TALLAHASSEE, FL - The Senate Criminal Justice Committee today voted to pass Senate Bill 624, which would generally prohibit placing youth in solitary confinement. SB 624 would only authorize a youth to be placed in emergency confinement if certain conditions are met and require periodic mental health evaluations of a youth who is placed emergency confinement. Currently, Florida subjects thousands of kids to solitary confinement, which has devastating mental health impacts on fully matured adults and struggle to get the most basic education.
Kirk Bailey, political director, ACLU of Florida responded to today’s vote saying:
“We applaud the Senators who voted for this bill for taking this important first step and for urging their colleagues in the House to follow suit. It is beyond time for Florida to end this cruel, counterproductive practice. Teens held in isolation have an increased risk of suicide, aggression and hallucinations. This trauma impacts their brains just as it is developing structures key to successful adulthood. It is cruel. It is costly. It must stop. We urge members of the House to also vote for this bill.”
