California may be first to ban solo confinement for immigrants

(KYMA, KECY/ AP News) - Under a bill that advanced Tuesday, California would be the first U.S. state to ban solitary confinement in private civil detention centers used for immigrants who are under threat of deportation.

But the measure carries a huge projected price tag by also including the state’s prisons and jails, though supporters contest the cost estimates and say it could actually save money.

California’s proposal would bar solo confinement for more than 15 consecutive days or more than 45 days in a six-month period. It would also ban it entirely for pregnant women, people with mental or physical disabilities, or if they are age 25-and-younger or 60-and-older.