context: For the inmate requesting documents in anticipation of a collateral attack on his conviction, adequate opportunity to present his claims requires first and foremost meaningful access to the post-conviction procedures provided by the legislature in La. C.Cr.P. art. 924 et seq. That access does not require the state to underwrite the inmate's efforts to overturn his conviction and sentence by providing him generally with doeu-ments | 3/4 " 1/8 0 comb the record for errors." An inmate therefore cannot make a showing of particularized need absent a properly filed application for post conviction relief which sets out specific claims of constitutional errors requiring the requested documentation for support.
citation_a.signal: see
citation_a.parenthetical: "[d]ue process and equal protection surely do not require the providing of transcripts to make petitioner aware in the first instance of events or occurrences which constitute grounds for collateral attack"
citation_a.sentence: See Payton, swpra; State v. Drozd, 116 Ariz. 330, 569 P.2d 272, 274 (Ct. App.1977) (“[d]ue process and equal protection surely do not require the providing of transcripts to make petitioner aware in the first instance of events or occurrences which constitute grounds for collateral attack”).
citation_b.signal: cf.
citation_b.parenthetical: free copies of "material on file" available to inmate only when he "demonstrates some compelling need for specific documentary evidence to support an allegation contained in a petition for post conviction relief'
citation_b.sentence: Cf. Cutbirth v. State, 695 P.2d 156, 159 (Wyo.1985) (“a petition for post-conviction relief must be on file and the district court must determine that the petition has merit” before an inmate will receive free copies of transcripts); Reed v. State, 310 Ark. 651, 840 S.W.2d 165, 166 (1992) (free copies of “material on file” available to inmate only when he “demonstrates some compelling need for specific documentary evidence to support an allegation contained in a petition for post conviction relief’).