Vetoed by Governor Chris Christie

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes restrictions on solitary confinement.

Highlights:

• Prohibits placing members of “vulnerable populations” in isolated confinement and requires that such individuals instead be screen by a clinician and placed in a specialized unit of psychiatric or short-term care facility (Sec. 5).

• Defines “vulnerable populations” as the following (Sec. 3):
• Individuals aged 21 years or younger;
• Individuals aged 65 or older;
• Individuals with a disability based on mental illness, history of psychiatric hospitalization, or who have recently exhibited behavior indicating a need for further observation;
• Individuals with a developmental disability or severe medical condition;
• Individuals who are pregnant, in the postpartum period, or have recently suffered a miscarriage or terminated a pregnancy; and
• Individuals who are perceived to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or intersex.

• Requires that all individuals be evaluated by a clinician before being placed in isolated confinement and be evaluated by a clinician on a daily basis while in isolated confinement (Sec. 4).

• Requires that time outside of the cell be maximized for all individuals in isolated confinement and prohibits denial of access to food, water, medical care, and any other basic necessity (Sec. 4).

• Authorizes isolated confinement in situation including, but not limited to, a threat to other inmates, guards, the public, or the individual to be placed in isolated confinement (Sec. 5).

• Requires the commissioner of corrections to develop rules and regulations providing for alternatives to isolated confinement (Sec. 7).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes restrictions on solitary confinement.

Highlights:

• Prohibits placing members of “vulnerable populations” in isolated confinement and requires that such individuals instead be screen by a clinician and placed in a specialized unit of psychiatric or short-term care facility (Sec. 5).

• Defines “vulnerable populations” as the following (Sec. 3):
• Individuals aged 21 years or younger;
• Individuals aged 65 or older;
• Individuals with a disability based on mental illness, history of psychiatric hospitalization, or who have recently exhibited behavior indicating a need for further observation;
• Individuals with a developmental disability or severe medical condition;
• Individuals who are pregnant, in the postpartum period, or have recently suffered a miscarriage or terminated a pregnancy; and
• Individuals who are perceived to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or intersex.

• Requires that all individuals be evaluated by a clinician before being placed in isolated confinement and be evaluated by a clinician on a daily basis while in isolated confinement (Sec. 4).

• Requires that time outside of the cell be maximized for all individuals in isolated confinement and prohibits denial of access to food, water, medical care, and any other basic necessity (Sec. 4).

• Authorizes isolated confinement in situation including, but not limited to, a threat to other inmates, guards, the public, or the individual to be placed in isolated confinement (Sec. 5).

• Requires the commissioner of corrections to develop rules and regulations providing for alternatives to isolated confinement (Sec. 7).

Full Bill Text