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 Union (NYCLU). The court found that the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) failed to follow the HALT Law’s strict criteria for what conduct can result in placement in solitary confinement for up to 15 days and placement in alternative disciplinary units, thereby sending thousands of people to solitary for reasons prohibited under the law. As the court stated, the HALT Law “specifically and unambiguously requires these factual determinations be made in writing prior to the imposition of the extreme measure of solitary confinement.” In turn, the court nullified and voided all determinations made without the requisite findings to place people in solitary confinement beyond three days and in alternatives. In response to the announcement of the court decision, Victor Pate, Co-Director of the #HALTsolitary Campaign issued the following statement:
“We congratulate the brave people incarcerated in New York prisons who brought this lawsuit and PLS and NYCLU for representing them. After multiple reports, media exposés, and lawsuits documenting the systematic violations of various aspects of the HALT Solitary Law, we hope this court decision finally serves as a wake-up call to Governor Hochul and DOCCS that they must in fact follow the law, stop torturing people in solitary confinement, and utilize real alternatives proven to reduce violence and better protect people’s health. Fully implementing the HALT Law will stop immense suffering, save lives, and improve safety for everyone. Ending solitary confinement is long overdue and Governor Hochul must act now to end it.”
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