LANSING, MI (WTVB) – Michigan State Senator Stephanie Chang has introduced Senate Bills in Lansing, aiming to establish strict limitations on the use of solitary confinement within the state’s correctional facilities.
The proposed legislation seeks to restrict both the specific circumstances under which inmates can be isolated and the overall duration of their confinement.
Backed by advocacy groups like the Open MI Door campaign, the bills direct the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) to shift toward a more therapeutic approach by replacing traditional isolation cells with specialized de-escalation spaces designed to stabilize mental and physical health.
The push for reform comes amid ongoing scrutiny over prison conditions, highlighted by advocates like Danielle Dunn, whose brother died of dehydration while isolated in a state prison.
Chang says that prolonged isolation often exacerbates underlying behavioral or health issues rather than resolving them.
While the MDOC maintains that its current use of restrictive housing is tightly regulated and necessary to maintain staff safety and preserve security investigations, the department says it remains committed to reducing its segregated population and will continue conversations with state lawmakers as the legislation moves forward.
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