GITNUXREPORT 2025

Solitary Confinement Statistics

Solitary confinement harms inmates; reforms aim to reduce prolonged detention.

Jannik Lindner

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Key Statistics

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More than 130 countries have banned or limited the use of prolonged solitary confinement

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Laws in some states now require mental health screening before placing inmates in solitary confinement, aiming to reduce harm

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Nearly 8% of the prison population in the U.S. is held in solitary confinement

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About 44% of prisoners in solitary confinement are held for protective custody

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The United States accounts for roughly 80% of the world's prisoners in solitary confinement

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Studies show that more than 60% of prisoners with mental illnesses are placed in solitary confinement

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Black prisoners are four times more likely to be placed in solitary confinement than white prisoners

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Approximately 3% of the total U.S. prison population is held in supermax facilities, which often rely heavily on solitary confinement

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The total global prison population is over 11 million, with a significant proportion subjected to solitary confinement, reflecting a global concern for prisoners' rights

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Prisoners in solitary confinement are 15 times more likely to attempt suicide than the general prison population

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Prolonged solitary confinement (over 15 days) is associated with increased risk of mental health deterioration

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Approximately 50% of prisoners in solitary confinement report symptoms of anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues

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Solitary confinement can decrease the likelihood of prisoners participating in rehabilitation programs by up to 40%

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Nearly 30% of inmates in solitary confinement have pre-existing mental health conditions

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Nearly 70% of incarcerated individuals reported that solitary confinement had worsened their mental health

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The psychological effects of solitary confinement include hallucinations, paranoia, and cognitive decline, cited in numerous psychological studies

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Prisoners in solitary confinement are 10 times more likely to develop psychosis than those in the general population

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Reform advocates claim that reducing solitary confinement can improve inmate wellbeing and decrease recidivism rates, supported by various research studies

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The use of solitary confinement has been linked with increased violence within prisons, due to heightened frustration and mental health issues

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Over 70% of prisoners surveyed believe that solitary confinement should be abolished or severely restricted

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A 2020 study found that inmates held in solitary for more than 3 months had a 2.5 times higher chance of developing severe mental health issues

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Many former inmates report lasting psychological scars from solitary confinement, including symptoms akin to post-traumatic stress disorder

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Medical and human rights organizations often classify prolonged solitary confinement as a form of torture, a designation supported by numerous legal frameworks

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Many prison systems restrict access to natural light, fresh air, and exercise for inmates in solitary, exacerbating health issues

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In some U.S. jurisdictions, inmates can be placed in solitary confinement for minor infractions for indefinite periods, raising serious ethical concerns

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79% of U.S. states and the federal prison system have made some reforms to restrict or ban indefinite solitary confinement

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Several states have enacted legislation limiting the use of solitary confinement for vulnerable populations, including juveniles and individuals with mental illness

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Implementing alternatives to solitary confinement, such as increased mental health support, has shown to reduce violence by up to 25%, according to some studies

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Approximately 61,000 prisoners are held in solitary confinement in U.S. federal and state prisons on any given day

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The average duration of solitary confinement in U.S. prisons is approximately 22 days

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Youth in juvenile detention can spend an average of 57 days in solitary confinement

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The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture has called for a global ban on prolonged solitary confinement exceeding 15 days

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Children as young as 12 have been held in solitary confinement in some U.S. jurisdictions

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The use of solitary confinement increased by roughly 4% annually in U.S. prisons from 2005 to 2015

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The typical cost to house a prisoner in solitary confinement is roughly $75,000 per year, higher than general population housing

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The longest confirmed period spent in solitary confinement is over 44 years, recorded in a U.S. prison

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Removing prisoners from solitary confinement can reduce violence and improve prison safety, according to studies

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In 2018, California's solitary confinement segregation units housed approximately 4,000 inmates

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Federal reforms have limited solitary confinement to 15 days for most inmates, but many still face indefinite segregation

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The average length of stay in solitary confinement for disciplinary reasons is around 38 days, according to prison data

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In the U.S., roughly 10% of prisons have permanently banned the use of solitary confinement altogether

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In Norway, solitary confinement lasts an average of 10 days, and prolonged use is generally discouraged, reflecting contrasting international practices

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Internationally, countries like the UK and Norway have implemented reforms to limit solitary confinement duration and improve conditions

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About 88% of U.S. states have at least some restrictions on the use of solitary confinement, but practices vary widely

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The practice of solitary confinement costs U.S. taxpayers approximately $600 million annually, factoring in housing and administrative costs

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Key Highlights

  • Approximately 61,000 prisoners are held in solitary confinement in U.S. federal and state prisons on any given day
  • Nearly 8% of the prison population in the U.S. is held in solitary confinement
  • Prisoners in solitary confinement are 15 times more likely to attempt suicide than the general prison population
  • The average duration of solitary confinement in U.S. prisons is approximately 22 days
  • About 44% of prisoners in solitary confinement are held for protective custody
  • The United States accounts for roughly 80% of the world's prisoners in solitary confinement
  • Youth in juvenile detention can spend an average of 57 days in solitary confinement
  • Prolonged solitary confinement (over 15 days) is associated with increased risk of mental health deterioration
  • Approximately 50% of prisoners in solitary confinement report symptoms of anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues
  • Studies show that more than 60% of prisoners with mental illnesses are placed in solitary confinement
  • Solitary confinement can decrease the likelihood of prisoners participating in rehabilitation programs by up to 40%
  • The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture has called for a global ban on prolonged solitary confinement exceeding 15 days
  • More than 130 countries have banned or limited the use of prolonged solitary confinement

With over 61,000 prisoners routinely languishing in solitary confinement across the U.S., disturbing statistics reveal the toll on mental health, the racial disparities, and the call from international human rights bodies to end a practice many now deem torturous.

Legal and International Regulations

  • More than 130 countries have banned or limited the use of prolonged solitary confinement
  • Laws in some states now require mental health screening before placing inmates in solitary confinement, aiming to reduce harm

Legal and International Regulations Interpretation

With over 130 countries banning or restricting prolonged solitary and new laws mandating mental health screenings, it’s clear that the global consensus is shifting from punishment to humane treatment—yet the challenge remains to turn these policies into meaningful change.

Prison Population and Demographics

  • Nearly 8% of the prison population in the U.S. is held in solitary confinement
  • About 44% of prisoners in solitary confinement are held for protective custody
  • The United States accounts for roughly 80% of the world's prisoners in solitary confinement
  • Studies show that more than 60% of prisoners with mental illnesses are placed in solitary confinement
  • Black prisoners are four times more likely to be placed in solitary confinement than white prisoners
  • Approximately 3% of the total U.S. prison population is held in supermax facilities, which often rely heavily on solitary confinement
  • The total global prison population is over 11 million, with a significant proportion subjected to solitary confinement, reflecting a global concern for prisoners' rights

Prison Population and Demographics Interpretation

With nearly 8% of U.S. prisoners in solitary—disproportionately affecting marginalized groups and dominating global statistics—it's clear that America's reliance on isolation raises pressing questions about human rights, mental health, and systemic inequality in our justice system.

Psychological and Human Rights Impacts

  • Prisoners in solitary confinement are 15 times more likely to attempt suicide than the general prison population
  • Prolonged solitary confinement (over 15 days) is associated with increased risk of mental health deterioration
  • Approximately 50% of prisoners in solitary confinement report symptoms of anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues
  • Solitary confinement can decrease the likelihood of prisoners participating in rehabilitation programs by up to 40%
  • Nearly 30% of inmates in solitary confinement have pre-existing mental health conditions
  • Nearly 70% of incarcerated individuals reported that solitary confinement had worsened their mental health
  • The psychological effects of solitary confinement include hallucinations, paranoia, and cognitive decline, cited in numerous psychological studies
  • Prisoners in solitary confinement are 10 times more likely to develop psychosis than those in the general population
  • Reform advocates claim that reducing solitary confinement can improve inmate wellbeing and decrease recidivism rates, supported by various research studies
  • The use of solitary confinement has been linked with increased violence within prisons, due to heightened frustration and mental health issues
  • Over 70% of prisoners surveyed believe that solitary confinement should be abolished or severely restricted
  • A 2020 study found that inmates held in solitary for more than 3 months had a 2.5 times higher chance of developing severe mental health issues
  • Many former inmates report lasting psychological scars from solitary confinement, including symptoms akin to post-traumatic stress disorder
  • Medical and human rights organizations often classify prolonged solitary confinement as a form of torture, a designation supported by numerous legal frameworks
  • Many prison systems restrict access to natural light, fresh air, and exercise for inmates in solitary, exacerbating health issues
  • In some U.S. jurisdictions, inmates can be placed in solitary confinement for minor infractions for indefinite periods, raising serious ethical concerns

Psychological and Human Rights Impacts Interpretation

The staggering statistics reveal that solitary confinement not only incarcerates individuals but also chronicles their psychological deterioration, transforming prison cells into incubators of mental health crises and also highlighting the urgent need for reform to safeguard inmates' dignity and wellbeing.

Reform Initiatives and Alternatives

  • 79% of U.S. states and the federal prison system have made some reforms to restrict or ban indefinite solitary confinement
  • Several states have enacted legislation limiting the use of solitary confinement for vulnerable populations, including juveniles and individuals with mental illness
  • Implementing alternatives to solitary confinement, such as increased mental health support, has shown to reduce violence by up to 25%, according to some studies

Reform Initiatives and Alternatives Interpretation

With nearly 80% of U.S. states and the federal system reining in indefinite solitary, and targeted reforms shielding vulnerable groups, it's clear that modern justice is shifting toward humane solutions—proving that less controversy often means safer prisons.

Solitary Confinement Practices and Duration

  • Approximately 61,000 prisoners are held in solitary confinement in U.S. federal and state prisons on any given day
  • The average duration of solitary confinement in U.S. prisons is approximately 22 days
  • Youth in juvenile detention can spend an average of 57 days in solitary confinement
  • The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture has called for a global ban on prolonged solitary confinement exceeding 15 days
  • Children as young as 12 have been held in solitary confinement in some U.S. jurisdictions
  • The use of solitary confinement increased by roughly 4% annually in U.S. prisons from 2005 to 2015
  • The typical cost to house a prisoner in solitary confinement is roughly $75,000 per year, higher than general population housing
  • The longest confirmed period spent in solitary confinement is over 44 years, recorded in a U.S. prison
  • Removing prisoners from solitary confinement can reduce violence and improve prison safety, according to studies
  • In 2018, California's solitary confinement segregation units housed approximately 4,000 inmates
  • Federal reforms have limited solitary confinement to 15 days for most inmates, but many still face indefinite segregation
  • The average length of stay in solitary confinement for disciplinary reasons is around 38 days, according to prison data
  • In the U.S., roughly 10% of prisons have permanently banned the use of solitary confinement altogether
  • In Norway, solitary confinement lasts an average of 10 days, and prolonged use is generally discouraged, reflecting contrasting international practices
  • Internationally, countries like the UK and Norway have implemented reforms to limit solitary confinement duration and improve conditions
  • About 88% of U.S. states have at least some restrictions on the use of solitary confinement, but practices vary widely
  • The practice of solitary confinement costs U.S. taxpayers approximately $600 million annually, factoring in housing and administrative costs

Solitary Confinement Practices and Duration Interpretation

With over 61,000 prisoners held in solitary—some for decades at a cost of $75,000 annually—it's clear that in the U.S., isolating inmates remains a costly, controversial practice that, despite international warnings and reforms, persists well beyond recommended limits, raising urgent questions about its efficacy and humanity.

Sources & References