NYC Council Passes Bill Banning Solitary Confinement; Police, Mayor Eric Adams Object

Supporters say research proving solitary confinement—even just for a few days—can increase suicidal thoughts and lead to acute anxiety, depression, and psychosis that will limit the inmate's ability to conform to societal norms once released.

New York City lawmakers passed legislation Dec. 20 that will ban solitary confinement in the city’s jails.

Introduced by New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, the bill puts a 4-hour limit on isolating inmates when there is an immediate threat or a high risk of violence to themselves or others in “de-escalation” units. Only inmates involved in violent acts should be placed in confinement for longer periods of time, but they would need to be out of their cells for 14 hours a day in order to receive the same programming that other inmates have access to.

Williams, along with other supporters of the bill, argued how solitary confinement adds to torture for those subjected to long hours in isolation in small jail cells. “This is about safety at Rikers (Island),” Williams said. “If we want something different, we need to try something different.”

Supporters showed research proving solitary confinement—even just for a few days—can increase suicidal thoughts and lead to acute anxiety, depression, and psychosis that will limit the inmate’s ability to conform to societal norms once released.

The city’s mayor, Eric Adams, is not a fan of the legislation. He believes the move will create more dangers within jails for both inmates and employees.

“I don’t think this is thought through, and anyone who has knowledge of a correctional facility would tell you that you can’t leave dangerous people in a general population,” Adams said, according to Fox News. Adams could utilize his mayoral power, but the bill has enough support—38 supporters, to be exact—that the council could override the veto.

Some of the supporters include House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and newly elected council member Yusef Salaam. The issue is sensitive to Salaam, a member of the controversial Exonerated Central Park Five case, who spoke about his experience in prison.

“You can hear people crying out,” he said. “You can hear people in pain. You can hear people going through a mental breakdown. It’s one of the most horrific things to experience.”

Solitary confinement at Rikers Island has been a hot topic for decades, but received national attention following the death of Kalief Browder, who, at 16, spent the majority of his three years in solitary waiting for a trial that never happened. After his release, he committed suicide at 22.