SB2257 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 28776 RLC 55160 b

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB2257

Introduced 2/10/2023, by Sen. Robert Peters

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act
730 ILCS 5/3-8-7	from Ch. 38, par. 1003-8-7

Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Nelson Mandela Act. Creates the Isolated Confinement Restriction Act. Provides that, except for a committed person in protective custody who opts out of that status by providing informal, voluntary, written refusal of that status, the use of isolated confinement in correctional institutions is restricted to isolated confinement of no more than 10 days in any 180-day period or no more than 10 days in any 180-day period. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning criminal law.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title; referral.

(a) This Act may be cited as the Isolated Confinement Restriction Act.

(b) This Act may be referred to as the Nelson Mandela Act.

Section 5. Findings.

(a) The General Assembly honors the legacy of Nelson Mandela, the first and former President of South Africa, and recognizes that after release from 27 years of imprisonment, much of which was spent in isolated confinement, he became a world leader in his commitment to democracy and international human rights.

(b) Mandela was repeatedly subjected to isolated confinement.

(c) Mandela's isolation began with 23 hours a day of isolated confinement with just 2 thirty-minute exercise periods allowed per day. Such hours were spent in a cell measuring 8 feet by 7 feet, with walls of concrete, without windows, and furnished with a single light bulb to substitute natural light.

(d) Mandela described isolated confinement as "the most forbidding aspect of prison life", with no end and no beginning.

(e) After 27 years of incarceration under the South African government, Mandela went on to receive a Nobel Peace Prize and numerous other honors as a global icon of democracy and social justice.

(f) In an attempt to ensure that no one else would be subjected to the inhumane treatment Mandela survived, the United Nations adopted the Mandela Rules establishing Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, on December 17, 2015. Those rules finalize a set of principles that provide all people who are in prison with respect and protection from torture, and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatments or punishments.

(g) Rule 1 of the Mandela Rules sets the guiding principle for these standards, requiring that: "All prisoners shall be treated with the respect due to their inherent dignity and value as human beings"; and

(h) The Mandela Rules provide that: "the prison system shall not, except as incidental to justifiable separation or the maintenance of discipline, aggravate the suffering inherent in … a situation" involving the deprivation of liberty; and

(i) As a result of these requirements and recognizing the horrific consequences of Mandela's prolonged isolation, the Mandela Rules specifically prohibit prolonged placement in a cell.

(j) Rule 44 of the Mandela Rules specifically states: "Rule 44: For the purpose of these rules, solitary confinement shall refer to the confinement of prisoners for 22 hours or more a day without meaningful human contact. Prolonged solitary confinement shall refer to solitary confinement for a time period in excess of 15 consecutive days.

(k) Nelson Mandela stated: "[N]o one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its jails. A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but its lowest ones.

(l) To be judged as a worldwide leader, Illinois must recognize the horrific consequences that Nelson Mandela and other incarcerated individuals have experienced from being confined to a cell for prolonged periods and comply with the international mandates required by the Mandela Rules.

(m) It is therefore in Illinois' best interests to operate its prisons in compliance with internationally recognized minimum standards.

(n) The Nelson Mandela Act is hereby enacted.

Section 10. Definitions. In this Act:

"Correctional facility" means any State correctional facility or county correctional facility, and any State, county, or private facility detaining persons under any intergovernmental service agreement or other contract with any State, county, or federal agency, including, but not limited to, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

"Facility administrator" means the chief operating officer, senior administrative designee, or warden of a correctional facility.

"Isolated confinement" means confinement of a committed person in a correctional facility in a cell or confined living space, alone or with other inmates, for more than 20 hours in any 24-hour period.

"Protective custody" means confinement of a committed person in a cell or confined living space under conditions necessary to protect the committed person or others.

Section 15. Restrictions on the use of isolated confinement.

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), the use of isolated confinement in correctional facilities in this State shall be restricted as follows:

(1) A committed person may not be placed in isolated confinement for more than 10 consecutive days.

(2) A committed person may not be placed in isolated confinement for more than 10 days in any 180-day period.

(3) While out of cell, committed persons may have access to activities, including, but not limited to: job assignments, educational classes, vocational classes, meals, recreation, yard or gymnasium, day room, bathing facilities, medical appointments, visits, and group therapy.

(b) A committed person in protective custody may opt out of that status by providing informed, voluntary, written refusal of that status.

(c) Nothing in this Act is intended to restrict any rights or privileges a committed person may have under any other statute, rule, or regulation.

Section 20. Data publication. The Department of Corrections shall post on the Department's official website quarterly reports on the use of isolated confinement. Those reports shall include data on the use of isolated confinement by age, sex, gender identity, ethnicity, incidence of mental illness, and type of confinement status, at each facility; these reports shall include the population on the last day of each quarter and a non-duplicative cumulative count of persons exposed to isolated confinement for each fiscal year. These reports shall include the incidence of emergency confinement, self-harm, suicide, and assault in any isolated confinement unit, as well as explanations for each instance of facility-wide lockdown. These reports shall include data on the access to health care, including the time it takes for a confined person to access medical care following a request and the time between routine mental and physical checkups. These reports shall not include personally identifiable information regarding any committed person.

Section 90. The Unified Code of Corrections is amended by changing Section 3-8-7 as follows:

(730 ILCS 5/3-8-7) (from Ch. 38, par. 1003-8-7)

Sec. 3-8-7. Disciplinary Procedures.)

(a) All disciplinary action shall be consistent with this Chapter. Rules of behavior and conduct, the penalties for violation thereof, and the disciplinary procedure by which such penalties may be imposed shall be available to committed persons.

(b)(1) Corporal punishment and disciplinary restrictions on diet, medical or sanitary facilities, mail or access to legal materials are prohibited.

(2) (Blank).

(3) (Blank).

(c) Review of disciplinary action imposed under this Section shall be provided by means of the grievance procedure under Section 3-8-8. The Department shall provide a disciplined person with a review of his or her disciplinary action in a timely manner as required by law.

(d) All institutions and facilities of the Department of Corrections shall establish, subject to the approval of the Director, procedures for hearing disciplinary cases except those that may involve the imposition of disciplinary segregation and isolation; the loss of good time credit under Section 3-6-3 or eligibility to earn good time credit.

(e) In disciplinary cases which may involve the imposition of disciplinary segregation and isolation, the loss of good time credit or eligibility to earn good time credit, the Director shall establish disciplinary procedures consistent with the following principles:

(1) Any person or persons who initiate a disciplinary charge against a person shall not determine the disposition of the charge. The Director may establish one or more disciplinary boards to hear and determine charges.

(2) Any committed person charged with a violation of Department rules of behavior shall be given notice of the charge including a statement of the misconduct alleged and of the rules this conduct is alleged to violate.

(3) Any person charged with a violation of rules is entitled to a hearing on that charge at which time he shall have an opportunity to appear before and address the person or persons deciding the charge.

(4) The person or persons determining the disposition of the charge may also summon to testify any witnesses or other persons with relevant knowledge of the incident.

(5) If the charge is sustained, the person charged is entitled to a written statement of the decision by the persons determining the disposition of the charge which shall include the basis for the decision and the disciplinary action, if any, to be imposed.

(6) (Blank).

(f) In disciplinary cases which may involve the imposition of segregation and isolation, isolated confinement, or restrictive housing, the Director shall establish disciplinary procedures consistent with the Isolated Confinement Restriction Act.

(Source: P.A. 97-1083, eff. 8-24-12.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.