There are as many as 80,000 people held in solitary confinement in prisons all over the United States. The use of solitary confinement has been shown to be problematic and has raised many humanitarian concerns, with opponents saying that this practice violates minimum standards of decency and the 8th amendment which protects individuals from cruel and unusual punishment. 

There is an abundance of research that finds that solitary confinement causes psychological damage. These units have limited or no access to educational or recreational activities and contact with family or visitors is often denied, even though it is critical for rehabilitation. For someone to be isolated for days to decades it is obvious why they come out battling with mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, withdrawal, and paranoia. 

Our goal with this petition is to further support the passing of S.719- Solitary Confinement Reform Act. The purpose of this bill is to reform the use of solitary confinement by requiring federal prisons to use solitary confinement in the least restrictive setting, for as briefly as possible, unless the inmate displays a substantial or immediate threat. This bill also requires inmates to be allowed four hours spent outside of their cells with access to activities, programs, and meaningful interactions with others. This bill would better care for inmates with mental illnesses and other vulnerable populations within the prison population. Lastly, this bill proposes that inmates should routinely receive thorough, in-person, mental health assessments by a mental health professional and all correctional employees will complete training in things like the identifying symptoms of mental illness, de-escalation techniques, and overall psychological effects of solitary confinement.