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Solitary Confinement

Posted inJails

Layleen Polanco’s Family Accuses City of Stalling on Lawsuit

Oct. 24, 2019, 4:05 a.m.June 29, 2020, 3:13 p.m.
The de Blasio istration seeks a delay pending probe into the transgender woman’s death at Rikers Island. Her family is furious.
Posted inJails

Mayor ‘Interfered’ With Jails Overseer on Solitary Confinement, Member Charges

Oct. 22, 2019, 10:17 p.m.June 29, 2020, 3:14 p.m.
Dr. Robert Cohen of the Board of Correction alleges delay of a planned vote to limit punitive segregation is part of bid to weaken reforms.
Posted inJails

Solitary Confinement Reform Pushed Back Again as City Hall Balks

Oct. 21, 2019, 10:49 p.m.June 29, 2020, 3:14 p.m.
The Board of Correction planned to propose new limits on isolating inmates in city jails Tuesday, but will delay amid mayoral pressure, sources said.
Posted inJails

De Blasio Ousts Key Solitary Confinement Foe as Reform Nears

Oct. 17, 2019, 5:23 p.m.June 29, 2020, 3:14 p.m.
Bryanne Hamill loses her Board of Correction seat amid wrangling over putting limits on isolating inmates in city jails, sources said.
Posted inRikers Island

City Jails Board Slow to Act on Solitary Reform, Critics Say

Sept. 10, 2019, 8:19 p.m.March 14, 2024, 2:22 p.m.
A Board of Correction hearing on Tuesday drew calls to change New York City’s policies on solitary confinement but yielded no action.
Posted inJails

Rikers Body Scanners Feed Unrestricted Solitary Confinement

Aug. 23, 2019, 4:05 a.m.April 6, 2020, 4:56 p.m.
Jailers can now hold some new arrivals in “separation status” to retrieve smuggled items — bying rules on who usually can be kept in isolation.
Posted inJustice

Reimagining New York Jails Without Solitary Confinement

Aug. 19, 2019, 4:05 a.m.April 6, 2020, 4:56 p.m.
A growing chorus of critics wants to strictly limit or ban isolation in the wake of Layleen Polanco’s death. But what are the alternatives?
Posted inSolitary Confinement

Layleen Polanco’s Mother Files Lawsuit Over Rikers Death

Aug. 12, 2019, 2:41 p.m.Oct. 12, 2023, 7:26 a.m.
Correction officials ignored the medical needs of the woman who died in solitary — and “took no action” to get her help, court papers charge.
Posted inRikers Island

Medical Condition Should Have Kept Polanco From Solitary, Experts Say

Aug. 1, 2019, 9:01 p.m.Oct. 12, 2023, 7:26 a.m.
As Elizabeth Warren and others called for reform, former jail health experts said Layleen Polanco’s seizure disorder should have been a red flag.
Posted inLayleen Polanco

Layleen Polanco Died of Epileptic Seizure in Solitary, Autopsy Reveals

July 30, 2019, 7:35 p.m.June 29, 2020, 3:14 p.m.
The 27-year-old was on anti-seizure medication at Rikers Island. Her family lawyer charged she died of “indifference and neglect.”

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