New this week from Solitary Watch:

Prison writer and activist Jeremy Busby debunks the myths surrounding Texas’s “double-cell” solitary units, which house two people in a single cell for nearly 24 hours a day. Following the death of Alton Rodger, an incarcerated man, Busby details the inhumane conditions of these cells and how they contributed to Rodger’s passing. Prison officials claim that double-celling keeps staff and incarcerated people safe. However, as Busby argues in an article co-published with The Appeal, forcing people to be with another person in claustrophobic conditions lessens opportunities for privacy and increases the chances of a negative encounter. Solitary Watch

…

In the latest in our Voices From Solitary series, incarcerated writer Joesph Patri Brown delves into the unsanitary conditions of death row solitary units at Mississippi’s notorious Parchman Prison. His story covers how the danger of being held in isolation is amplified when these conditions combine with inaccessible medical care. By sharing the cleaning regime he performs every time he moves from one cell to another, Brown emphasizes the importance of fighting for one’s right to live while on death row. Solitary Watch

…

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

Republican Virginia Governor Glen Youngkin vetoed twenty proposed pieces of legislation passed by the Democratic-majority legislature, including a bill that would have enacted more restrictions on the state’s use of solitary confinement. ABC 8News | The bill, HB 1244/SB719, would have limited the use of solitary confinement to 15 days, as well as increased reporting and oversight on solitary in Virginia prisons. With the ongoing prison hunger strikes and the overwhelming support for the bill in Virginia’s State Senate and House, advocates from Interfaith Action for Human Rights are urging the governor to reconsider his decision. IAHR | Shortly after Youngkin’s veto, the ACLU of Virginia filed a motion on behalf of individuals incarcerated at Red Onion State Prison, alleging that prison officials are violating their First Amendment rights. This action follows incidents in October 2024, where several incarcerated men attempted self-immolation to protest inhumane conditions. ACLU Virginia

…

New York state is now spending over $100 million to employ the National Guard as temporary correctional officers in the aftermath of the recent three-week wildcat strike by corrections officers. Spectrum News | A new report from the Legal Aid Society details the ongoing mental, physical, and emotional trauma inflicted upon incarcerated New Yorkers as a result of the strike. Legal Aid | In hopes of increasing transparency, several advocacy organizations have come together to secure a court order compelling Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) staff to identify the specific provisions they have suspended as resolution to the strike. Legal Reader | Although the strike has ended, deaths in New York’s jails and prisons continue to rise. As a result, advocates have begun questioning the effectiveness of the State Commission of Correction (SCOC), one of New York’s most powerful prison oversight bodies. Although SCOC has the power to fine facilities for misconduct, it rarely cracks down on violations and doesn’t voluntarily release its inspection reports. As the deadline for the state’s budget approaches, advocates and public officials are calling for sweeping reform of SCOC’s leadership, budget, and operations. NY Focus

…

The experiences of two currently detained pro-Palestinian college activists have shed light on solitary confinement conditions within Louisiana and Texas ICE detention centers. Complaints of inhumane conditions filed to the ACLU and other legal aid providers can be traced back to 2022. Individuals detained at these centers are given limited phone access and inadequate medical care while being forced to endure poor living conditions and severe mistreatment by ICE officials. CNN

…

Earlier this month, President Donald Trump deported over 200 Venezuelans from the United States to El Salvador’s notorious Terrorism Confinement Center. The administration justified this action with accusations of gang activity, but some of the accused, supported by witnesses and experts, deny the allegations. Men at the prison are confined to overcrowded cells for 23.5 hours each day. The lights remain on around the clock except for in solitary confinement, where complete darkness is the norm. Mother Jones

…

People convicted of offenses related to the January 6 insurrection, who have been pardoned by President Trump, are now advocating for prison reform after experiencing excessive use of solitary confinement while incarcerated. Their complaints reflect longstanding concerns voiced by advocates and survivors of solitary, including poor quality of food, inadequate healthcare, and limited access to communication with loved ones. Some criminal justice experts anticipate that as the criminal justice system incarcerates more white people, it’s likely that a bipartisan desire for reform could grow. The Washington Post

…

Solitary survivors featured in the new PBS documentary The Strike appeared in a radio feature and podcast from Reveal. They provided an inside story of how the men at California’s Pelican Bay State Prison were able to organize a hunger strike against long-term solitary confinement, which ultimately helped push California to implement reforms. Reveal News

…

Get this weekly roundup in your mail every Wednesday, covering the past seven days of solitary confinement news and commentary. Subscribe today.

The work we do is made possible by your support. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation—large or small—today.