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Tracing changes in behavior across the extended solitary confinement process

NCJ Number
307516
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 79 Dated: 2022
Author(s)
Mayra Picon; Sonja E. Siennick; Jennifer M. Brown; Daniel P. Mears
Date Published
2022
Annotation

The authors of this study of behavioral changes across the extended solitary confinement (ESC) process found that while ESC may improve behavior at certain stages, these improvements may be short-lived.

Abstract

This study found that although extended solitary confinement (ESC)  may improve behavior at certain stages of its process, these improvements may be short-lived. The study used within-individual analyses to examine changes in behavior across multiple stages of one type of RH: extended solitary confinement (ESC). The results showed that the odds of a disciplinary infraction were significantly higher than baseline during the 12 weeks prior to an ESC placement. The odds declined during the week of a RH placement hearing and remained low during an ESC stay, during step-downs to lower levels of RH, and over the first two months post-RH. This beneficial effect decayed over time, and the odds of an infraction returned to baseline three months post-RH. Models predicting specific infraction types revealed the same general pattern for violent, defiance, and disorder infractions but a different pattern for regulation violation and property infractions. The evidence regarding the behavioral effects of restrictive housing (RH) is mixed. (Published Abstract Provided)