Minnesota jails and prisons segregated housing limitations and solitary confinement prohibition

Minnesota Senate Bill 207 prohibits solitary confinement in all state and local adult correctional facilities by banning any cell confinement that deprives inmates of meaningful visual or auditory contact for more than 20 hours in a day or 45 hours in any three-day period. It limits total segregation time to 21 days, requires facilities to identify and protect vulnerable populations (including minors, pregnant people, and those with mental health conditions), and mandates regular reporting to the Department of Corrections. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes § 243.521 to establish these rules, define key terms, and require facilities to maintain living conditions in segregated housing comparable to general population. This directly affects all inmates in Minnesota's jails and prisons, particularly those in restrictive housing.