McCarthy v. Madigan/Opinion of the Court

Justice Blackmun delivered the opinion of the Court.

The issue in this case is whether a federal prisoner must resort to the internal grievance procedure promulgated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons before he may initiate a suit, pursuant to the authority of ''Bivens v. Six Unknown Fed. Narcotics Agents'', 403 U.S. 388 (1971), solely for money damages. The Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit ruled that exhaustion of the grievance procedure was required. 914 F. 2d 1411 (1990). We granted certiorari to resolve a conﬂict among the Courts of Appeals. 499 U.S. 974 (1991).