Solitary confinement of youth in Nebraska jumps 110%, inspector general says

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — A state watchdog released a report Monday showing a 110% increase in solitary confinement at Nebraska’s juvenile facilities.

The total number of hours that youths spent confined by themselves more than doubled last fiscal year, according to the inspector general of Nebraska child welfare.

In the year that ended June 30, youths at detention and treatment centers spent 119,293 hours in solitary confinement, the report says, up from 56,900 the year before.

The number of confinement incidents increased 48%.

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Inspector General Jennifer Carter said room confinement is commonly used to keep other residents and staff of the facilities safe.

“However, the research is clear that juvenile room confinement can cause significant psychological harm and in increased risk of self-harm among youth subjected to its use,” she said in a press release.

One bright spot in the report is that 61% of confinements lasted four hour or less.

Carter said that is an improvement from the year before.

SEE ALSO: Nebraska watchdog raises concerns over use of confinement in juvenile facilities

The inspector general recommended that solitary confinement be used only as a last resort and said it should not last longer than 24 hours.

She also said Nebraska’s laws on confining youths should be clearer and more evenly enforced across all facilities.

Carter said reducing juvenile confinement “requires a multi-faceted approach involving policy reform, culture change within facilities, rigorous oversight and a commitment to continuous improvement.”

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