Extended Solitary Confinement for Managing Prison Systems: Placement Disparities and Their Implications

Abstract

Despite concerns and debates about the policy of using extended solitary confinement for managing individuals deemed to be too violent or disruptive to be controlled any other way—for the broader goal of system order and safety—empirical assessments of disparities in placements into this form of incarceration are limited. Prior studies typically have not compared extended solitary management (ESM) populations to general prison populations or dimensions along which disparities in ESM placements may arise. This paper identifies groups that may be more likely to be placed in ESM and policy concerns unique to each. Drawing on a study of one large state prison system, we examine disparities in ESM placement, including multiple, early, and longer duration placements. Implications of these disparities and the possibility that there may be differential experiences in and effects of ESM are discussed.

Keywords:

• Extended
• solitary
• confinement
• disparities
• placements

Acknowledgments

Points of view in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice or the Florida Department of Corrections. We thank the anonymous reviewers for constructive feedback and guidance on improving the paper.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This project was supported by Grant No. 2016-IJ-CX-0014 awarded by the National Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.

Notes on contributors

Daniel P. Mears

Daniel P. Mears, PhD, is the Mark C. Stafford Professor of Criminology at Florida State University’s College of Criminology and Criminal Justice, 112 South Copeland Street, Tallahassee, FL 32306-1273, e-mail ([email protected]), phone [phone]). He conducts research on crime and policy. His recent book, Out-of-Control Criminal Justice (Cambridge University Press), received the Academy of Criminal Justice Science Outstanding Book Award.

Jennifer M. Brown

Jennifer M. Brown, PhD, is a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at Florida State University’s College of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Eppes Hall, 112 South Copeland Street, Tallahassee, FL 32306-1273, e-mail ([email protected]), phone [phone]). Her research interests include correctional programming, prisoner reentry, and juvenile justice.

Joshua C. Cochran

Joshua C. Cochran, PhD, is an Associate Professor at the University of Cincinnati, School of Criminal Justice, P.O. Box 210389, Cincinnati, OH 45221, e-mail ([email protected]), phone [phone]). His research interests include theory, punishment, and inequality.

Sonja E. Siennick

Sonja E. Siennick, PhD, is a Professor at Florida State University’s College of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Eppes Hall, 112 South Copeland Street, Tallahassee, FL 32306-1273, e-mail ([email protected]), phone [phone]). She studies crime and criminal justice system contacts as they relate to other aspects of the life course, especially social relationships and mental health.