Bill > SB1192

This bill establishes comprehensive regulations regarding the use of solitary confinement and physical restraints within Michigan's correctional facilities by amending the Corrections Code of 1953 and adding new sections to govern Department of Corrections procedures. Key provisions include replacing the term "punitive segregation" with "solitary confinement" (defined as isolating a prisoner from the general population for 16 or more hours a day), strictly limiting the maximum duration of solitary confinement to 15 consecutive days for qualified prisoners and outright prohibiting its use for vulnerable populations—such as individuals with mental illnesses, developmental disabilities, or serious medical conditions—who must instead be placed in alternative therapeutic spaces. The legislation enhances procedural protections during disciplinary hearings by guaranteeing access to an attorney, paralegal, or other trained advocate and requiring timely evidentiary hearings within five days of a misconduct notice. Additionally, the bill mandates strict oversight and continuous video recording of any physical restraints, particularly restricting "forced flexion restraint positioning" (which bends a prisoner's legs at the hips or knees) to a maximum of two hours with in-person checks every fifteen minutes, while requiring detailed reporting of solitary confinement use, lockdowns, and restraints to the legislature, the legislative corrections ombudsman, and the public. Finally, the bill is tie-barred to Senate Bill 1193, meaning it cannot become law unless that companion legislation is also enacted.