HALT Act of 2021

The HALT Act of 2021, also known as Bill 117 hr 3837, is a piece of legislation introduced in the US Congress aimed at reforming the use of solitary confinement in federal prisons. The bill seeks to limit the use of solitary confinement to only as a last resort for the shortest amount of time necessary to address a serious and immediate risk of harm to the individual or others.

Under the HALT Act, federal prisons would be required to provide individuals in solitary confinement with at least four hours of out-of-cell time per day, including access to mental health treatment, educational programs, and recreational activities. The bill also prohibits the use of solitary confinement for vulnerable populations, such as pregnant women, individuals with disabilities, and juveniles.

Additionally, the HALT Act mandates regular reviews of individuals in solitary confinement to assess their mental health and determine if they can be safely released back into the general prison population. The bill also requires federal prisons to report data on the use of solitary confinement to Congress and the public, in order to increase transparency and accountability. Overall, the HALT Act of 2021 aims to reform the use of solitary confinement in federal prisons by limiting its use, providing more humane conditions for individuals in solitary confinement, and increasing oversight and transparency.