“The purpose . . . of the PLRA is to reduce . . . the litigation burden . . . on . . . judicial systems by inmates before prison officials have had an opportunity to resolve . . . grievances on their own.”

Courts have stressed the critical role played by the doctrine of exhaustion of administrative remedies. (Grieco v. Turner, 289 A.D.2d 88, 734 N.Y.S.2d 159 [1st Dept.2001].) Certainly in the context of inmate grievances concerning prison conditions, this doctrine assumes a looming presence.