A rally was recently held to urge the City Council and Mayor to adopt Intro. No. 549, a law intended to eliminate solitary confinement in New York City jails, together with Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, City Councilmembers, survivors of solitary confinement, and family members.
With Manish Kunwar, a 27-year-old with mental health concerns, reportedly dying at Rikers Island, the need for reform is now more pressing than ever. This is the seventh such fatality this year in municipal prisons.
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There is a majority that may override vetoes, and Council Speaker Adrienne Adams supports Intro. No. 549. If approved, the measure will outlaw solitary confinement and encourage different kinds of segregation that are better for prisoners’ health and well-being.
William noted, “The status quo is not working,” he added, “The status quo did not work for Layleen Polanco. It did not work for the person who died today. Let’s get it done now. So we can save some lives.”
Several members of the City Council spoke out in favor of the legislation, describing solitary confinement as a type of torture that conflicts with the city’s objectives for criminal justice. The necessity for a complete ecosystem of social supports, mental health services, and treatment for drug use disorders was underlined by Councilmember Carlin Rivera (D—Lower Manhattan).
Councilmember Shahana Hanif noted, “The consensus is clear among faiths and countries across the world: Solitary confinement is torture, and every day our city allows this practice is a grave sin.”
“We have the legislation to end this torturous practice, and we have the votes to pass it; all we need is Intro 549 to come to a vote.”
Family members and survivors expressed grave worries. Mauricia Harry, whose brother had previously served time in isolation, made the observation that even when an inmate does not initially have a mental health problem, they frequently develop one while there.
Victor Pate, co-director of the #HALTsolitary Campaign described the situation as a “travesty”. He noted, “We are talking about human rights and constitutional rights. No one should be treated inhumanely. No one should be subject to torture. Just because you are incarcerated doesn’t mean you can be treated like an animal. So why are our people being treated inhumanely and being exposed to torture in solitary confinement?”
The entire federal House delegation from New York City as well as 74 state legislators support the bill, which has broad popular and political support. A nationwide poll found that support for abolishing solitary confinement cut across party lines by a margin of 32 points.
According to research, even a brief period of isolation can result in dramatically increased chances of many types of injury, including death. The murders of people like Kalief Browder and Layleen Polanco in recent years have sparked a public uproar against the usage of solitary confinement and brought attention to its terrible consequences.
