The Use of Solitary Confinement Across the United States: An Analysis of State Policies

• In Event: Solitary Confinement: Complexities, Effects, and Recommendations

Abstract

Solitary confinement or segregation within prisons is used for a wide array of purposes across the United States. In January of 2016, the Department of Justice (DOJ) released a report entitled, “Report and Recommendations Concerning the Use of Restrictive Housing.” This report was issued in an effort to provide guiding principles considered to be best practices for the use of segregation and restrictive housing. This content analysis aims to assess the current state of solitary confinement policies in relation to these guiding principles. Using data collected from Department of Corrections websites across the United States, this study examines the extent to which variation exists across policies as well as the extent to which each state’s policies correspond to the guiding principles recommended by the DOJ. Several domains of variation are considered including types of segregation, eligibility, implementation, and post-confinement review. Implications for policy and future research are discussed.

Authors

• Rachel Severson, University of South Florida

• Ráchael Powers, University of South Florida