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NPR: To End Solitary Confinement, Rikers Steps Out Of The Box
February 08, 2015 6:57 PM ET
New York's Rikers Island is the second-largest jail in the U.S., and one of the most notorious.
But with a single move, Rikers has taken the lead on prison reform on one issue: Last month, the prison banned the use of solitary confinement for inmates under 21 years old.
Amy Fettig, senior staff counsel for the ACLU's National Prison Project, says the use of isolation is too widespread and that it's being used for the wrong reasons. Often young people are even isolated for their own protection.
"
Rikers) is known for being abusive; for being dysfunctional and broken," Fettig says. "The fact that it has chosen to move away from abusive policies and practices ... has national significance."
But with a single move, Rikers has taken the lead on prison reform on one issue: Last month, the prison banned the use of solitary confinement for inmates under 21 years old.
Amy Fettig, senior staff counsel for the ACLU's National Prison Project, says the use of isolation is too widespread and that it's being used for the wrong reasons. Often young people are even isolated for their own protection.
"
Rikers) is known for being abusive; for being dysfunctional and broken," Fettig says. "The fact that it has chosen to move away from abusive policies and practices ... has national significance."cont'd...
Link: http://www.npr.org/2015/02/08/384777189/to-end-solitary-confinement-rikers-steps-out-of-the-box?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=news