New this week from Solitary Watch:

In the most recent edition of Voices from Solitary, John C. Buckley IV reflects on his journey as a decorated U.S. Army veteran of two wars who also spent seven years in solitary confinement. He describes how the prison system only punished him for mental illness caused by the horrific trauma of war, electing to keep him “out of sight and out of mind” in solitary confinement. He recounts the ways solitary drove the men around him to insanity, leading them to commit severe acts of self-harm and suicide. Buckley compares surviving  solitary to his time in war, writing “I’ve lived it, experienced it, and I am combating the aftereffects much like when I returned from war.” Solitary Watch 

---

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

A mother filed a complaint to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) after her five-year old child, who has autism, was forced into an empty, windowless, closet-size “quiet room” for 30 minutes at West Parish School in Gloucester. Isolation is never helpful in changing behavior, and Massachusetts regulations state that “rooms can be used for behavioral support, but seclusion is prohibited, unless it’s an emergency.” However, records show that this was not the only time this child was placed in the room. He was previously isolated for leaving the classroom without permission, throwing objects, and trying to hit a classmate. “[Any parent] would be horrified to know that their child was being not only placed in a closet, but the district is intentionally not telling them,” said the family’s attorney. CBS News | “Seclusion rooms” are widely used across the country, almost exclusively for children with special needs. Solitary Watch

---

The family of Delvin Francisco Rodriguez is contesting an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) report stating that his death in solitary confinement at a detention center in Adams County, Mississippi, was a suicide. A statement from CoreCivic, the private company running the facility, claims that staff found Rodriguez hanging in his cell; however, nurses stated some of his injuries are not consistent with suicide. Additionally, Rodriguez did not show any signs of wanting to harm himself prior to his death, regularly calling his siblings and asking his mother to prepare clothes for his return to Nicaragua. His family is demanding more information on his death with the help of Voces Unidas, a non-profit building Latino power.  Mississippi Today

---

New research exposes the health burdens of solitary confinement for older incarcerated adults. Using 28 in-depth interviews with men over 50 housed at one of three prisons, researchers found that participants in solitary perceive confinement as obstructing their health and access to health care. In particular, they worry about medical emergencies, treatment restrictions, and unsanitary conditions. “There’s nobody that comes by to check on us,” said one participant. “If I have a seizure in here, I’m done [dead]. Staff are supposed to come by every thirty minutes, but nobody does.” Science Direct

---

Following years of solitary confinement at Maine State Prison, Zachary Swain sued the state for violating his Eighth Amendment rights and recently received a $250,000 settlement. The lawsuit asserted that Swain was denied treatment and placement in a mental health unit despite his documented history of mental illness and repeated pleas for transfer. Swain was isolated for over half of his six-year sentence, worsening his behavior and causing repeated self-harm and suicide attempts. Swain’s experience shocked advocates, as Maine claims to have abandoned the use of solitary confinement. The Maine Monitor

---

Representing himself in court, Travis Braden secured a $27,500 settlement in a civil rights lawsuit against Williamson County, Illinois. The lawsuit accused jail staff of placing Braden in a restraint chair for three days after he attempted suicide, instead of providing proper medical treatment. He claimed the experience caused emotional, mental, and physical trauma. Braden’s story is one of many cited in a statewide investigation into increased use of restraint chairs, especially on those with mental illness. Illinois Answers

---

Researchers at the Brennan Center for Justice released a report examining the effectiveness of different rehabilitation programs being implemented at various prisons nationwide. One reform initiative highlighted is Restoring Promise, which redesigned isolation housing units and provided programming for incarcerated young adults in South Carolina. Facilities that implemented Restoring Promise programs saw a 73 percent decrease in violent incidents and an 83 percent drop in the use of solitary confinement. Other reforms referenced in the report have also resulted in reductions in violence, isolation, and recidivism rates. Brennan Center

---

Action Alerts:

The Strike, a documentary on the historic hunger strike against solitary confinement in California, has been nominated for three Emmy Awards and a Peabody Award. The film can be streamed for free on PBS from April 16 to June 11, 2026. The film is also available to be purchased for educational distribution, and those interested can sign up to host a screening at their school, university, or organization. To help the film reach new audiences, viewers are encouraged to leave a review on IMDB, Letterboxd, or Rotten Tomatoes. The Strike 

---

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.