Who must preside over the disciplinary hearing to ensure due process?

The role of the individual presiding over a disciplinary hearing is to ensure that due process is upheld, which is essential in a correctional setting. A neutral official is crucial in this context because their impartiality allows for an unbiased evaluation of the evidence and the circumstances surrounding the case. This helps to guarantee fairness for the inmate involved, ensuring that their rights are respected and that the hearing is conducted in accordance with established procedures.

Having a neutral party preside over the hearing minimizes the potential for conflicts of interest or perceived bias, which can arise if someone close to the inmate or a member of the corrections staff is involved. A known friend of the inmate would lack the necessary neutrality and could be perceived as favoring the inmate's position. Similarly, a member of the corrections staff may have inherent biases, given that they are part of the same system and may have an interest in upholding administrative decisions. Finally, having another inmate conduct the hearing would not meet the standards of fairness and impartiality required for such proceedings. Therefore, ensuring a neutral official oversees the hearing is critical for maintaining the integrity of the disciplinary process in correctional facilities.