End Solitary Confinement Act
Sponsored By: Representative Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37]
Introduced
Summary
Ends general solitary confinement in federal custody and creates strict limits, minimum out-of-cell time, and independent oversight. This bill would set baseline engagement, medical, and review standards to sharply restrict when and how people can be separated from the general population.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
End solitary and set strict limits
Federal facilities may not use solitary confinement except in very narrow cases. Night counts and sleep are limited to 8 hours in 24 hours. Day counts or necessary facility business are limited to 2 hours in 24 hours. Emergency de-escalation and lockdowns are allowed only as last resorts and have strict hourly reviews and short total time caps. Everyone in federal custody must have at least 14 hours per day out of their cell, including 7 hours of structured programming and 1 hour of recreation. People must get placement hearings, multidisciplinary reviews within 15 days and then every 15 days, and written reasons and steps needed for discharge. Medical separations need immediate written health authorization and hospitals must be used when facilities cannot treat someone. Restraints, punitive loss of visits or basic needs, special administrative measures, and repeat placements for the same incident are banned. Many key terms are defined to make these rules apply to listed federal agencies and contracted facilities.
Ban on using Act money for restrictive construction
Money appropriated to carry out this law may not be used for certain prisons and detention building or construction budgets at the Bureau of Prisons, DHS, U.S. Marshals, or parts of HHS. Agencies also may not use those sums to build or renovate spaces for incarceration or to add devices that restrict movement. This rule takes effect not later than 60 days after enactment.
New oversight, monitoring, and access
The Attorney General must create an independent Community Monitoring Body within 90 days. The Inspector General must form an advisory group and start public annual reports within one year. Media, public defenders, and elected representatives can make unannounced visits and get nonclassified records quickly with consent-based interviews. Federal agencies must update confinement rules and monitor compliance within 60 days of enactment.
Byrne grant cuts for noncompliant jurisdictions
State and local governments that receive Byrne JAG grants must certify annual compliance with these confinement rules or promise to comply within 180 days. If they are not in substantial compliance, the Attorney General will cut at least 10% of their Byrne JAG award starting the first fiscal year after enactment. Funding for public defenders and certain community-based services is exempt from cuts.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37]
CA • D
Cosponsors
Espaillat
NY • D
Sponsored 7/23/2025
Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]
MI • D
Sponsored 7/23/2025
Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]
NJ • D
Sponsored 7/23/2025
Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12]
PA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2025
Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large]
VT • D
Sponsored 7/23/2025
Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3]
IL • D
Sponsored 7/23/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 7/23/2025
Johnson (GA)
GA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2025
Jackson (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 7/23/2025
Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10]
NJ • D
Sponsored 7/23/2025
Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10]
FL • D
Sponsored 7/23/2025
Stansbury
NM • D
Sponsored 7/23/2025
Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7]
NY • D
Sponsored 7/23/2025
Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2]
IL • D
Sponsored 7/23/2025
Cherfilus-McCormick
FL • D
Sponsored 7/23/2025
Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29]
TX • D
Sponsored 7/23/2025
Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7]
MA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2025
Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4]
IL • D
Sponsored 7/23/2025
Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]
NY • D
Sponsored 9/3/2025
Simon
CA • D
Sponsored 9/9/2025
Rep. McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3]
KY • D
Sponsored 11/4/2025
Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28]
CA • D
Sponsored 11/12/2025
Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6]
NY • D
Sponsored 12/3/2025
Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3]
PA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov