Every day, hundreds of prisoners in Colorado are forced to live in extreme isolation, confined to small barren cells with virtually no human contact. Solitary confinement jeopardizes public safety, is fundamentally inhumane, wastes taxpayer dollars, and often leaves prisoners unprepared for re-entry into society when their sentences end.

During the 2014 legislative session, the ACLU of Colorado worked directly with the Department of Corrections and the state legislature to pass new landmark legislation banning the use of solitary confinement on prisoners with serious mental illnesses.

The ACLU of Colorado is now focused on implementing that legislation and building toward an end to the use of long-term solitary confinement in all forms.

Resources:

Out of Sight, Out of Mind Infographic
ACLU Report: Out of Sight, Out of Mind: Colorado’s Continued Warehousing of Mentally Ill Prisoners in Solitary Confinement
ACLU of Colorado documentary, “Out of Sight, Out of Mind: The Story of Sam Mandez”
Short version of “Out of Sight, Out of Mind” film: