New from Solitary Watch:

In a two-part series, Solitary Watch reporting intern Sania Tildon examines the devastating psychological effects of solitary confinement through firsthand accounts. Part 1 explores how the conditions and lack of meaningful mental health care in solitary confinement often exacerbate preexisting mental health issues and create long-lasting psychological damage, especially among vulnerable populations.  Solitary Watch | Part 2 focuses on survivors of solitary confinement and their paths to healing. Despite the deep psychological scars left by solitary, survivors report finding healing through peer support, animal therapy, and community-based programs that address the unique trauma of isolation.  In both parts, the stories collected and told by Tildon highlight the critical need for reform and comprehensive mental health care for those affected by solitary confinement. Solitary Watch

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

Los Angeles County has reached a historic $4 billion agreement to settle more than 3,000 sexual abuse claims involving its juvenile detention facilities, following  years of investigative reporting and growing public pressure. Survivors, most of whom were children at the time, describe abuse by probation officers and staff at juvenile halls and camps throughout the county, including placement in prolonged solitary confinement. While officials say reforms are underway, advocates emphasize that true accountability requires transparency, independent oversight, and a fundamental shift away from youth incarceration. Associated Press

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In May 2024, Erik Ramsey, an incarcerated individual in North Carolina, died by suicide after spending nearly two months in solitary confinement. Despite being diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder after his arrest and having previously attempted suicide while incarcerated, Ramsey was denied access to mental health care just hours before his death. Numerous studies have linked prolonged isolation with an increased risk of suicide and self-harm. Although the state says it has made efforts to address this issue, data shows that 60% of suicides in North Carolina prisons between 2016 and 2024 occurred in solitary confinement. North Carolina Health News

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Prison reform advocates in Minnesota are pushing for new legislation to ban solitary confinement and improve conditions for those placed in segregated housing. More than 10,000 solitary placements were reported between July 2022 and June 2023, with the cap for the maximum length of time in solitary having also increased from 90 to 360 days. Supporters of the bill argue that the mental health effects of isolation are too severe to ignore. While DOC Commissioner Paul Schnell agrees that solitary confinement is not an effective long-term solution and supports transitioning to an incentives-based model, he argues that banning it entirely could pose safety risks. Bemidji Pioneer 

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Documents obtained through FOIA litigation reveal how U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) continues to rely on solitary confinement in its detention facilities. An investigation by the American Civil Liberties Union uncovered an internal policy directive giving ICE officials broad discretion to place individuals in solitary, often for minor infractions and even for requesting medical or mental health care.  Despite ICE’s claims of reform, records show that solitary is disproportionately used against vulnerable people, including those with mental illness and LGBTQ+ individuals. ACLU

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More than a century after the U.S. Supreme Court recognized the psychological harm caused by solitary confinement, the practice remains widespread in American prisons. Despite overwhelming research showing its damaging effects on the brain and body, the courts have failed to clearly rule whether it violates constitutional protections. Micaela Romero, a researcher at the University of Washington, is working to shift that reality. Motivated by the experience of her incarcerated partner, she studies the impacts of social isolation using bumblebees and octopuses to highlight how incarcerated people are often treated with less care than animals in laboratories. The Appeal 

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Action Alerts: 

On April 2, Just Detention International hosted a virtual event discussing the Trump administration’s attacks on incarcerated transgender people and the ongoing threats they face, including a disproportionate risk of solitary confinement. A recording of the event is now available here: Protecting Incarcerated Trans Lives: A Call to Action. Just Detention International also launched an advocacy toolkit, which includes an overview of the issue and strategies for opposing harmful policies and legislation, to help others get involved in the fight for incarcerated transgender people’s rights. Download it here: Toolkit

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