What's happening
This bill prohibits the placement of inmates under the age of eighteen in segregated confinement for any reason in New York correctional facilities.
Why it matters
Protects the mental and emotional well-being of minors. by preventing their placement in segregated (solitary) confinement, which has been linked to severe psychological harm, especially in young people whose brains are still developing.
Promotes age-appropriate discipline and rehabilitation. in correctional facilities, signaling a shift from punitive isolation toward practices more likely to support positive development and reduce recidivism among youth.
Aligns New York with evolving national standards. and calls from human rights organizations, reflecting growing consensus that solitary confinement for minors constitutes cruel and unusual punishment.
Requires correctional facilities to find alternative strategies. for managing behavior and maintaining safety with youth inmates, potentially leading to broader reforms in how juvenile justice systems operate.
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Who cares
Headline styles
End Solitary for Juvenile Inmates
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
3 Co-sponsors
History
- Ordered to third reading cal.144
- Advanced to third reading cal.20
- Reported
- Reported referred to codes
- Referred to correction
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
End Solitary for Youth
In Senate Committee · Crime Victims, Crime And Correction · Sponsor Andrew J. Lanza
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1907
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 13, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. O'DONNELL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Correction
AN ACT to amend the correction law, in relation to the confinement of inmates under the age of eighteen
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The opening paragraph of subdivision 6 of section 137 of the correction law, as amended by chapter 1 of the laws of 2008, is amended to read as follows:
Except as provided in paragraphs (d) and (e) of this subdivision, the superintendent of a correctional facility may keep any inmate, other than inmates under the age of eighteen years who shall not be placed in segregated confinement for any reason, confined in a cell or room, apart from the accommodations provided for inmates who are participating in programs of the facility, for such period as may be necessary for maintenance of order or discipline, but in any such case the following conditions shall be observed:
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06817-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.