New York City's ban on solitary confinement poses a “serious threat” to the safety of inmates and staff, the federal watchdog overseeing the city's prison system has announced. new york post It was reported on Tuesday.
In a letter to the City Council, federal monitors said the city's move to prohibit prisons from placing potentially violent inmates in solitary confinement would only “exacerbate an already dangerous situation” inside the prison. insisted.
In December, the city council pushed through a controversial measure. Bill 549-A, which only allows prison officials to isolate inmates who become violent while in custody, Blaze News previously reported. These inmates can only be isolated in a “de-escalation” ward for four hours at a time, the Post reported. According to the bill, all inmates must be given 14 hours of out-of-cell time per day.
Supporters of the bill argued that solitary confinement amounts to torture and should only be used in extreme circumstances. Critics argued the bill would put other inmates and prison staff at risk.
New York City's Democratic Mayor Eric Adams and the police and prison guards union strongly opposed the bill, which passed the bill 39-7.
In a recent letter to the City Council, federal wardens argued that solitary confinement is an “essential element” of maintaining prison security, and that the measure is consistent with the “overall goal of protecting individuals” in prisons. “It will damage,” he warned.
“Those who commit serious violence while in custody must be supervised differently than the general population,” the letter continued. “The monitoring team…strongly believes that the various operational requirements and restrictions associated with the abolition of solitary confinement through Council Bill 549-A are likely to exacerbate already dangerous conditions in prisons.”
The federal watchdog group further argued that mandating a “universal approach to out-of-home hours” “puts both detainees and staff at significant risk and is inconsistent with sound correctional practices.”
“The ministry must be able to effectively separate those involved in serious acts of violence from potential victims and to restrict to some extent the freedom of movement of those engaged in collective activities outside of their cells,” it added. Ta.
The monitoring team also argued that this restriction could hinder the Department of Corrections' ability to comply with the rules. 2015 Nunez Court OrderIt was aimed at reducing violence in prisons and the use of force by guards, the Post reported.
In a separate letter to the City Council, Department of Corrections Commissioner Lynell McGinley-Liddy wrote: 549-A, as written, is a serious threat to the safety of incarcerated people and DOC personnel. They are the very people we are supposed to protect. ”
“To maintain a safe correctional environment, it is important to separate violent individuals from the general population,” she continued. “This separation must be done humanely, but it must also provide a meaningful deterrent to acts of violence.”
A City Hall spokesperson said the administration is “extremely grateful to the federal monitors who provided guidance on Intro 549-A and verified exactly what Mayor Adams has been saying all along. “This could put both corrections officers and city employees at risk.” our care. ”
“Observers also note that this bill could impede our ability to comply with the Nuñez court order, something that the bill's most ardent supporters say are deeply concerning. “The spokesperson added.
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