CV-25-0602
Opinion
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Combined Opinion

Matter of Youngs v Woods (2026 NY Slip Op 01439)
| Matter of Youngs v Woods |
| 2026 NY Slip Op 01439 |
| Decided on March 12, 2026 |
| Appellate Division, Third Department |
| Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to Judiciary Law § 431. |
| This opinion is uncorrected and subject to revision before publication in the Official Reports. |

Decided and Entered:March 12, 2026
CV-25-0602

*[1]In the Matter of Robert Youngs, Petitioner,

J. Woods, as Acting Superintendent of Shawangunk Correctional Facility, Respondent.**

Calendar Date:February 6, 2026
Before:Aarons, J.P., Reynolds Fitzgerald, Ceresia, Mackey and Corcoran, JJ.

Robert Youngs, Romulus, petitioner pro se.

Letitia James, Attorney General, Albany (Kate H. Nepveu of counsel), for respondent.

Proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 (transferred to this Court by order of the Supreme Court, entered in Ulster County) to review a determination of respondent finding petitioner guilty of violating a prison disciplinary rule.

Petitioner commenced this CPLR article 78 proceeding to challenge a tier II disciplinary finding that he had violated a prison disciplinary rule. The Attorney General has advised this Court that the determination at issue has been administratively reversed, all references thereto have been expunged from petitioner's institutional record and the mandatory $5 surcharge has been refunded to petitioner's account. Although petitioner requests that we nonetheless review the matter, we find that the exception to the mootness doctrine is inapplicable (see Matter of Hearst Corp. v Clyne, 50 NY2d 707, 714 [1980]). Inasmuch as petitioner has received all of the relief to which he is entitled, this matter is dismissed as moot (see Matter of Concepcion v Martuscello, 237 AD3d 1402, 1403 [3d Dept 2025]; Matter of Paige v McGuinness, 236 AD3d 1171, 1172 [3d Dept 2025]). As the record reflects that petitioner was ordered to pay a reduced filing fee of $15 to be collected from his account, which he indicates was collected on November 11, 2024, and that he paid $.69 in postage, and he has requested refund thereof, we grant his request and direct respondent to reimburse him for that amount (see Matter of Booker v Rodriguez, 227 AD3d 1251, 1251 [3d Dept 2024]).

Aarons, J.P., Reynolds Fitzgerald, Ceresia, Mackey and Corcoran, JJ., concur.

ADJUDGED that the petition is dismissed, as moot, without costs, but with disbursements in the amount of $15.69.