Trone, Bice Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Study Effects and Impacts of Solitary Confinement
Today, Congressman David Trone (D-MD) and Congresswoman Stephanie Bice (R-OK) introduced the Solitary Confinement Study and Reform Act, which would create a bipartisan commission focused on studying the effects of solitary confinement in America’s prison system.
The commission will provide the U.S. Attorney General with research and recommendations for new national standards on solitary confinement. States that comply with the standards would be eligible to receive federal mental health and drug treatment grant funding.
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Congressman Trone and Congresswoman Bice were joined in support by multiple Members of Congress and criminal justice reform leaders.
The bill is cosponsored by Representatives Nancy Mace (R-SC) and Peter Meijer (R-MI).
“The R Street Institute enthusiastically supports the Solitary Confinement Study and Reform Act. Studies have shown that solitary confinement leads to increased amounts of mental illness which contributes to further violence, overdoses, and even suicide. It has also contributed to recidivism rates with 15 percent of individuals placed in solitary re-offending,” said Anthony Lamorena, Federal Affairs Manager at the R Street Institute. “We applaud Rep. Trone and Rep. Bice for leading this bipartisan effort to further study the effects of solitary confinement which will then allow the development of a balanced set of informed solutions to this issue. These practices are a dated tactic that make us less safe and often lead to more harm than good.”
