Legal Definitions - solitary confinement

Solitary confinement refers to the practice within correctional facilities where an incarcerated individual is held in extreme isolation, with minimal or no human contact beyond brief interactions with correctional staff. This typically involves being confined to a small cell for 23 hours or more per day, separated from the general prison population. It is often used as a disciplinary measure for serious rule violations, to ensure the safety and security of the facility, or to protect a specific inmate from harm by others.

• Example 1: An inmate in a maximum-security prison is found to be orchestrating a complex scheme to smuggle illegal drugs into the facility, involving multiple other prisoners. To disrupt this operation and prevent further illicit activities, prison authorities place the inmate in solitary confinement.

  Explanation: This illustrates solitary confinement being used as a measure to maintain the safety and security of the correctional facility and its population. By isolating the inmate, authorities prevent them from continuing to coordinate illegal activities and influence other prisoners.

• Example 2: A high-profile individual, convicted of a widely publicized and heinous crime, is incarcerated. Due to numerous credible threats of violence from other inmates who are outraged by their actions, prison officials decide to house this individual in solitary confinement.

  Explanation: In this scenario, solitary confinement is employed to protect the inmate themselves from severe harm or death at the hands of other prisoners. Their isolation ensures they are kept away from those who pose a direct threat to their safety.

• Example 3: During a routine cell search, an inmate becomes violently aggressive towards a correctional officer, resulting in a physical altercation. Immediately following the incident, the inmate is moved to a segregated unit pending an investigation and formal disciplinary hearing.

  Explanation: This demonstrates solitary confinement as a direct disciplinary response to a serious infraction—assaulting a staff member. The isolation serves as an immediate consequence for the behavior and prevents the inmate from potentially harming others or disrupting order while the incident is reviewed.