4. RESTRICTIONS, DISCIPLINE AND SANCTIONS PROMISING PRACTICE: UNITED STATES – THE SAFE ALTERNATIVES TO SEGREGATION INITIATIVE [4.1] The Vera Institute of Justice – a United States research institute – is partnering with corrections systems in the country to reduce their reliance on “segregated housing” (solitary confinement) through the advancement of safe and effective alternatives in a project entitled the Safe Alternatives to Segregation (SAS) Initiative.240 In partnership with corrections departments in Nebraska, North Carolina and Oregon and local departments in Middlesex country, New Jersey and New York City, Vera performs “a full review of the corrections departments” policies and practices and conduct[s] data analysis to “determine the drivers and characteristics of incarcerated people in segregation.” Vera also provides “recommendations on policy and practice changes that can safely and effectively reduce the use of segregated housing across the systems and will help implement these recommendations”.241 Additionally, the online Safe Alternatives to Segregation Resource Center provides the latest research, reports, policy briefs and information on reforms being implemented in the United States, with the purpose of informing corrections officials, policymakers, advocates, the media, and the general public about the current use of segregation in the US, its impacts and what can be done to address it. PROMISING PRACTICE: STUDY ON SEGREGATION UNITS IN ENGLAND AND WALES [4.2] A study of segregation and close supervision centres in England and Wales242 identified the following promising practice examples: Diverse means were used in different units to communicate details about segregation to prisoners. These included: One segregation unit had its mission statement displayed in a prominent place where prisoners could see it. The mission statement of the unit was to “challenge negative behaviour and encourage positive engagement with the aim of successfully reintegrating prisoners back into the general population.” – A statement of purpose being prominently displayed at one unit; Another unit sought to solve the root causes that led prisoners to be segregated. Segregation unit officers engaged with prisoners to identify and address the problems in their conduct that had led to the decision to segregate them, including working with prisoner’s on their attitudes and behaviour. Some segregation review boards investigated the reasons for segregation and tackled them as problems that could be resolved, rather than as justification for further segregation. In one unit, a named member of the segregation team held responsibility for the much-neglected area of purposeful activities for prisoners. Working one-to-one with each resident, they planned and provided for course-work, hobbies, in-cell work and other activities tailored to individual needs, interests and abilities for segregated prisoners. – Induction booklets about rules and expectations of the segregated facility. 4 In one unit, a review was held regularly (at least once a week) with the attendance of representatives from the probation, safer custody, psychology, mental health in-reach, health-care and chaplaincy units. The Independent Monitoring Board also attended the weekly reviews. – A poster with a list of expected behaviour and entitlements being displayed by the telephones in another unit; and In one of the prisons visited, newly segregated prisoners were given an induction booklet that informed them that they “may request a variety of educational resources and equipment to assist them in continuing to study” while in the unit. 240 241 242 240. For more information, see: www.vera.org and www.safealternativestosegregation.org. 241. See: Safe Alternatives to Segregation Initiative, VERA Institute for Justice at www.safealternativestosegregation.org/about. 242. Sharon Shalev and Kimmett Edgar, Deep Custody: Segregation units and close supervision centres in England and Wales, The Prison Reform Trust, 2015, pp. vii-viii. Guidance document on the Nelson Mandela Rules 107