ABOUT THE #HALTSOLITARY CAMPAIGN
After many years of grassroots organizing and advocacy, the statewide HALT Solitary Confinement Law was passed by a supermajority of both houses of the New York State legislature and signed by the Governor in 2021, and the law went into effect in 2022. In New York City, following years of activism in partnership with the Jails Action Coalition, the New York City Council adopted Local Law 42 in 2024 to ban solitary confinement beyond four hours and otherwise provide all people in the city jails access to 14 hours of daily out-of-cell time with group programming and activities. At the federal level, the HALT campaign is part of the Federal Anti-Solitary Taskforce (FAST), which aims to end solitary confinement by the federal government, including through passage of the End Solitary Confinement Act.
THE #HALTSOLITARY BLOG: NEWS ON SOLITARY CONFINEMENT IN NEW YORK
Take Action to Support Rights Behind Bars
Please sign on as an endorser of the Rights Behind Bars Act, S7772/A8364, here: bit.ly/EndorseRightsBehindBars. New York prisons, jails, and forensic facilities are and always have been sites of racism, repression, brutality, and abuse. Recent practices by administrators and staff have inflicted even greater harm on people who are incarcerated and their family members, including […]
3-Part Series of Civic Engagement Workshops: July 10, 16, & 24
Please join and spread the word about a three (3) session Civic Engagement Curriculum. This curriculum is being offered in-person and by zoom. When: Wednesday- July 10th, Tuesday- July 16th and Wednesday- July 24th. All sessions are 6-8 pm. Location: The Urban Justice Center 40 Rector Street 9th Flr. New York, NY 10006. Or by […]
Board of Correction Adopts Rules to End Solitary Confinement in NYC Jails
The New York City Board of Correction adopted rules to implement the requirements of Local Law 42. That law, enacted by an overwhelming supermajority of the New York City Council and scheduled to take effect on July 28. and the Board’s rules, ban solitary confinement beyond four hours while allowing alternative forms of separation proven […]
Court Finds NY Prisons Violating HALT Solitary Law
As reported by the New York Times and the Associated Press, a New York supreme court has ruled that NY prisons have systematically violated the HALT Solitary Confinement Law, following a class action lawsuit brought by people incarcerated in New York prisons – represented by Prisoners Legal Services (PLS) and the New York Civil Liberties […]
Webinar on Local Law 42 and Ending Solitary in NYC
If you missed the webinar on Local Law 42 and ending solitary in NYC, please see the video here. Watch to learn more about what the law requires and more about efforts to end solitary in New York City, New York State, and across the country.
New Lawsuit for Locking People With Disabilities in Solitary in Violation of HALT Solitary Law
As reported in the New York Times and elsewhere, people incarcerated in New York prisons – represented by the Legal Aid Society, Disability Rights Advocates, & Winston & Strawn LLP – filed a lawsuit over systematic violations of the HALT Solitary Confinement Law. The lawsuit documents how prison officials across the state are torturing people […]
Victory! NYC Council Banned Solitary Confinement
Congratulations and deep gratitude to everyone for all of the incredible work for so many years to make this happen. The City Council voted to override the Mayor’s veto of Int 549A, making it the law of New York City and forever banning solitary confinement, in all forms, by all names. A large veto-proof supermajority […]
Urge President and U.S. Congress to End Solitary Confinement
Please sign on your group and organization as an endorser of the federal End Solitary Confinement Act, S3409/HR4972: bit.ly/EndorseEndSolitaryAct. In line with the President Biden’s campaign pledge to end solitary, it is time for the President and Congress to end solitary now. For more information, please check out: ESCA Key Fact, ESCA Bill Summary, and ESCA FAQs. […]
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