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Summary: SB 1003 would require the Criminal Justice Legislative Oversight Committe to appoint an independent third party to review how Texas deals with "administrative segregation" (more commonly known as solitary confinement) in the justice system. This bill would allow the committee to apply for grants to fund this endeavor. This bill would require the third party to submit a report with detailed recommendations.
Analysis: Many inmates placed in solitary confinement have serious mental health issues. Reports indicate that hundreds of inmates each year are released to the public directly from solitary confinement each year. This has been linked to high rates of recidivism. This legislation could lead to better handling of the release of solitary confinement prisoners, and perhaps better use of solitary confinement altogether. SB 1003 does not fall under our liberty principles, and we remain neutral.