New York Punishes 12-Year-Olds With Solitary Confinement, Lawsuit Claims
The New York Times • • nation
Key Points:
- Garrett, a 16-year-old boy from Brooklyn, has been held in solitary confinement for extended periods at the Industry Residential Center in New York, despite state regulations prohibiting such treatment for minors.
- The lawsuit filed in the Southern District of New York alleges Garrett was confined 22 to 24 hours daily during his first month, denied education and peer interaction, and often lacked bathroom access.
- Garrett and three other Black male detainees, aged 16 to 20, are plaintiffs in a class action suit claiming systemic solitary confinement practices in New York youth detention facilities.
- The suit accuses the New York State Office of Children and Family Services of using solitary confinement as punishment for minor infractions and to manage understaffing,
