Federal bill would ban solitary confinement and require 14 daily hours out of cell

What does this do?

HR 4682 would ban solitary confinement in all federal prisons, immigration detention centers, and any facilities holding people on behalf of the federal government. People held in these facilities would be required to have at least 14 hours per day outside their cells for programs, recreation, meals, and visits. Isolation would still be permitted in very limited situations such as overnight, brief emergencies, or facility-wide lockdowns, with strict time limits in each case.

Who does it affect?

The bill directly affects people held in federally run or federally contracted detention facilities, the staff who work there, and state and local governments that receive federal criminal justice grants. Certain groups could never be isolated against their will, including people under 25 or over 55, people with disabilities or mental health conditions, pregnant people, and LGBTQ individuals.

Why does it matter?

States and local governments that cannot show their facilities follow similar rules would risk losing at least 10 percent of their federal law enforcement grant funding. People harmed by violations could sue in federal court and receive compensation for suffering even without a physical injury, and federal agencies would be required to publicly report isolation data every three months.

What does it cost, and who pays?

• States risk losing 10%+ of federal grants
• Funding loss tied to solitary confinement rules
• Local jails and prisons subject to review