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 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
The state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision did not give evidence to refute allegations that it has failed to follow the state’s limits on solitary confinement
The DOC must make a series of changes at Wis. juvenile prisons to “drastically reduce” the use of solitary, pepper spray and shackles on young inmates
Ten percent of Alaska inmates were in restricted housing in 2012 while the national average was 4 percent
The state allows inmates to be placed in segregated disciplinary units for as long as 10 years
Legislation would restrict confinement to no more than 15 consecutive days unless an inmate is sent to a special residential rehabilitation unit
The legislation prohibits the DOC from holding any individual under age 18 on administrative segregation
Gov. Susana Martinez vetoed the legislation last month, saying it could endanger corrections officers and inmates by limiting the options of prison officials
Gov. Susana Martinez said the bill would have eliminated the flexibility COs need to control potentially violent criminals or prevent them from harming other inmates
Under the proposal, pregnant women and juveniles are banned from being placed in solitary confinement
The DOC says it is working with lawmakers on proposed changes to how some inmates are classified and disciplined by being placed in restrictive cells
According to a lawsuit settlement, California will no longer keep death row inmates in solitary confinement only because of their purported gang affiliations
Correctional officials have said they put the inmates in solitary confinement to protect them from themselves and others
The bill would require regular reporting by all correctional facilities on the inmates who are held in isolation
The measure would prohibit the use of solitary confinement for inmates younger than 18, pregnant female inmates and those who have a serious mental illness
The court ruled former death-row inmates who received new sentences have a right to avoid solitary confinement
They alleged officials used pepper spray excessively and kept juveniles in solitary confinement for weeks or months at a time
Multiple Mecklenburg County commissioners are voicing concerns about the practice of putting 16- and 17-year-olds in solitary confinement for long periods
The lawsuit contends pregnant women in the Allegheny County jail are sometimes sent to solitary for minor rule violations without proper disciplinary hearings
The filmmaker wants to start a conversation about the punishment
An article reported that black prisoners were punished at higher rates and subjected to solitary confinement more often than white inmates
The bill called for prohibiting solitary confinement except in cases where there was a reasonable cause to think the inmate posed a substantial risk
The report said the jail is placing inmates with mental illnesses and disabilities in solitary confinement as a result of their disability
Inmates began a two-week hunger strike to protest an array of conditions at the Santa Clara County jails, including solitary confinement and inadequate provisions
Rapper Jay Z is shining a light on prison reform by co-producing a documentary about Kalief Browder, who spent three years behind bars without trial for allegedly stealing a backpack
The state typically keeps about 300 inmates isolated in small cells, some for months or years
Under the bill, COs can’t use confinement to retaliate against or punish minors and can only resort to the method when they’ve tried “less restrictive options”
Several escape attempts, including one in which a CO was bound and gagged, landed the inmate in isolation, although officials have described him as a model inmate over the past 25 years
A federal judge on Tuesday ordered prison officials to end a convicted murderer’s stay in solitary confinement after 36 years
Under the reforms agreed to by the state, disciplinary confinement no longer can be used for minors or for inmates who are pregnant
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- NJ bill held up over definition of solitary confinement
- Minn. DOC revises inmate disciplinary policy
- Teens kept in isolation cells at Ky. juvenile detention center, lawsuit alleges
- Union: Staffing shortage increasing safety hazards at Nev. prison
- NC jail eases restrictions on teens in solitary confinement