Solitary confinement is one of the most severe and destructive practices used in detention facilities. The World Health Organization, United Nations, and other international bodies have recognized solitary confinement as greatly harmful and potentially fatal. People with disabilities, pregnant people, youth, and the elderly are all at heightened risk from the harm caused by solitary confinement inside jails, prisons, and immigrant detention centers in California.

The solution is the California Mandela Act, which:

• Bans solitary confinement for specific populations including
  • Individuals with mental, physical and developmental disabilities
  • Pregnant people
  • People under 26 or over 59 years old
• Sets limits for confinement to not more than 15 consecutive days, or 20 days total in any 60-day period
• Requires facilities to keep clear records on the use of solitary confinement in order to provide public transparency
• Defines segregated confinement in California law

The California Mandela Act does not eliminate individual housing when appropriate or necessary including after the 15-day solitary confinement limit. Instead, the bill allows individuals to be held in alternative housing units including transition pods or residential rehabilitation units if and when appropriate to ensure their safety and the safety of others, with access to out of cell time and support services.

Cost Analysis

• Limiting solitary confinement is sound fiscal policy.
• The California State Library Research Bureau concluded that the state could reap significant savings by limiting solitary confinement.
• Read their full report here: https://www.library.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/crb-reports/FINALPolicy_Brief_Solitary_Confinement_TDLindsey_TDL_20230222.pdf
• Kevin McCarthy on behalf of Berkeley Underground Scholars and Hamid Yazdan Panah on behalf of Immigrant Defense Advocates conducted a cost analysis finding significant savings if we limit solitary confinement in California.
• Read their full report here: https://imadvocates.org/cost-of-solitary-confinement-in-california/

Background

In May of 2020, Mr. Choung Woong Ahn, a 74 year old Korean man took his own life after being placed in solitary confinement during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, in violation of the facility’s own protocols related to mental health and welfare.

Mr. Ahn’s tragedy set in motion a coalition between disability and civil rights organizations to create this legislation and achieve a solution. Disability Rights California joined the California Families to Abolish Solitary Confinement, University of California Underground Scholars Initiative, Immigrant Defense Advocates, California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice, NextGen Policy, and the Prison Law Office to form the California Mandela Campaign.

Updates on the California Mandela Act

The California Mandela Act was first introduced three years ago as Assembly Bill 2632 (Chris Holden), which gained full support in the California Assembly and Senate, but was vetoed by Governor Newsom, who indicated in his veto message that the issue of solitary was “ripe for reform.” The Mandela Act was reintroduced as Assembly Bill 280, which again gained full support in the legislature, including passing with a super majority in the Assembly. Despite this success, the governor indicated he would veto the bill again, without providing a reason for his reluctance to engage with the campaign. Assemblymember Holden decided not to advance the bill to the governor’s desk rather than risk a second veto. 

The California Mandela Campaign will continue to center the voices and perspectives of solitary survivors and engage with our coalition of disability, immigration, and transformative justice advocates so that we can bring an end to solitary confinement.

How You Can Support the Mandela Act

You can review a sample support letter here:
AB 280 (Holden) Template Letter of Support (docx)

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More Resources

• For a factsheet on the bill, please visit this link.
• For a complete copy of the bill language, please visit this link.

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Latest News

• Bill to ban solitary confinement for pregnant inmates now allows it. Its backers want a veto.
• Letter: California Passes Bill Allowing Pregnant People to Be Placed in Solitary with No Oversight - 08/31/24 Vanguard
• Newsom Blocks Path to Solitary Confinement Reform—Again - 08/22/24 DailyChela
• California prison officials are winning the war over whether to limit solitary confinement - 08/20/24 SF Chronicle
• How reducing solitary confinement can save California millions - 07/21/24 Orange County Register
• A breakthrough on Solitary - 02/01/2024 Inquest
• The impact of solitary confinement on safety in prison and in the community. - 02/25/2024 Orange County Register
• Why is Sen. Steve Glazer trying to undercut long overdue reforms to solitary confinement? - 01/19/24 Orange County Register
• It is time for California to end solitary confinement for disabled people - 08/30/23 Orange County Register
• It’s time to end solitary confinement behind bars - 08/02/23 Al Jazeera
• California Could Soon Reform Solitary Confinement—Unless Gavin Newsom Intervenes - Mother Jones
• How can Gavin Newsom reform California prisons but still allow solitary confinement? - 6/7/23 CalMatters
• California has New Chance to Stop Torture by Curtailing the use of Solitary Confinement - 4/19/23 The Orange County Register
  Community Coalition Announces Support for California Mandela Act that Limits CA Solitary Confinement - 1/27/23 Davis Vanguard
• Holden Reintroduces California Mandela Act, Targeting Solitary Confinement in Jails, Prisons and Immigration Detention Facilities - 1/25/23 Pasadena Now
• ‘Solitary confinement truly is torture.’ Bill to restrict it, vetoed by Newsom, is reintroduced - 1/25/23 Sacramento Bee
• Editorial: Solitary confinement is torture. Gov. Newsom can limit it in California - 9/27/22 LA Times
• ICE Overusing Solitary Confinement in California, Lawmakers Worry - 8/26/22 KQED
• Nearly 50,000 people held in solitary confinement in US, report says - 08/24/22 The Guardian
• California has the chance to limit solitary confinement. It should take it. - 08/14/22 Washington Post
• Will California Restrict Solitary Confinement? - New York Times 8/11/22
• California puts some of its most vulnerable prisoners in solitary confinement. A state bill would change that - 8/9/22 San Francisco Chronicle
• California should pass Assembly Bill 2632 to limit solitary confinement - 08/03/2022 The Orange County Register
• Solitary confinement is shrouded in secrecy and open to abuse. Why does California allow it? - 8/2/22 LA Times
• Opinion: I spent more than a decade in solitary confinement. Trust me, it’s torture - 7/31/2022 San Francisco Chronicle
• California considers restricting solitary confinement. It’s ‘cruel,’ lawmaker says - 7/31/2022 Sacramento Bee

Informational Videos:

Assemblymember Holden Presents AB 280 on the Assembly Floor - May 31, 2023 

Assemblymember Holden Reintroduces the California Mandela Act, Protecting Human Rights of All Californians

Holden is reintroducing a significant legislative measure called the California Mandela Act. The act is aimed at safeguarding the human rights of all Californians, regardless of their race, ethnicity, religion, gender, or sexual orientation. The video may discuss the provisions of the California Mandela Act and the importance of protecting human rights in the state of California.

The Impact of Solitary Confinement on Disability Rights: Personal Stories and Advocacy Efforts

Speakers illustrate why the practice of solitary confinement is a disability justice issue and share stories of those who experienced or lost their lives after being kept in solitary confinement for prolonged periods of time.

Please Note:
This video may contain triggering and/or sensitive material. Sexual violence, sexual assault, and abuse are some topics mentioned within this video. 

• CA Mandela Act Community Call - Spanish Version

Speakers:

• Pamila Lew, Senior Counsel, Investigations Unit, Disability Rights California
• Richard Diaz, Senior Attorney, Investigations Unit, Disability Rights California
• Eric Harris, Director of Public Policy, Disability Rights California
• Vanessa Ramos, Community Organizer, Legislation & Communications Unit
• Lisa Knox, Legal Director, California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice

Tho Vinh Banh and Vanessa Ramos Testify in Support of AB 2632 - Senate Public Safety Hearing

AB 280 Co-sponsors: