[Peace] Bill of Rights Defense Cmte: Take Action to Limit Solitary Confinement in Illinois

[Robert Naiman]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Sue Udry, Bill of Rights Defense Committee/Defending Dissent
Foundation <info at bordc.org>
Date: Sat, Apr 23, 2016 at 2:59 PM
Subject: Urgent: Take Action to Limit Solitary Confinement in Illinois
To: naiman at justforeignpolicy.org


The House will vote in days to restrict the use of solitary confinement in
Illinois
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Take Action to Limit Solitary Confinement in Illinois
Solitary confinement means tiny, windowless cages. Filthy, cold, barren
cages. No wonder that people held in solitary suffer grave physical,
psychological and emotional trauma.

The United Nations has stated unequivocally that solitary confinement over
15 days is torture. But in Illinois, thousands of people are held in
extreme isolation for weeks, months, years, even decades for minor
infractions.

We have a chance to restrict the use of solitary confinement in Illinois.
The Illinois House will vote on the landmark Isolated Confinement
Restriction Act (HB5417) in the coming days.

Take action: Send an email to your Illinois legislator now.
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*The Isolated Confinement Restriction Act (HB5417) would:*

• Limit solitary confinement to a maximum of five days in any 150 day
period.

• Use solitary only when absolutely necessary, when there is reasonable
cause to believe that the prisoner has a substantial risk of serious harm
to himself or another, and a less-restrictive intervention would be
insufficient.

• Not use solitary against persons with disabilities, serious medical
conditions, pregnancy, and people under 21 or over 55 years old.
• Require that the prisoner held in emergency confinement would receive an
initial medical and mental health evaluation within 24 hours.

• Require documentation by facility administrators when facility-wide
lockdowns are necessary for more than 24 hours about why less-restrictive
interventions are insufficient.

• Require that the prisoner receive an initial hearing within 72 hours of
placement and a review every 2 days thereafter, in the absence of
exceptional circumstances, unavoidable delays, or reasonable postponements.
Bill of Rights Defense Committee and Defending Dissent Foundation
<http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=Iwa8WiM3AIx%2FnMeSAsrNGmj8MOWXunTF>
277 Main St. Suite 206, Northampton MA 01060
(413) 582-0110 · info at bordc.org
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