NEW YORK (1010 WINS/AP) — New York is going to limit the use of solitary confinement in state prisons, despite legislation that would have prohibited putting a prisoner in isolation for more than 15 consecutive days failing to pass.
Democrats Governor Andrew Cuomo, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said Thursday they've agreed to implement administrative changes that would "dramatically reduce" the use of solitary confinement.
The deal would prohibit prisoners considered "vulerable" such as pregnant women and adolescents from being put in solitary.
According to a news release, they said they ultimately aim to cap the amount of time prisoners can spend in solitary confinement at 30 days.
There are about 47,000 inmates in the state's prisons.
This deal would not affect county and city jails.