New Jersey Bill Could Reduce Length Of Time Inmates Are Kept In Solitary Confinement
By David Madden
TRENTON, NJ (CBS) -- New Jersey could soon change the rules under which prison inmates are placed in solitary confinement. A hearing was held in Trenton this week.
A bill now under senate consideration would reduce the length of time someone is kept in isolation and require corrections officials to develop alternatives.
Alex Shalom, an ACLU attorney, is among those in support of the measure.
"What the scientists recognize is that the longer people are in isolated confinement, the more worse the mental consequences are."
Particularly on younger and elderly inmates as well as those already suffering from mental health issues.
State corrections officials oppose the proposal as too costly and restrictive and say they're exceeding national standards for how those in isolation are handled.
By virtue of the fact, only 47 of 21 thousand state inmates are under the most restrictive supervision.