The Letter Calls for a Prohibition on Solitary Confinement beyond Periods Measured in Hours and Promotes Alternative Forms of Separation involving Full Days of Out of Cell Group Programming and Engagement
(New York) — Yesterday, current and former correction leaders — including Former NYS DOCCS Commissioner Brian Fischer, former NYC jails Commissioner Martin Horn, and the current monitor of NYC jails Steve Martin — made public a letter documenting how solitary confinement does not keep people safe and instead worsens safety for everyone, how solitary is torture and causes devastating harm, how solitary should be prohibited other than for periods measured in hours, and how alternative forms of separation involving out-of-cell human engagement and programming for the majority of the day have been proven to be effective at keeping everyone safe. Read the full letter here….