Reducing the use and impact of solitary confinement in corrections

• Published date: 13 March 2017
• Pages: 41-48
• Date: 13 March 2017
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPH-08-2016-0040
• Author: Cyrus Ahalt,Craig Haney,Sarah Rios,Matthew P. Fox,David Farabee,Brie Williams
• Subject Matter: Health & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology,Prisoner health,Sociology,Sociology of crime & law,Public policy & environmental management,Policing,Criminal justice

Reducing the use and impact of solitary

confinement in corrections

Cyrus Ahalt, Craig Haney, Sarah Rios, Matthew P. Fox, David Farabee and Brie Williams

Abstract

Purpose –Although the reform of solitary confinement is underway in many jurisdictions around world,

isolation remains in widespread use in many jails and prisons. The purpose of this paper is to discuss

opportunities for reform in the USA that could also be applied globally.

Design/methodology/approach –A review of the evidence on solitary confinement policies and practices

in the USA to develop recommendations for reform with global application.

Findings –Focusing on this evidence, the authors argue that solitary confinement is overused and

recommend a multi-level approach available tocorrectional systems worldwideincluding: immediately limiting

solitary confinement to only those cases in which a violentbehavioral infraction has beencommitted for which

safety cannototherwise be achieved, ensuringthe briefest terms of isolation neededto achieve legitimate and

immediate correctional goals, prohibiting its use entirely for some populations, regularly reviewing all isolated

prisonersfor as-soon-as-possiblereturn to general population,including the immediatereturn of those showing

mental and physicalhealth risk factors, assisting individuals who are transitioning out of isolation (either to the

generalpopulation or to the community),and partnering withmedical, public health,and criminal justice experts

to develop evidence-based alternatives to solitary confinement for nearly all prisoners.

Originality/value –This paper provides an overview of the evidence supporting an overhaul of solitary

confinement policy in the USA and globally where solitary confinement remains in wide use and offers

recommendations for immediate steps that can be taken toward achieving evidence-based solitary

confinement reform.

Keywords Criminal justice system, Health in prison, Public health, Correctional health care, Prison,

Solitary confinement

Paper type Conceptual paper

Background

Solitary confinement –also known as restrictive housing, segregated housing, administrative

segregation, disciplinary segregation, special management unit, or “isolation”–is a form of

correctional housing generally defined as spending approximately 23 hours each day in a small

cell roughly the size of a parking spot, with one hour allowed for exercise (typically occurring

alone, in a small outdoor cage) (American Civil Liberties Union, 2014). Prisoners eat, sleep, and

toilet inside these small cells, which are sometimes deprived of natural light; the cells contain a

bed, a sink and a toilet, and all of the prisoner’s possessions. Solitary confinement imposes

severe social deprivation –substantial isolation from others –but it also typically deprives

prisoners of many other things, including access to rehabilit ative programming, work

assignments, and contact visits with family and friends. Ease of access to lawyers, medical,

and mental health personnel is also typically restricted in these units. Since solitary confinement

came into widespread use in the nineteenth century as a form of punishment for convicted

persons held in correctional settings, its observed adverse health effects have spurred calls to

abolish or greatly restrict its use (Smith, 2006; Haney et al., 2016). Yet solitary confinement

remains in use in many countries around the world; in many jurisdictions, it is applied as an

additional form of punishment at the discretion of prison administrators.

Internationally, correctional leaders and policymakers are increasingly aware of the health and

human rights problems and costs associated with the use of solitary confinement. In 2015, the

Received 23 August 2016

Revised 30 November 2016

5 January 2017

Accepted 5 January 2017

Cyrus Ahalt is based at the

University of California,

San Francisco, San Francisco,

California, USA.

Craig Haney is based at the

University of California, Santa

Cruz, Santa Cruz,

California, USA.

Sarah Rios is based at the

University of California, Santa

Barbara, Santa Barbara,

California, USA.

Matthew P. Fox and

David Farabee are both based

at the University of California,

Los Angeles, Los Angeles,

California, USA.

Brie Williams is a Professor at

the University of California,

San Francisco, San Francisco,

California, USA.

DOI 10.1108/IJPH-08-2016-0040 VOL. 13 NO. 1 2017, pp. 41-48, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 1744-9200

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