How Long Can an Inmate Legally Be Held in the Hole?

There is no legal limitation on the length of time an inmate may remain in the SHU or the "hole". There are no laws that an inmate can rely on to govern how they are incarcerated. They are basically 'property of the department of corrections' - and have to do whatever the department decides, whenever they decide. Stays in the SHU can be months and months for infractions that are considered safety violations, like possession of a cellphone, a weapon, or fighting. If you are certain that the warden has signed off on the settlement, then his release will soon follow.