State & Local Action

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REFORMS: After problems persist, state again vows to reform youth corrections system (Jan, 2020)
REPORT: Colorado DYS Featured in Report by Stop Solitary for Kids (2019)
RESULTS: What Colorado DYS is Doing (JJIE, 2018), Assaults Down in Colorado (2018)
LEGISLATION: State Passes Law to Limit Solitary for Kids (2017)
ACLU Report Says Solitary & Harmful Restraints Still Used (2017)
LEGISLATION: Legislature passes bill to overhaul juvenile justice, including solitary (2017) Read HB 1329

CONNECTICUT

DOJ Initiates Investigation of Manson Youth Correctional Institution for Solitary (2019)
Report: Kids Still in Solitary and Changes Needed (2019)
LEGISLATION: Connecticut Passes Law to Limit Solitary for Kids (2017)
Replica Cell Serves as Tool to Educate Lawmakers (2017)

WASHINGTON, D.C.

LEGISLATION: D.C. Passes Bill Limiting Solitary Confinement for Youth (2017)

LITIGATION: Judge Denies Motion to Dismiss in Litigation Against DJJ (Dec. 2019)
LEGISLATION: Multiple Bills Introduced to Limit Solitary
LITIGATION: Lawsuit Challenges Solitary Confinement for Youth in DJJ (Sept. 2019) GH v. Marstiller Complaint.
Report on Solitary Confinement in Florida from the Southern Poverty Law Center (April 2019) (full report here)
LEGISLATION: Florida Introduces Bill to Limit Solitary Confinement for Kids (2019)
LITIGATION: Palm Beach County Settlement Agreement to Limit Solitary Confinement of Youth (2018)
LITIGATION: Florida DOJ Files Statement of Interest in Case Against Palm Beach County (2018)
LITIGATION: Lawsuit Against Palm Beach County Jail for Putting Kids in Solitary (2018), second article
LEGISLATION: Bill Introduced to Limit Youth Solitary (2013)

LITIGATION: Settlement Requires St. Joseph’s County to Limit Isolation for Youth (2019)

LITIGATION: Federal Court Orders Boys Training School in Eldora to End Punitive Solitary (March 2020)
LITIGATION: Iowa to pay $700k to Girls Kept in Solitary Wisconsin Detention Center (Oct. 2019)
LITIGATION: Trial in Iowa Lawsuit Challenging Solitary Confinement in State Training School (June 2019)
LITIGATION: Iowa Agrees to Settlement in Case Over Solitary Confinement (2018)
LITIGATION: State Sued Over Solitary Confinement at Eldora Youth Facility (2017)

Cook County Sheriff: My Jail Stopped Using Solitary Confinement. Here’s Why (Washington Post, April 2019)
REPORT: Increase in Solitary in Cook County Facility (2018)
LITIGATION: Litigation Leads to Policy Limiting Solitary Confinement

Solitary Confinement Inside Maine’s Juvenile Facilities

MARYLAND

LEGISLATION: MD Passes Legislation Limiting Solitary for Minors (SB 809) (HB 1001) (2019)

MASSACHUSETTS

REPORT: Massachusetts DYS Featured in Report from Stop Solitary for Kids (2019)
LEGISLATION: State Legislation Banning Isolation as Punishment (2018)
POLICY: Department of Youth Services Policy: A National Model for Reducing Solitary Confinement (2013 – )

LEGISLATION: State Passes Legislation to Limit Solitary for Youth (2019)
REPORT: Long Term Solitary and a Subculture of Violence in Montana Youth Facility (2018)
LEGISLATIVE ACTION: Montana legislature orders a study of the use of solitary and recommendations to reduce it (2017). The Committee’s Final Report available (2018).
LEGISLATION: House Bill 327 Introduced to Limit Solitary (2017)

LEGISLATION: Law Significantly Limits Solitary for Kids (2020)
NEW REPORT: Limited Progress on Reducing Solitary for Kids (2019)
LEGISLATION: Law Passed to Partially Limit Solitary (2019)
LEGISLATION: Bill Introduced to Sharply Limit Isolation of Youth (2018)
LITIGATION: ACLU Sues Nebraska For Solitary Confinement on Youth & Adults (2017)
Report Required by 2016 Legislation Shows Solitary Still Used ( Dec. 2017)
ACLU Report on Nebraska’s Use of Solitary (2016)
LEGISLATION: State Passes Law Requiring Data on Youth Solitary (2016)

Report from ACLU and Solitary Watch Documents Solitary in the Nevada Department of Corrections (2017)
LEGISLATION: Nevada Introduces Legislation to Limit Solitary for Youth (2017)

LEGISLATION: New Jersey Passes Law to Limit Solitary (2019)
Graphic: How Solitary Affects Youth in Adult Custody (2019) by NJ Parent’s Caucus (2018)
REPORT: New Jersey Parent’s Caucus Releases Brief on Youth With Mental Disabilities in Adult Prisons (2018)
LEGISLATION: Bill introduced to limit youth solitary (2018)
LEGISLATION: Bipartisan support for law to end youth solitary vetoed by Governor (2017)
LEGISLATION: New Jersey S 51 (2016)

LEGISLATION: NM Passes Legislation to Limit Youth Solitary (2019)
LEGISLATION: Overview of Legislative History of Solitary in NM (2018)
LEGISLATION: Proposed law would limit solitary for youth, pregnant women, those with mental illness (2017)
NM Governor vetoed legislation that would have limited solitary confinement for kids (2017)

NEW YORK & NYC

New York City Youth Still Held in Solitary Despite Ban, July 2018
LITIGATION: Injunction Granted Against Broome County for Keeping Youth in Solitary Confinement (2017-)
LITIGATION: NYCLU Sues Syracuse for Putting Kids in Solitary, Syracuse Agrees to Stop (2016-2017)
LEGISLATION: New York State Raises the Age, Preventing Solitary for Hundreds of Kids (2017)
New York City Agrees to Close Rikers (2017)
DOJ Investigates the NYC Department of Corrections on Rikers Island (2014)

NORTH CAROLINA

MEDIA: Youth in Charlotte Still Face Isolation (2018)
Durham Jail Holds Youth in Solitary, Raising Risk of Suicide (2018)
POLICY: Department of Public Safety Limits Solitary for Juveniles in Adult Prison (2016)
ACLU Report: Charlotte Jails Still Keep Kids in Solitary (2017)
LEGISLATION: North Carolina Considers Law to Raise the Age (2017)
LEGISLATION: North Carolina Finally Raises the Age of Jurisdiction (2017)

LITIGATION: DOJ & Children’s Law Center Lawsuit Leads to Agency Changes (2014)
POLICY: Ohio DYS Policy Reduces Solitary Confinement and Improves Facility Safety (2016)

PENNSYLVANIA

SOUTH CAROLINA

Despite Claims, Middle Tennessee Detention Center Uses Solitary on Kids (2019)
REPORT: Shelby County (Memphis) Featured in Report by Stop Solitary for Kids (2019)
Marshall Project Report Reveals Memphis Youth Held in Solitary in Adult Jail (2018)
LEGISLATION: Bill Introduced Would Limit Youth Solitary as Punishment (2018)
State Task Force Recommends Ending Solitary for Youth (2017)
LITIGATION: ACLU Sues County for Keeping Kids in Solitary (2017)

LITIGATION: Immigrant Youth in Virginia Juvenile Facility Report Solitary and Abuse, June 2018
LEGISLATION: Bill Introduced to Limit Solitary Confinement for Youth (2016)
Commission Report Recommends Regulations to Stop Solitary for Youth (2016)

LITIGATION: Federal Judge Orders Vermont Juvenile Detention Center to Stop Solitary (Oct. 2019)
LITIGATION: Vermont Sued for Using Solitary and Restraints on Youth (June 2019)

LEGISLATION: Bill to Prohibit Solitary for Kids Passes Senate (2020)
NEWS: Reports Seattle Still Using Solitary Despite Ban (2019)
LOCAL BAN: King County Council Approves Limits for Youth Solitary, Reviews Independent Monitoring Report (2018)
LITIGATION: Counties Sued for Keeping Kids in Solitary Confinement (2017)
LOCAL LEGISLATION: King County (Seattle) Bans Solitary Confinement for Kids (2017)

LITIGATION: Wisconsin Pays Millions to Settle Lawsuits Over Solitary for Iowa Girls, June 2019
LITIGATION: Monitor Finds Continued Solitary & Pepper Spray at Lincoln Hills Despite Settlement (June 2019)
POLICY: Governor Announces Funding for More Staff But Possible Delay in Closure (2019)
LITIGATION: Monitor’s Report Finds Solitary and Pepper Spray Use Continue (2019)
LEGISLATION: Bill Passed to Close Lincoln Hills, Create Study Committee (2018)
POLICY: Governor Announces Plans to Close Lincoln Hills and Cooper Lake Facilities (2018)
LITIGATION: ACLU and Juvenile Law Center Sue State for Keeping Kids in Solitary (2017)
LITIGATION: Federal Judge Agrees Solitary at Lincoln Hills & Copper Lake Unconstitutional (2017)
Wisconsin Lawmaker Proposes Study on Alternatives to Solitary Confinement (2017)