We are thrilled to announce that earlier today, prisoners in a lawsuit against solitary confinement agreed to a settlement in the case Ashker v. Brown that effectively ends indefinite long-term isolation. The federal class action case was filed in 2012 on behalf of prisoners who have been held in Pelican Bay's notorious SHU for more than 10 years, with little to no access to family visits, sunlight or outdoor time, or contact with others.
This legal victory is just one part of the broader struggle against solitary and imprisonment more generally, and is a direct result of prisoners' organizing. The unprecedented hunger strikes of 2011 and 2013, as well as the Agreement to End Hostilities have built on and continue to bolster the strength of the movement inside prison walls.
The settlement severely limits the California prison regime's ability to use solitary confinement, ends indefinite terms, and prohibits the use of "gang affiliation" as a reason to place someone in isolation. Prisoner representatives and their lawyers in the case will also be regularly meeting with CDCR officials and a judge to oversee and ensure implementation of the settlement's terms. It is estimated that in the first year, between 1,500 and 2,000 prisoners will be released from isolation.
Critical Resistance and others in the Prisoner Hunger Strike Solidarity Coalition held a forceful rally and press conference to celebrate this victory, with powerful statements read by family members and loved ones of those held in solitary. We emphasize our commitment to abolishing the prison industrial complex as we continue to build, to struggle, and to amplify the voices of those on the inside.
Drawing by Michael D. Russel, a prisoner in Pelican Bay
We'd like to end with an excerpt from the prisoners' statement on the settlement that reflects their determination and commitment to the struggle:
"We celebrate this victory while, at the same time, we recognize that achieving our goal of fundamentally transforming the criminal justice system and stopping the practice of warehousing people in prison will be a protracted struggle. We are fully committed to that effort, and invite you to join us."
Critical Resistance
Powerful testimony from prisoner representatives named as plaintiffs in Ashker v. Brown.
Video credit: The Center for Constutional Rights, lead counsel in the case.
