Restrictive Housing in the U.S.

For almost 50 years, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) has invested in high-quality, high-impact research across disciplines to build knowledge that serves the needs of criminal justice professionals. Put simply, our mission as the science agency within the Department of Justice (DOJ) is to solve real-world crime and justice problems. Given the current environment, it is clear that the work being carried out by officials in law enforcement, courts, and corrections is changing rapidly. This makes our work at NIJ even more critical and vital to the criminal justice community. Mass incarceration and its impact on individuals, families, and communities will continue to be a focus of inquiry as we revisit its role and function in our society. Institutional corrections, and more specifically restrictive housing and other strategies that facilities use to manage and control incarcerated individuals, have become a national priority for President Obama, DOJ, and corrections administrators at the federal, state, and local levels. Restrictive housing, commonly known as solitary confinement or administrative segregation, is a common practice in corrections. A recent national estimate by the Bureau of Justice Statistics reveals that as many as one in five individuals has spent time in restrictive housing while in jail or prison. Despite its use throughout facilities nationwide, we lack the scientific evidence to convey how corrections administrators use this strategy and its impact on incarcerated individuals, staff, and the organizational climate. While there are claims that this correctional strategy increases the safety and well-being of staff and inmates, there is increasing concern about its potential over-use and its effects on incarcerated individuals, especially those with mental illness.