Arrr, mateys! New York City be puttin' a stop to solitary confinement in the scurvy jails! Aye, 'tis a grand step indeed!
2023-12-20
Arr, me hearties! Ye scallywags from the New York City Council be passin' a decree to put an end to solitary confinement in the city's jails. They be claimin' that this here practice be makin' the poor prisoners go mad, drivin' 'em to the brink of Davy Jones' locker!
New York City has voted to ban solitary confinement in city jails due to concerns about the psychological harm it causes and its contribution to increased violence and death in these institutions. The City Council's decision is aimed at advancing justice and safety. Under current rules, inmates can be isolated in a cell for up to 23 hours a day for a maximum of 60 days for serious infractions. The new rules will introduce "de-escalation confinement" for up to four hours after an episode of violence, with frequent wellness checks by jail staff. Furthermore, a detainee found guilty of a serious infraction can be transferred to restrictive housing for up to 60 days a year, but not isolated from shared areas for more than 10 hours a day. The bill has garnered support from public defender groups, prison reform advocates, and families who have lost loved ones in custody on Rikers Island.Opposition to the legislation comes from Democratic Mayor Eric Adams, the New York City Police Department, and the Correction Officers' Benevolent Association. Mayor Adams, a former police captain, has been working to prevent a federal takeover of Rikers Island due to its rampant violence. The labor union representing jail guards argues that the ban will make it harder to protect staff from detainee violence. They cite over 6,000 instances of detainee assaults on jail guards, including cases of sexual assault, within the past three years. Mayor Adams has vowed to veto the bill, but the council is determined to overrule the veto with a two-thirds majority vote. The final count was 39 in favor and seven opposed.