SB 228 Summary: Youth in Solitary Confinement Reduction Act

• Prohibits youth prisoners (under 18 or classified as youthful offenders) from being placed in solitary confinement (more than 20 hours per day in isolation) except through emergency or disciplinary cell confinement as defined in the bill.

• Limits emergency cell confinement to 24 hours maximum, requiring mental health clinician evaluations within 1 hour of placement and every 4 hours thereafter, with visual checks by staff at least four times per hour.

• Limits disciplinary cell confinement to 72 hours maximum for major rule violations (acts of violence, nonconsensual sex acts, multiple disruptive acts, or escape), with staff conducting visual checks at least four times per hour.

• Requires youth in emergency or disciplinary confinement to receive at least 1-2 hours daily of out-of-cell exercise, outdoor recreation, meals, medical treatment, and contact with parents and legal counsel equivalent to general population prisoners.

• Mandates the Department of Corrections and county detention facilities certify compliance with these requirements in a report to the Governor and Legislature by January 1, 2020, and adopt necessary policies and procedures.