A Review of Successful Legal Challenges to Restrictive Housing in Solitary Confinement and Administrative Segregation Units

Restrictive housing, often known as solitary confinement, has been the subject of much legal debate since its inception. Prisoners housed in restrictive housing face more severe restrictions than the typical prisoner. In order to build upon prior research of restrictive housing litigation and identify themes in the types of claims brought forth in said litigation this study systematically examines thirty-seven state and federal cases alleging Eighth Amendment violations of prisoners housed in restrictive housing. Using qualitative content analysis, this study found that Eighth Amendment claims by prisoners housed in restrictive housing can be categorized in one or more of six distinct ways: (1) excessive force, (2) failure to protect, (3) healthcare, (4) length of restrictive confinement conditions, (5) inadequate treatment of inmates with mental health disorders, and (6) conditions of confinement. The analysis also reveals that cases alleging inadequate treatment for mentally ill inmates are more likely to succeed than cases involving other identified themes.