Corrections officials in the New York State prison system Wednesday took a major step toward reform by agreeing to new guidelines for the maximum length prisoners may be placed in solitary.
The state will also curb the use of solitary for the most vulnerable groups of inmates: those younger than 18 will receive at least five hours of exercise and other programming outside their cell five days a week, making New York the largest prison system yet to end the most extreme form of isolation for juveniles.
(READ more in the New York Times)