NYC mayor stops solitary confinement law

Mayor Eric Adams of New York City has made a controversial move by issuing an emergency executive order to suspend parts of a new law that aimed to limit solitary confinement in city jails. The mayor argued that implementing the new law as it was intended would put both correctional staff and inmates at further risk.

The new law, which was set to go into effect last Sunday, initially included a four-hour time limit on holding prisoners who pose safety concerns in “de-escalation confinement” and restricted the use of restraints on prisoners during transport to courts or within jails.

In his order, Mayor Adams emphasized the importance of protecting the health and safety of all individuals in the custody of the Department of Correction, as well as the officers and personnel working in the city’s jails. He explained that many of the provisions in the new law, such as transporting individuals to court without restraints, would require a significant increase in staff and resources that are currently unavailable.

The mayor also suspended a portion of the law that prohibited jail officials from placing a prisoner in longer-term “restrictive housing” for more than a total of 60 days within a 12-month period. According to his order, jail officials must review a prisoner’s placement in restrictive housing every 15 days.

The New York City Council passed the law in December of the previous year, with Mayor Adams’ veto being overridden the following month. This decision resulted in criticism from City Council spokesperson Shirley Limongi, who accused the mayor of disregarding laws and democracy and creating unsafe conditions within the city’s jails.

The bill was introduced by New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, who argued that solitary confinement amounts to torture for those subjected to long hours in isolation. Supporters of the new law, including members of New York’s congressional delegation, cited research showing that even a few days in solitary confinement can increase the likelihood of inmate suicide, violence, or overdose, as well as causing mental health issues that may hinder reintegration into society upon release.

The labor union representing the city’s jail guards opposed the legislation, expressing concerns that it would make it harder to protect jail workers from violence by detainees. They highlighted over 6,000 episodes of detainee assaults on jail guards in the past three years, including cases of sexual assault, even under the previous punitive segregation rules.

Mayor Adams’ decision to suspend parts of the law has sparked debate and raised questions about the balance between safety concerns for both inmates and correctional staff. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how this issue will be resolved and what impact it will have on the city’s correctional system in the long run.