Governor Hickenlooper Signs Ban on Long Term Solitary Confinement of Prisoners with Serious Mental Illness

June 6, 2014
DENVER - Statement of ACLU of Colorado Public Policy Director Denise Maes on SB 64, a bill banning long term solitary confinement of prisoners with serious mental illness, which was signed into law this morning by Governor Hickenlooper having received near unanimous approval from the state legislature.
“The ACLU of Colorado commends Governor Hickenlooper and the Colorado legislature for banning the cruel, costly, and unconstitutional practice of warehousing prisoners with serious mental illness in long term solitary confinement.
“The legislation solidifies and provides critical funding for policies initiated by Department of Corrections Director Rick Raemisch that provide adequate out-of-cell treatment for prisoners with serious mental illness, rather than sticking those prisoners in 23 hour-a-day solitary cells.  Treatment aimed at rehabilitation is critical, because 97% of today’s prison population will eventually return to our communities and live as our neighbors.
“The legislature’s overwhelming bipartisan support of SB 64 is a fitting tribute to the legacy of the late Tom Clements. This new law moves Colorado one step closer to realizing the former Director’s stated desire of bringing greater safety to the public and humanity to the prisons by ending our state’s historic over-reliance on solitary confinement.
“The ACLU of Colorado values our ongoing partnership with Director Raemisch and his staff, as we continue to work together toward our mutual goal of ending the brutal and inhumane use of long-term solitary confinement in all forms.”
Visit the Stop Solitary campaign page at: https://aclu-co.org/campaigns/stop-solitary/  

Read our report on mentally ill Colorado prisoners in solitary confinement:https://aclu-co.org/news/co-prisons-continue-to-warehouse-mentally-ill-in-solitary-confinement

Watch Out of Sight, Out of Mind – The Story of Sam Mandez, about a Colorado man who spent more than 15 years in solitary confinement and suffers from debilitating mental illness: http://vimeo.com/78840078