Resource: Torturing Mentally Ill and Juvenile Prisoners: An Examination of Michigan's Administrative Segregation Policies

Part I discusses the history of solitary confinement. In order to understand how Michigan's system came to be, it is imperative to understand how solitary confinement began. Part II analyzes Michigan's policies regarding solitary confinement. This part illustrates the numerous policies in place, the different ways prisoners can be placed into and released from segregation, as well as Michigan's initial steps toward reform. Part III discusses the harmful psychological and physiological effects solitary confinement has on prisoners. Part IV highlights two major state reforms to solitary confinement practices: New York and Colorado. Part V outlines how Michigan should reform its segregation policies to better reflect the effective policies referenced in Part IV.