RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Prison officials in North Carolina say they will no longer use solitary confinement for inmates who are under 18.
Adult correction and juvenile justice commissioner W. David Guice said in a news release that the state is beginning a new youthful offender program that will focus on education, behavioral health and the treatment needs of the younger inmates.
The state has 70 male inmates under age 18 at the Foothills Correctional Institution in Morganton. Guice says solitary confinement will be phased out by Sept. 1.
He says the mental health, medical, educational, social, spiritual and emotional needs of the youth are numerous and complex,
Prison spokesman Keith Acree said as of Wednesday, there are no inmates younger than 16 being held in the state prison system.