NYAPRS Note: Great thanks to all NYS and national mental health advocates who signed up in support of the HALT bill to end the use of solitary confinement for people with psychiatric, developmental and physical disabilities and to restrict the use of solitary to 15 days at any one time for all.
48 individuals have joined the hunger strike and advocates have been ever present in the Capital over the past few weeks and during the last 2 day sof session, today and tomorrow.
Call the following today!
Call Senate Majority Leader Stewart- Cousins at 518-455-2585 and Assembly Speaker Heastie: (518) 455-3791 and tell them:
“Thousands of New Yorkers are suffering in solitary confinement, for months, years, and decades. The HALT Solitary Confinement Act (S1623/A2500) has enough Senate and Assembly cosponsors and others committed to vote for it. I urge you to bring HALT to a vote now (as is, without watering down its protections), so we can finally end this torture. There is no time to lose!
Thank You!
Mental Health Advocates Push for Solitary Confinement Rules
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — One thousand mental health professionals and advocates from around New York state are signing on to a proposal to restrict the use of solitary confinement in prisons and jails.
Those signing on to the letter to state leaders include social workers, psychologists and other mental health professionals. The letter urges passage of legislation that would prohibit placing an inmate in isolation for more than 15 days.
Supporters say isolation can leave life-long psychological scars.
The bill hasn’t been scheduled for a vote. Advocates say they’re concerned it may not pass before lawmakers are scheduled to adjourn later this week.
Cuomo said Monday that he agrees changes are needed to ensure solitary confinement is humane, but he said he’s concerned the bill may require the construction of new prison facilities.