New York is adopting new standards for the treatment of prisoners held in solitary confinement in local jails.
The state's Commission on Corrections issued the new rules Tuesday. The changes come at the urging of Gov. Andrew Cuomo and must be published in the state register before taking effect later this fall.
Under the new regulations, all prisoners held in solitary at local jails must get at least four hours outside their cell daily. The rules will also require local authorities to inform the state when prisoners younger than 18 are placed in isolation or when an inmate is held in solitary for more than a month.
Cuomo said the standards will prevent prisoner mistreatment. The state has already implemented changes to reduce solitary confinement in state facilities.
