New York City Mayor Eric Adams has prevented a new law limiting solitary confinement in local jails by imposing an emergency.
The law, expected to take effect on Sunday, capped solitary confinement at four hours and mandated at least 14 hours outside cells in shared spaces daily with other provisions too.
26 People Have Died
Since January 2022, at least 26 people have died in New York City jails, according to a report by the Center for Justice at Columbia University.
The report found that despite the Department of Corrections reducing solitary confinement to six hours, detainees were still held for much longer periods, sometimes days at a time.
Why The Ban?
The city’s mayor claimed that the new law gives extra provisions to those jailed and puts the lives of the public at risk.
The city’s Mayor argues that the law’s provisions regarding the management of incarcerated individuals eliminate necessary discretion for correcting the behavior.
