Tracing changes in behavior across the extended solitary confinement process. (March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Picon, Mayra; Siennick, Sonja E.; Brown, Jennifer M.; Mears, Daniel P.
• Is Part Of: Journal of criminal justice. Volume 79(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-03
• Subjects: Solitary confinement -- Disciplinary infractions -- Restrictive housing; Criminal justice, Administration of -- Periodicals; Justice pénale -- Administration -- Périodiques; 364.05
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2022.101899
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0047-2352

Abstract

Abstract: The evidence regarding the behavioral effects of restrictive housing (RH) is mixed. This 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. Although ESC may improve behavior at certain stages of its process, these improvements may be short-lived. Highlights: Our study examined within-individual changes in behavior across the extended solitary confinement (ESC) process. Misconduct was significantly higher leading to ESC placement, decreased over the ESC process, and remained lower than usual following RH release. Improvements in behavior were temporary, as the risk of an infraction returned to baseline three months following release.