New York Ends Solitary Confinement for Underage Inmates

Solitary confinement banned for inmates under 21.

Image via Josh Estey/AusAID

Following through with a promise for prison reform, New York has taken a step to change its much maligned prison system—a small piece of the bigger picture—and voted to end solitary confinement practices for inmates under 21. 

The NYC Board of Correction voted unanimously for the reforms, which will go into effect January of next year, while also limiting solitary confinement to 30 consecutive days. Cases of people being in solitary confinement for over 700 consecutive days made headlines earlier last year.

Besides minors, inmates with severe mental illness and serious physical disabilities will also be excluded from solitary confinement, said the department of corrections. The new rules state that inmates who are deemed extremely violent will be housed in a new unit “enhanced supervision housing.”

More changes will come later this year when new housing areas strictly for inmates 18-21 are created.

[via DNA Info]

Latest in Pop Culture