The message:
Imagine being locked in a small room, no larger than a bathroom. No windows. No fresh air. No one to talk to. You eat. You sleep. You stare at the walls. With virtually no human contact inside this cramped space, few things distinguish one hour, one day, one week, or one month from the next.
This is the reality for children held in solitary confinement at juvenile detention centers across South Dakota.
This punishment, however, doesn't fit the crime.
Juvenile solitary confinement is a profound, traumatic experience that goes far beyond just being alone. It's a form of government-sanctioned child abuse that's an assault on a developing young mind and body – and it must be stopped.
South Dakota is just one of only four states that does not have any limits on the use of juvenile solitary confinement in state law. But legislators have the opportunity to reform and standardize the state's policies with House Bill 1276, commonsense legislation that would prohibit its use on children for any reason other than a temporary behavior response.
Will you send a message to your legislators asking them to support House Bill 1276?
The recipient:
House Judiciary Committee
