Criminal Justice: Solitary Confinement

Solitary Watch is a web-based project aimed at bringing the widespread use of solitary confinement out of the shadows and into the light of the public square. Its mission is to provide the public — as well as practicing attorneys, legal scholars, law enforcement and corrections officers, policymakers, educators, advocates, people in prison and their families — with a centralized source of unfolding news, original reporting, firsthand accounts, and background research on solitary confinement in the United States.

The Vera Institute of Justice combines research, technical assistance, and demonstration projects to help leaders in civil society improve the systems people rely on for justice and safety. This report provides a review of solitary confinement, its use and misuse, and ways to safely reduce it in U.S. correctional facilities.

An extensive 2012 report on solitary confinement as a public policy issue, including an overview and background, a pro/con debate, a chronology of key events, related maps and graphs, and a bibliography.