HB21-1211 Summary

• Prohibits local jails with over 400 beds from placing individuals in restrictive housing (solitary confinement) if they have serious mental illness, are pregnant or postpartum, are under 18, have intellectual or developmental disabilities, significant sensory impairments, or serious neurocognitive impairment.

• Allows placement only in limited circumstances when individuals pose imminent danger to themselves or others and after documented attempts to access mental health care or use de-escalation techniques have been exhausted.

• Establishes strict monitoring and documentation requirements including face-to-face checks at least twice hourly, medical and mental health assessments every 24 hours, and mental health professional assessments every 48 hours.

• Limits restrictive housing placement to 15 days per 30-day period without a written court order, with court orders requiring clear and convincing evidence of imminent danger and exhausted alternatives.

• Requires quarterly reporting to the Division of Criminal Justice on anonymized data about restrictive housing placements, including demographics, conditions, duration, and outcomes for individuals placed in restrictive housing.