In an unprecedented move (at least in the United States) the New York City Board of Correction announced today:
- Starting January 1st, 2016, no one under the age of twenty-one will be put into solitary confinement.
- Starting immediately, no one will be confined for more than 30 days continually in solitary confinement.
- Starting immediately, no one will be confined for more than 60 days in a six months period, nor put back into solitary before seven days have passed.
January 13, 2015 — The New York City Board of Correction today announced nationally unprecedented new rules governing the use of solitary confinement at Rikers Island, including ending its use on people 21 and younger and reducing solitary confinement for all prisoners to no more than 30 consecutive days...
Last year, the New York Civil Liberties Union reached an agreement with New York City not to use solitary confinement on those under 18, but this goes one step further...
The rule takes into account new scientific evidence that those 21 and younger do not have fully developed cognitive abilities. The NYCLU, with the support of prison officials, mental health professionals and human rights partners, has long advocated against the traumatic impact of solitary confinement especially on vulnerable young people.
There will be an "alternative housing unit" for those who are a serious threat to safety as an alternative to solitary confinement. In this unit, prisoners may be kept up to 17 hours a day in their cells, including sleep time. It remains to be seen whether this is real reform - whether only those who are truly a threat to the safety of others will be put there - or whether it will simply take the place of solitary confinement. But the alternative housing project is only authorized for a year, at which time it will be evaluated before being reauthorized.
Nonetheless
“With these reforms, New York City has taken an important stand for basic human rights and reaffirmed its commitment to the safety of prisoners, prison staff and our communities,” said NYCLU Executive Director Donna Lieberman. “An institution as profoundly broken as Rikers Island will require wholesale reform to transform into a humane environment that emphasizes treatment and rehabilitation over punishment and isolation, and these rules are a major step forward.”
There is still a long way to go but kudos are due, at long last, to those in charge of New York City's prisons.