Federal Solitary Confinement Ends: New Bill Mandates 14 Hours Daily Social Time for All Inmates

The new End Solitary Confinement Act is looking to radically overhaul how federal prisons operate, effectively banning most uses of solitary confinement. This isn’t just a tweak to the rulebook; it’s a complete flip of the script on isolation.

The core of the bill is simple and specific: Every single person in a federal facility—from the Bureau of Prisons to ICE detention centers—must get at least 14 hours every day out of their cell in a shared space. This time isn’t just spent staring at a wall; it must be in an area where they can interact with others without physical barriers. This 14 hours includes at least seven hours of structured programming, like education or job training, plus an hour of group recreation. The effective date is fast, too: all changes must be implemented within 60 days of the bill becoming law.

The Isolation Ban: Emergency Use Only

If you’ve ever wondered what the fine print on 'solitary confinement' looks like, this bill draws a very hard line. After this Act takes effect, solitary confinement can only be used in extremely narrow, short-term situations. For instance, staff can only use it for up to four hours total in a 24-hour period (and only 12 hours in a week) to stop an immediate threat of serious physical harm. Even then, staff must try to de-escalate the situation hourly, and health care staff must check on the person every 15 minutes.

Crucially, the bill protects several vulnerable groups from ever being involuntarily placed in solitary confinement, even during an emergency. This includes anyone 25 years old or younger, 55 or older, anyone with a diagnosed mental health need or disability, pregnant people, and those identified as LGBTQI+. If a person needs to be separated for protection or other non-emergency reasons, they must be moved to an “alternative unit,” but that unit still has to provide the same 14 hours of daily social time and programming. This means the practice of isolating the most vulnerable for weeks or months on end would be over.

The Cost of Non-Compliance

This legislation isn't just about federal facilities; it’s designed to push state and local jails to change their practices, too. The bill creates a powerful financial incentive: any state or local agency that receives federal funding under the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act must certify every year that they are meaningfully complying with the new standards, including the 14-hour daily social interaction rule. If they don’t, the Attorney General must cut their federal funding by at least 10 percent.

For local governments, this is a major compliance challenge. If your county jail relies on these federal grants, administrators will have to completely restructure operations to meet the new social interaction requirements or face significant budget cuts. The good news is that the funding cuts won't touch money dedicated to things like public defenders or community-based mental health care, ensuring those services remain protected.

New Eyes on the Inside

Accountability is baked into the bill via the creation of a new, independent Community Monitoring Body. This group will be composed primarily of people who have survived solitary confinement or have family members who have been incarcerated. This body gets serious access rights: they can make unannounced visits to any federal facility, review non-classified data, and interview incarcerated people and staff privately and confidentially. Facility administrators must meet with them when requested. This level of independent, trauma-informed oversight is designed to ensure the new rules aren’t just ignored once the bill is signed.

Finally, the bill removes a major legal hurdle for people seeking justice for harm suffered in custody. Currently, if someone in prison wants to sue the government for mental or emotional distress, they often have to prove they also suffered a physical injury. This Act removes that physical injury requirement, making it easier for incarcerated people to seek legal recourse and damages (including for emotional pain and suffering) if their rights under this new law are violated.