NYC council votes to ban solitary confinement in city jails

The New York City Council voted Wednesday to ban solitary confinement in city jails.

“The Council has taken historic strides to advance justice and safety by banning solitary confinement and improving police transparency,” City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams (D) said in a press release. “The physical and psychological harm caused by solitary confinement leads to increased death and violence in jails, endangering those incarcerated, as well as correction officers and staff.”

The release stated that as a result of the legislation, everyone in city custody “would have at least 14 hours of out-of-cell time in shared spaces.” It said people would only be separated “from the general population” only if they are involved in “a violent incident in custody.”

The bill was sponsored by New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams (D), who called the “presence” of solitary confinement in New York City “indefensible.”

“Committing an infraction in jail can cause you to lose privileges, not basic human rights,” Williams said in the release. “People in solitary are isolated, denied human contact and connection, denied support, and come out of these deplorable conditions worse than when they went in — and some don’t come out at all. Banning solitary — not just in name, but in practice — is good for public safety.”

In July, House Democrats introduced a bill to stop solitary confinement in federal prisons, jails and detention centers.

“Solitary confinement is a moral catastrophe,” said Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.), who led Democrats in the introduction of the legislation, adding that the practice is “psychological torture.” 

“This practice is traumatic for people subjected to it, harmful to communities and isolating for loved ones,” she said. “Moreover, it is disproportionately inflicted on Black and brown folks, young people, LGBTQ+ people and other marginalized communities.”