Outline:
The Harsh Reality of Solitary Confinement in New York’s Juvenile Detention Centers
Children in New York’s juvenile detention centers have been subjected to extreme conditions, including solitary confinement for up to 24 hours a day. Some were placed in tiny cells without access to fresh water or even a proper toilet, according to a new lawsuit that has raised serious concerns about the treatment of minors in state facilities.
The class action suit claims that five facilities under the State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) routinely and unlawfully impose solitary confinement on children as young as 12. These children are left alone in small, barren cells for extended periods, often without adequate care or support.
Many of the infractions leading to this harsh treatment stem from behavioral issues linked to diagnosed disabilities, the lawsuit states. In some cases, children have reportedly told guards they would rather take their own lives than endure the conditions at these facilities.
According to the lawsuit, the use of solitary confinement can last for weeks or even months, despite a statewide prohibition on such practices for youth in adult facilities. This raises serious questions about the legal and ethical standards being upheld by the OCFS.
Dawne Mitchell, a Legal Aid attorney specializing in juvenile rights, called for an immediate end to these “barbaric, unlawful, and inhumane” practices. She emphasized the need for appropriate care, including basic hygiene, education, and rehabilitative services for the young people involved.
Jeremy Creelan, from the law firm Jenner and Block, which filed the lawsuit alongside Legal Aid, stated that the harm caused by solitary confinement demands urgent legal intervention. He argued that systemic change is necessary to ensure that vulnerable youth receive the care they deserve.
Five named plaintiffs in the lawsuit — all Black youths from New York City — described similar experiences at the state facilities. One of them, a 17-year-old named Isaac, who suffers from PTSD, had shown significant progress in his schooling while in pre-trial detention in Brooklyn. He was praised for his conduct and academic work but faced a stark contrast when he was transferred to OCFS’s facility in Goshen.
According to the lawsuit, Isaac was soon repeatedly subjected to solitary confinement, which undermined his documented commitment to rehabilitation. In February, his unit was placed in a month-long lockdown, and he has been confined to his cell for at least 20 hours each day since. Despite his mother’s pleas regarding his deteriorating mental health, officials took no action.
Isaac’s attempts to file a formal grievance were blocked by bureaucratic hurdles, making any form of recourse seem impossible.
Another plaintiff, Christopher, 20, who was convicted as an adolescent offender, claimed he preferred being in Rikers, where he had access to schooling and activities. After being transferred to Goshen, he found himself in worse conditions. His mother wrote a grievance letter stating that Christopher had attempted to take his own life and begged for him to be transferred to an adult facility, where solitary confinement is prohibited.
Another youth described how his experience at two separate facilities led to a profound sense of hopelessness and defeat. Despite trying to cope through meditation, yoga, and sleep, he was only allowed one book in his cell.
The stated mission of the OCFS is to prevent violence, neglect, abuse, and abandonment of children, according to its website. However, the lawsuit claims that this mission was not fulfilled at the five so-called “secure facilities.” Frequent unit-wide lockdowns due to staffing shortages forced some youths into solitary cells without bathrooms, requiring them to urinate and defecate in food containers or bottles when staff failed to respond.
The lawsuit also highlights that OCFS has long been aware of these issues. A June 2025 letter from the staff union described years of “deeply troubling reports” at the Industry Residential Center in Rush, including chronic understaffing, unsafe conditions, and “decimated essential youth programming.”
The letter expressed concern over the dehumanizing conditions faced by the youth, many of whom are Black and Brown. It stated that both staff and residents were losing hope.
State officials did not respond to a request for comment.