The bill amends the Restricted Housing Act to expand the age limit for inmates placed in solitary confinement, now prohibiting the placement of inmates younger than twenty-one or older than fifty-five years of age in restricted housing. Additionally, it introduces new provisions that prevent pregnant inmates or those in the first eight weeks postpartum from being placed in solitary confinement. The bill also establishes protections for vulnerable populations, including LGBTQ+ inmates, and sets limits on the duration of solitary confinement, capping it at fifteen consecutive days or ninety days total within a twelve-month period. If an inmate requires extended placement beyond these limits, the facility must document the reasons and create a transition plan.

Furthermore, the bill mandates that correctional facilities produce quarterly reports detailing the demographics of inmates placed in restricted housing, including their names, identification, age, gender, and ethnicity, as well as the dates of their placement and release. This reporting requirement aims to enhance transparency and accountability within correctional facilities. The bill also prohibits any policies or practices that are functionally equivalent to solitary confinement, ensuring that inmates are treated with dignity and respect while incarcerated.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 33-16-1, 33-16-2, 33-16-3, 33-16-5