Bureau Of Prisons Using Solitary Confinement As A Means To Curb Covid-19 Contagion

In April, to stop the spread of the coronavirus, the Federal Bureau of Prisons started restricting inmate movement (article here). Then in the first week of June, all prisoners were put on a rare nationwide lockdown — this time because of the national protests over police abuse and the killing of George Floyd. That lockdown has been lifted, although restrictions are still in place for COVID-19. The Bureau of Prisons says it hopes that "inmates will be restored to limited movement in the very near future." But there is concern that the response has increased the use of solitary confinement. "There is no programming going on in prison, no recreation, no interaction, limited communication, highly restricted legal visits, isolation in cells, no social interaction. These men and women are locked in small cells for 23 hours each day of the week and 24 hours on the weekend." There might also be limits on mail and phone calls.