New York City Mayor Suspends Solitary Confinement Law Citing Safety Concerns
Mayor Eric Adams of New York City has issued an emergency order to suspend key provisions of a recently passed law aimed at banning solitary confinement in local jails, just a day before it was set to take effect. The decision comes amidst concerns for the safety of both staff and detainees.
The emergency declaration allows for the continuation of practices related to "de-escalation confinement," which permits extending the four-hour cap on isolating prisoners deemed a safety risk in exceptional circumstances. Under this measure, authorities must release individuals from confinement "as soon as practicable" once they no longer pose an imminent threat.
Additionally, the order overrides a stipulation limiting the use of longer-term “restrictive housing” for inmates to a maximum of 60 days within any 12-month period. Instead, the mayor’s directive mandates a review of a prisoner’s ongoing placement every 15 days.
In the state of emergency proclamation, Adams emphasized the critical need to safeguard the health and safety of both inmates and correctional staff, as well as the general public.
This law, originally vetoed by Adams, was passed by the City Council earlier this year despite the opposition from the administration. Lawmakers had argued that solitary confinement is akin to torture, significantly impacting mental health and increasing the risk of suicide, violence, and substance abuse among inmates.
Proponents of the law, including its sponsor, have highlighted the detrimental psychological effects of isolation on inmates. They note that even brief periods in solitary confinement can lead to severe anxiety, depression, and other impairments, further complicating an inmate’s successful reintegration post-release.
While Mayor Adams maintains that solitary confinement, defined as confinement for 22 hours or more a day, has not been practiced since its elimination in 2019, he supports the need for controlled confinement methods to prevent violence within jails.
The mayor’s emergency order, which can remain in effect for up to 30 days with potential extensions, will temporarily suspend specific provisions of the new law for five days, unless amended or revoked sooner.
