Washington, DC

WASHINGTON, DC LAW LIMITS SOLITARY FOR KIDS

On April 7, 2017, the Comprehensive Youth Justice Amendment Act of 2016 became law as D.C. 21-0238. Mayor Muriel Bowser signed the Act on December 7, 2016. The D.C. Council heard testimony on the bill in June 2016 and approved it on October 11, 2016. The Act, sponsored by DC Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie, makes several improvements in the D.C. juvenile justice system, including placing limitations on solitary confinement. These limitations ban solitary confinement as punishment, require staff to try less restrictive options first, require facilities to collect and report detailed data about how they are using solitary, and cap solitary confinement at six hours.

Read the Judiciary Committee’s Report

Read Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie’s Press Release

Signed Act