Solitary Confinement
The Solitary Confinement section examines the use, impact, and controversies surrounding the practice of isolating inmates from the general population. This directory provides articles and resources on the psychological effects, legal considerations, and best practices for managing solitary confinement within correctional facilities. Understanding solitary confinement is crucial for balancing security needs with the mental health and rights of inmates. For more on inmate management, explore our section on facility management.
The agreement includes a behavior management program and a skills-based curriculum with daily structured activities at the Manson Youth Institution
The Supermax – designed to be confining in every way – houses the nation’s most dangerous and notorious criminals
The order suspends parts of the law that limit holding inmates in “de-escalation confinement” to four hours and restricts the use of restraints during transport
Deysean Sanchez, 38, has repeatedly assaulted COs, sometimes throwing his own urine and feces at them
Alex Friedmann claimed he was being punished for his years of advocacy on behalf of prisoners prior to his arrest
“AB 2632 establishes standards that are overly broad and exclusions that could risk the safety of both the staff and incarcerated population within these facilities,” he said
Testimony came during a City Council hearing on a bill to ban solitary confinement at Rikers Island
“Someone slashes someone in jail, what do I do with him? I remove him from population and put him someplace by himself until he corrects his action.”
“New York City is better than solitary confinement,” Speaker Adams said
“Violence is through the roof. The percentage of violence since the HALT Act is going to exceed last year’s record numbers of assaults on staff, and inmate on inmate assaults,” said union head
The proposal would restrict the use of confinement to no more than 15 consecutive days and a total of 45 days in a six-month span
Gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin is demanding Gov. Kathy Hochul release data on assaults on COs since a solitary confinement reform law took effect on April 1
One official said that the HALT Act has done nothing to improve the quality of life for the officers and inmates in corrections facilities
Officials said the Department of Correction isn’t ready to implement its plan in a manner that is safe for staff and detainees
New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association has argued that HALT will lead to increased violence in state prisons
The probe is looking into the overuse of solitary confinement and deaths of seven inmates over a two-year period
“It doesn’t eliminate the use of solitary confinement, but it puts significant restrictions on its use,” said Rep. Steven Stafstrom
The union’s president said the incident is largely a result of the HALT Act limiting segregated confinement
“Gross understaffing,” “uncontrolled gang activity,” and inmates having “unfettered access to contraband” were among the DOJ’s findings
The changes would put the Orange County jail system ahead of other facilities statewide, a disability rights attorney said
“Doing away with special housing for violent offenders just doesn’t work,” said State Assemblymen, and former CO, Billy Jones
The Humane Alternatives to Long-Term Solitary Confinement Act nears implementation at the end of the month
The original bill would have prohibited the use of isolated confinement for longer than 15 days per each 60-day cycle
“Plaintiff may be a disruptive and volatile inmate, but his behavioral issues do not excuse or permit the violation of his due process rights,” the judge said
“There is no sugarcoating the current situation in our prison facilities,” said union President Michael Powers
DOCCS has since stopped the use of solitary confinement for positive drug tests
“I am not going to be in a city where dangerous people assault innocent people, go to jail and assault more people,” Eric Adams said
The move settles a 2017 lawsuit challenging the use of solitary confinement for death row inmates in the state
The unanimous vote gives the county 60 days to either remediate the violations or remove young people
The state’s law limiting solitary confinement, along with other administrative and legislative actions, “water down” the disciplinary system, union leaders say
The contracts will provide lessons for COs on using less lethal weapons to restrain inmates
The bill “puts the safety of incarcerated persons and correction employees at substantial risk,” said Gov. Lamont
“I think the rest of his life is going to be a totally barbaric existence,” said a law professor
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