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New York City lawmakers passed legislation Dec. 20 that will ban solitary confinement in the city’s jails. Introduced by New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, the bill puts a 4-hour limit on isolating inmates when there is an immediate threat or a high risk of violence to themselves or others in “de-escalation” units. Only inmates involved in violent acts should be placed in confinement for longer periods of time, but they would need to be out of their cells for 14 hours a day in order to receive the...

Over the objections of Mayor Eric Adams, New York City lawmakers passed legislation Wednesday meant to ban solitary confinement in the city’s jails. The bill that was overwhelmingly approved allows jails to isolate inmates who pose an immediate risk of violence to others or themselves in “de-escalation” units for a maximum of four hours. Those placed in longer-term restrictive housing would need to be allowed out of their cells for 14 hours each day and get access to the same programming available to those in the general population. New York...

The twin approvals Wednesday afternoon followed days of vocal opposition by Adams, including the promise of a veto, and others that one lawmaker decried as "hysterics and misinformation." Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, who had a significant role in both pieces of legislation, said the objections to the long-awaited solitary confinement bill don't match what it accomplishes. People who are detained can still be separate or even isolated from those who do harm to themselves or others, he said. "What it does prevent is the isolation that is known for torture...

New York City lawmakers on Wednesday approved a bill to ban the practice of solitary confinement in its jails, a major victory for prisoner advocates that comes in the wake of increased scrutiny on inmate deaths. The City Council's decision, which succeeded on a 39-7 vote, faces opposition from Mayor Eric Adams, who told reporters this week that while he doesn't believe in solitary confinement, he also doesn't "like" the bill in its current form. But even if Adams, a Democrat, chooses to veto the measure, it has support from...

The City Council approved a bill Wednesday that would ban most forms of solitary confinement in city jails — legislation Mayor Adams said he opposes, but has stopped short of saying he’ll veto. In a full Council vote at City Hall, the measure passed with overwhelming support, with 39 of the body’s 51 members voting in favor of it. “Solitary confinement is inhumane, and its presence in our city is indefensible,” said city Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, the bill’s primary sponsor. “People in solitary are isolated, denied human contact and...

Today, in its final meeting before the current body is dissolved, the 51 members of the City Council will take up and almost certainly pass two bills on public safety that Mayor Adams has been strongly opposing. We would advise the Council to think again on both measures, one on the recording of police encounters with the public and the other on the use of solitary confinement/punitive segregation in the jails. Both bills have overwhelming sponsorship and should Adams exercise his veto, likely more than enough to muster the two-thirds...

Southwest Airlines and its pilots reached a tentative labor agreement after three-and-a-half years of negotiations, the last of the four major airlines to reach a deal with pilots. The Dallas-based carrier said Tuesday it was pleased to reach the agreement in principle, which it called a “key milestone.” Specific terms of the agreement weren’t disclosed, but pilots at American, United and Delta have won raises of roughly 40% over five years.