NY Sued for Putting Children in Solitary Confinement

A new federal lawsuit accuses New York state of routinely placing children as young as 12 into solitary confinement. The legal action, filed last week in Manhattan, states that officials use isolation for minor misbehavior. It also claims solitary confinement is used to manage understaffing. The practice involves locking children alone in a room for 22 to 24 hours a day. This is often done without proper mental health oversight, the lawsuit says. Solitary confinement for youths is widely condemned by medical and human rights groups. They say it causes severe psychological harm. New York state officials have not yet publicly commented on the pending litigation.