NYC Mayor Adams Blocks Ban on Solitary Confinement

On Saturday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams declared a state of emergency in local jails to halt the implementation of a new law limiting solitary confinement, The Guardian reports. The law was scheduled to take effect Sunday. Adams order paused the implementation of new measures, capping solitary confinement at four hours, mandating that detained people receive at least 14 hours outside their cells in shared spaces daily, and limiting the use of handcuffs and restraints on incarcerated people. New York City council members passed the law in January 2024, overriding a veto from Adams. A report released by the Center for Justice at Columbia University in December 2023 found that although the New York City corrections department reduced solitary – or de-escalation – confinement to six hours, detained people were still being held in that setting for much longer, including days at a time.

At least 26 people had died in New York City jails since January 2022. On any given day, the department in charge of New York City’s jails put more than 180 people in solitary confinement. Adams’ declaration order argues the law “includes unprecedented provisions regarding the management of incarcerated individuals following serious acts of violence and eliminates necessary discretion by correctional management in a manner that could result in an increased risk of harm to other incarcerated individuals and staff”. The order claims the new law would put correctional officers and prisoners at risk – and it says the city’s jails do not have the staffing and resources to implement the legislation. But New York City public advocate, Jumaane Williams, criticized Adams’ order, accusing the mayor of misinformation and attempting to cover up the crisis at Rikers Island. He also vowed to use all his power to force Adams to implement the law. In response, the New York City Council passed a resolution to grant its speaker, Adrienne Adams, authority to take legal action against Adams and his administration to ensure they implement the law, setting up possible litigation.