[1] Walter Harper, an inmate in the Washington prison system since 1976, was reported to be violent when not on antipsychotic medication.

Twice he was transferred to the Special Offender Center (SOC), a state institution detaining prisoners who were diagnosed with psychiatric problems.

The SOC followed its policies of institutional review for making a treatment decision to forcibly medicate an inmate.

1983, alleging that the Center failed to provide a judicial hearing before involuntarily medicating him, thus violating the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

[3] The American Psychological Association submitted an amicus brief in support of the inmate's right to a due process hearing, stating forced medication of an incarcerated inmate violated the due process, equal protection, and free speech clauses of the Constitution of the United States.