: Penal Reform International detailed updated rules for prison authorities, focusing on human rights standards for the separation of prisoners.
: A 2020 special report from Sivilombudet found that security cells often failed international minimum size standards and were frequently misused for individuals in acute mental health crises. Solitary (2020)
: Studies such as those in The Lancet linked solitary confinement placement to higher risks of post-release mortality and suicide. : Penal Reform International detailed updated rules for
The difference between and punitive segregation protocols. The difference between and punitive segregation protocols
The year 2020 marked a critical turning point for the practice of , as the global COVID-19 pandemic intersected with longstanding human rights concerns. In 2020, correctional facilities saw a staggering 500% increase in the use of isolation to manage virus transmission, according to reports from Solitary Watch . This shift sparked intense debate over the balance between public health and the psychological preservation of incarcerated individuals. The Impact of Isolation in 2020
Several major investigations into solitary confinement practices were published or updated in 2020:
: Public health experts noted that "medical isolation" should be distinct from "punitive solitary." However, as highlighted by PMC , the lines often blurred, leading to an environment of fear where inmates avoided reporting symptoms to escape being placed in "the hole."