Senate Holds First Hearing On Solitary Confinement

by Carrie Johnson

June 19, 2012 - 10:00am

Advocates for prisoners rights say too many inmates spend years in solitary confinement — in violation of the constitutional bar against cruel and unusual punishment. Today, they persuaded the U.S. Senate to hold the first hearing on the issue, as state and federal prison systems fend off new lawsuits over the practice.