
A recent ruling by State Supreme Court Justice Kevin Bryant has revealed that the New York state prison system has been failing to comply with state laws regarding solitary confinement. The Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) was accused of holding inmates in solitary confinement for longer periods than allowed by law.
The lawsuit, filed by the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) and Prisoners' Legal Services of New York, alleged that DOCCS was not following the restrictions on solitary confinement outlined in the Humane Alternatives to Long-Term Solitary Confinement Act signed into law in 2021. The law limits solitary confinement to three consecutive days, or six days in a 30-day period, with exceptions for severe offenses.