Res. No. 143
Title
Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign the Humane Alternatives to Long-Term Solitary Confinement Act.
Body
By Council Member Dromm
Whereas, Solitary confinement typically constitutes a special form of imprisonment by segregating an inmate for 23 hours a day and disallowing any contact with the outside world; and
Whereas, According to various sources, an increasing number of jurists throughout the world have concluded that solitary confinement constitutes cruel and unusual punishment and view solitary confinement as a form torture; and
Whereas, According to a recent report released by the New York Civil Liberties Union, New York State currently houses approximately 4,500 inmates in solitary confinement; and
Whereas, Inmates in solitary confinement are generally deprived of all meaningful human interaction or mental stimulation, confined to small barren cells; and
Whereas, New York State must take a more proactive approach to not only properly protect inmates in New York State prisons and jails, but must adopt better standards that reaffirm the State's commitment to respect inmates' human dignity; and
Whereas, A.3080, sponsored by Assembly Member Jeffrion L. Aubry and currently pending in the New York State Assembly, and companion bill S.4784, sponsored by State Senator Kevin S. Parker and pending in the New York State Senate, seek to amend the New York State Correction Law by restricting the use of segregated confinement and creating alternative therapeutic and rehabilitative confinement options; and
Whereas, A.3080/S.4784 is also known as the Humane Alternatives to Long-Term Solitary Confinement Act or "HALT Solitary Confinement Act"; and
Whereas, The HALT Solitary Confinement Act would amend the New York State Correction Law by limiting the time an inmate spends in segregated confinement to a maximum of 15 consecutive days and a total of ...
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