Limit use of restrictive housing

Restrictive housing, which includes solitary confinement, separates an incarcerated person from all forms of contact with others. For the increasing number of incarcerated people with a mental health or substance use disorder (MH/SUD), restrictive housing is deeply harmful and can lead to the deterioration of individuals’ conditions.[2] According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), 29 percent of incarcerated people in prisons and 22 percent in jails with symptoms of serious psychological distress have been subjected to restrictive housing.[3] There is also an increased risk of suicide or self-injury for incarcerated people placed in restrictive housing, regardless of whether the individual previously had an MH/SUD.[4] Spending time in restrictive housing is likely to result in anxiety, anger, sleep issues, and disorientation.[4] To mitigate increased risks, policies around restrictive housing need to be reevaluated and updated.[1]