Senate Bill 719
116th Congress(2019-2020)
Solitary Confinement Reform Act
Introduced
Introduced in Senate on Mar 7, 2019
Origin Chamber
Senate
Type
Bill
Bill
The primary form of legislative measure used to propose law. Depending on the chamber of origin, bills begin with a designation of either H.R. or S. Joint resolution is another form of legislative measure used to propose law.
Bill Number
719
Congress
116
Policy Area
Crime and Law Enforcement
Crime and Law Enforcement
Primary focus of measure is criminal offenses, investigation and prosecution, procedure and sentencing; corrections and imprisonment; juvenile crime; law enforcement administration. Measures concerning terrorism may fall under Emergency Management or International Affairs policy areas.
No Senate votes have been held for this bill.
Summary
Solitary Confinement Reform Act
This bill establishes standards for the use of solitary confinement at federal prisons.
It generally limits the use of solitary confinement to situations that meet certain criteria, including confinement for the briefest term and the least restrictive conditions practicable. It also limits the use of solitary confinement for certain categories of inmates, including pregnant women and individuals with serious mental illness.
The bill requires the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to do the following:
- establish a transitional process for inmates in solitary confinement,
- provide comprehensive mental health evaluations for inmates in solitary confinement,
- train employees on mental illness and the psychological effects of solitary confinement, and
- report annually on the use of solitary confinement.
It establishes, within the BOP, an Office of the Civil Rights Ombudsman.
Finally, it establishes a solitary confinement resource center within the Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance.
March 7, 2019
03/07/2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
03/07/2019
Introduced in Senate
Public Record
Record Updated
Nov 1, 2022 5:17:23 PM