Dear Friends,

Rep. Cori Bush just introduced the End Solitary Confinement Act, a groundbreaking bill that would end solitary confinement in federal prisons, immigration detention centers, and other federal and federally contracted facilities.

You can help build support for the bill by writing to your Representative asking them to cosponsor the End Solitary Confinement Act.

NRCAT and partners in the Federal Anti-Solitary Taskforce are excited about this bill that draws on the best policy components of enacted and proposed legislation from across the country. This bill is a testament to the years of activism led by solitary survivors, the loved ones of people who have experienced solitary, and leaders from the faith, legal, medical, and social work communities, as well as other allies.

Thus far, more than 150 organizations have endorsed the bill. If you would like to add your organization or congregation’s support please fill out this form.

The End Solitary Confinement Act would:

1) End solitary in federal prisons and other detention facilities, including a 4-hour maximum for emergency de-escalation;
2) Ensure that all separation/alternatives to solitary, regardless of what they are called, are the opposite of solitary;
3) Enhance due process protections;
4) Create oversight and enforcement measures.

Check out this NBC exclusive to learn more, which includes insights from NRCAT's U.S. Prisons Program Director, Johnny Perez.

You will hear more from us in the coming weeks and months on how you can support the bill and spread more awareness about the need to end the torture of solitary confinement. For now, we ask you to use our e-advocacy platform and ask your Representative to cosponsor the bill.

Sincerely,

The NRCAT Team
Ron, Johnny, Laura, T.C.

P.S. We have prepared a toolkit with ways you and your religious community can spread the word about this historic legislation.