Solitary Confinement Reform Act This bill establishes standards for the use of solitary confinement at federal prisons. It generally limits the use of solitary confinement to situations that meet certain criteria, including confinement for the briefest term and the least restrictive conditions practicable. It also limits the use of solitary confinement for certain categories of inmates, including pregnant women and individuals with serious mental illness. The bill requires the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to do the following: establish a transitional process for inmates in solitary confinement, provide comprehensive mental health evaluations for inmates in solitary confinement, train employees on mental illness and the psychological effects of solitary confinement, and report annually on the use of solitary confinement. It establishes, within the BOP, an Office of the Civil Rights Ombudsman. Finally, it establishes a solitary confinement resource center within the Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance.
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresAdministrative remediesAssault and harassment offensesChild safety and welfareCongressional oversightCorrectional facilities and imprisonmentCriminal justice information and recordsDepartment of JusticeDisability and paralysisExecutive agency funding and structureGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsHealth personnelHIV/AIDSIntergovernmental relationsJuvenile crime and gang violenceMedical tests and diagnostic methodsMental healthSex, gender, sexual orientation discriminationState and local government operationsWomen's health
Solitary Confinement Reform Act
USA116th CongressS-719| Senate
| Updated: 3/7/2019
Solitary Confinement Reform Act This bill establishes standards for the use of solitary confinement at federal prisons. It generally limits the use of solitary confinement to situations that meet certain criteria, including confinement for the briefest term and the least restrictive conditions practicable. It also limits the use of solitary confinement for certain categories of inmates, including pregnant women and individuals with serious mental illness. The bill requires the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to do the following: establish a transitional process for inmates in solitary confinement, provide comprehensive mental health evaluations for inmates in solitary confinement, train employees on mental illness and the psychological effects of solitary confinement, and report annually on the use of solitary confinement. It establishes, within the BOP, an Office of the Civil Rights Ombudsman. Finally, it establishes a solitary confinement resource center within the Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance.
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresAdministrative remediesAssault and harassment offensesChild safety and welfareCongressional oversightCorrectional facilities and imprisonmentCriminal justice information and recordsDepartment of JusticeDisability and paralysisExecutive agency funding and structureGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsHealth personnelHIV/AIDSIntergovernmental relationsJuvenile crime and gang violenceMedical tests and diagnostic methodsMental healthSex, gender, sexual orientation discriminationState and local government operationsWomen's health