Solitary Confinement Reform (S 3053)

We joined a number of organizations in supporting legislation which would have limite the ability for carceral facilities in RI to utilize solitary confinement, noting that best practices point towards eliminating solitary confinement as a way to keep prisons safer, healthier, and reduce recidivism.

Solitary confinement — in which individuals who are incarcerated are isolated in a cell for up to 22 hours a day without access to other individuals — can have profound and harmful impacts on the health of an incarcerated individual. The ACLU of RI strongly supported passage of this legislation, which would have provided a statutory mandate limiting the use of solitary confinement in Rhode Island’s prison system and provide external enforcement and review provisions to ensure compliance. This bill died in committe.