Solitary Confinement and Mental Health in Pennsylvania Department of Corrections

Keywords: Solitary confinement, mental health, Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, restrictive housing, prison reform, policy analysis, incarcerated individuals, mental health services, rehabilitation, humane treatment, PADOC, Data Analysis, Statistical Analysis
Abstract Type: Poster Abstract

Abstract

This study investigates how the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections(PADOC) frames mental health needs among incarcerated individuals in PA and how it responds to those needs, focusing on solitary confinement and restrictive housing practices. Using reform recommendations from external bodies like the US Department of Justice and the Vera Institute as starting points, we seek to interrogate whether these reforms are evident in the policies and treatment of incarcerated individuals as captured by data collected by the PADOC itself. Through a comprehensive mixed-methods approach, analyzing policy documents, housing classifications, and data on over 280,000 incarcerated people within the PADOC system, this research highlights the conditions of restrictive housing units, the protocols guiding placement in solitary confinement, and the inadequacy of mental health services provided to the general population and those isolated in solitary confinement. By combining qualitative and quantitative insights, our findings aim to improve policies and practices, promote rehabilitative approaches, and uphold humane treatment of incarcerated people’s mental health.