S.F. No. 5484 Summary

• Amends Minnesota Statutes section 243.521 to limit segregated housing in state and local correctional facilities and prohibit solitary confinement entirely.

• Defines solitary confinement as confinement depriving inmates of meaningful visual or auditory contact for more than 20 hours daily or 45 hours in any three-day period; establishes that no person may be placed in solitary confinement.

• Restricts administrative segregation to inmates who are serious threats to physical safety or serious escape risks, or who refuse medical screening for communicable diseases; restricts disciplinary segregation to major infractions involving safety threats, escape risk, or drug/alcohol smuggling.

• Prohibits placement in segregation for members of vulnerable populations (those 18 or younger, pregnant, postpartum, mentally ill, or with developmental disabilities or traumatic brain injuries) except in wellness housing alternatives; bans segregation for inmates within six months of release unless facility head certifies grave risk exists.

• Requires comprehensive conditions in segregated housing including medical screenings within 24 hours, personal hygiene items within two hours, mental health screening, grievance access, and minimum 8-by-6-foot rooms; mandates annual reporting to legislature on segregation use.