End Solitary Confinement in Prisons.

 

To protect mental and physical health of inmates in Minnesota by ending solitary confinement, and replacing it with

safer, evidence based alternatives. This would be very important.

 

Solitary confinement has been shown to increase mental health issues. Studies have shown people were overall 24% more

likely to die in the first year after release, including from suicide (78% more likely). Eliminating solitary

confinement will likely result in prisoner’s mental health less likely to deteriorate.

 

Solitary confinement: The isolation of a prisoner in a separate cell as a punishment

Inmate: A person confined to an institution such as a prison or hospital.

Alternative supervision programs: A variety of sanctions or management programs that replace or augment traditional

incarceration or detention for individuals involved in the criminal justice system.

De-escalation training: Teaches individuals how to verbally and physically manage tense situations to prevent them from

becoming violent.

Department of Corrections: A government agency, typically at the state or federal level, that manages the incarceration

of convicted criminals and supervises those on probation or parole.

Corrective action plan: A structured step by step document used to identify and fix a problem to prevent it from

recurring.

Incarceration: The state of being confined in prison; imprisonment.

Grant: A sum of money given by a government or other organization for a particular purpose.

 

The Department of Corrections may use existing training funds and grants to implement staff training in de-escalation

and alternative supervision programs.

 

The department of corrections shall adopt rules, provide annual compliance reports, and investigative complaints.

Facilities violating this section are subject to corrective-action plans.

 

This act shall take effect on January 1st, 2026.