New York City Mayor Eric Adams has issued an emergency executive order suspending parts of a new law that would limit solitary confinement in city jails. The mayor argued that the law, which went into effect recently, could pose risks to correctional staff and inmates.
The new law aimed to impose a four-hour time limit on holding prisoners in 'de-escalation confinement' and restrict the use of restraints on prisoners during transportation and within jails. Mayor Adams stated that compliance with these provisions would require significant resources that are currently unavailable.
Mayor Adams also suspended a section of the law that limited the duration of placing a prisoner in 'restrictive housing' to 60 days in a 12-month period. Instead, jail officials must now review a prisoner's placement in restrictive housing every 15 days.
The law, passed by the New York City Council, faced opposition from the mayor, whose veto was overridden by the Council. Critics, including City Council spokesperson Shirley Limongi, accused the mayor of disregarding laws and democracy with his executive order.
The bill was introduced by New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, who argued that solitary confinement amounts to torture and can have severe psychological effects on inmates. Research cited by supporters of the law indicates that even short periods of solitary confinement can lead to increased risks of suicide, violence, and mental health issues.
The Correction Officers' Benevolent Association, representing jail guards, opposed the legislation, citing concerns about the safety of jail workers. They highlighted instances of assaults on guards under the previous rules.
The debate over solitary confinement in New York City jails continues as stakeholders weigh the balance between inmate safety and the well-being of correctional staff.
