New this week from Solitary Watch:

In the most recent edition of Voices from Solitary, incarcerated journalist Sara Kielly brings readers with her as she travels back to her time at a men’s maximum security facility. Like more than 90 percent of transgender woman, Kielly spent long stints in solitary confinement before her transfer to a women’s facility. She recounts how the psychological stress of solitary combined with abuse from staff and other incarcerated people led her to attempt suicide in her cell. Kielly reminds us that passing legislation, like the HALT Solitary Act, is the first of many critical steps in a long-term process of transformation away from a culture rooted in dehumanization. Solitary Watch

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For women’s history month, incarcerated journalist and Solitary Watch Contributing Writer Kwaneta Harris examines the unique impact of solitary confinement on women. Throughout history, solitary confinement has been used against women who defy the social and political norms assigned to them on the basis of sex. Harris highlights some of their experiences, from Susan B. Anthony and Nellie Bly to Angela Davis, to explore the ways women are suffer different and disproportionate effects in isolation. Solitary Watch

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This week’s pick of news and commentary about solitary confinement:

Incarcerated journalist Kwaneta Harris exposes the rampant culture of sexual abuse and exploitation in Texas women’s prisons, especially in solitary confinement. She reveals how corrections officers who manipulate, harass, and assault women with impunity are protected by a system that turns a blind eye. Through firsthand accounts and alarming statistics, she shows how speaking out often leads to retaliation instead of justice. Her story sheds light on the broader patterns of victimization that leave incarcerated women vulnerable, making a powerful call for accountability and reform. The Marshall Project

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The illegal 22-day corrections officers’ strike in New York has come to an end. Although many officers returned to work by the state-imposed deadline, over 2,000 are facing termination for refusing to return to duty. In response to the strike’s impact on prison operations, the state deployed National Guard troops to maintain security and is launching an aggressive campaign to recruit new officers.  State officials have pledged to honor parts of a labor agreement, including overtime pay and reinstatement for returning officers, while addressing concerns over prison safety and staff shortages. However, the agreement also includes controversial provisions, such as the temporary suspension parts of the HALT Solitary Confinement law, which have sparked protest from advocacy groups. The deaths of seven incarcerated people during the strike, including two cases under investigation for possible foul play by officers, remain a focal point of scrutiny. Times Union

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A proposed bill in New Mexico, House Bill 533, has sparked heated debate over the use of solitary confinement in the state’s prisons and jails. The bill aims to reduce the threshold for solitary confinement from 22 to 17 hours per day and expand restrictions on the use of solitary to include individuals under 21, over 55, pregnant or postpartum, and/or identifying as LGBTQ. Additionally, it seeks to limit the duration of solitary confinement to no more than 15 consecutive days or 90 days within a year, requiring documentation and a transition plan if exceeded. Supporters assert that solitary confinement is inhumane and ineffective, while critics argue that the bill would hinder their ability to maintain safety and security in prisons. The committee considering the bill postponed a vote to allow for further discussions with stakeholders.  El Rito Media News Services

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A Connecticut prison is adopting a new approach inspired by Norway’s correctional system, focusing on rehabilitation rather than punishment. At Garner Correctional Institution, where most incarcerated people have mental health diagnoses, officers are engaging individuals in conversations and activities to build trust and deescalate conflicts before they arise. Led by Amend, a public health and human rights program at UCSF, the initiative aims to shift prison culture, improve staff well-being, and reduce violence. CT Mirror

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Fleeing political persecution in Venezuela, Yofer Fernando Orozco-Herrera sought safety in the United States, only to face new injustices at the Otero County Processing Center. There he endured 17 days in solitary confinement, which he describes as psychological torture inflicted without cause. Despite prolonged detention, anxiety, and depression, Yofer found solidarity with fellow detainees, resisting unjust policies through hunger strikes. His plea is simple: “We are not bad people. We are fathers and mothers who want to work.” This commentary notes that his story underscores the urgent need for reform, including New Mexico’s House Bill 9, the Immigrant Safety Act, to protect immigrant rights and dignity. ACLU New Mexico

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A new initiative is using virtual reality (VR) to help individuals in solitary in California prisons confinement cope with isolation and develop emotional awareness. Created by the nonprofit Creative Acts and implemented in several prisons across the state, the program immerses incarcerated participants in everyday life experiences and travel adventures followed by art exercises to process emotions. Many report reduced infractions and a sense of connection despite their isolation. While some question the ethics of introducing VR in prisons, and argue that it is not a replacement for limits on the use of solitary, supporters of the program argue it offers a rare glimpse of freedom and a tool for rehabilitation in an otherwise restrictive environment. The Guardian

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Sam Bankman-Fried, the former crypto founder convicted of fraud and money laundering, was reportedly placed in solitary confinement after an unauthorized jailhouse interview with Tucker Carlson. During the interview, Bankman-Fried expressed his shift in political allegiance, praising the GOP and claiming a better relationship with Republicans over time. He also attempted to distance himself from his criminal actions, stating, “I don’t think I’m a criminal.”. The interview, conducted at the Metropolitan Detention Center, a federal jail in Brooklyn, was part of an apparent strategy to gain favor with President Donald Trump while leveraging his family’s connections to Trump’s legal team in hopes of securing a pardon. Independent

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