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February 20, 2014

New York Agrees to Reform Use of Solitary Confinement in State Prisons 
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The state of New York has agreed to limit its use of solitary
confinement in prisons. Under a agreement with the New York Civil
Liberties Union, the state's prison system will become the largest in
the country to ban solitary confinement as a disciplinary measure for
those under 18. The deal also curbs the use of solitary confinement for
pregnant and developmentally disabled prisoners. NYCLU Executive
Director Donna Lieberman said, "New York State has done the right thing
by committing to comprehensive reform of the way it uses extreme
isolation, a harmful and inhumane practice that has for years been used
as a punishment of first resort in New York’s prisons."

 

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