Lawsuit Alleges New York Uses Solitary Confinement on Minors

A federal lawsuit filed in Manhattan by the Legal Aid Society and Jenner & Block on behalf of four Black male detainees alleges New York state uses solitary confinement on minors in five facilities, sometimes for weeks or months, to punish alleged rule infractions or due to staffing shortages. The suit describes 16- to 20-year-olds kept in cells for up to 22–24 hours a day, denied education and bathroom access, and claims this violates state regulations and harms mental health; it seeks class-action relief and highlights gaps between policy and practice.