Louisiana’s solitary confinement law had remained unchanged for over 180 years. A recent provision to exclude pregnant women was added in the 2020 legislative session. The use of solitary confinement in Louisiana and the length of stay in solitary have increased, resulting in Louisiana having the highest percentage of inmates in segregation in the country.
Key points:
- Louisiana’s solitary confinement law was enacted in the 1800s when the prison population consisted of 112 inmates.
- Louisiana has an extensive history of relying on solitary confinement as a punitive measure.
- Louisiana ranks #1 in percentage of inmates in segregation in the United States.
- The Louisiana Department of Corrections is working to address its reliance on solitary confinement.