Rhode Island's Department of Corrections (RIDOC) calls solitary confinement "restrictive housing" -- and until July 2023, RIDOC was holding people in lockdown for 22 to 24 hours per day for periods of a year or longer, despite a decades-old consent decree from the 1970s limiting disciplinary confinement to a maximum of 30 days.
In July 2023, after years of litigation and court-supervised mediation, RIDOC implemented major policy reforms effective July 30, 2023. Disciplinary confinement is now capped at 30 days for the most serious offenses and 15 days for other serious offenses. Stacking of offenses is prohibited. Medical and psychiatric evaluation is required before isolation. A new Restorative Housing Program provides a step-down pathway.
These reforms are court-supervised administrative policies, not statute. Rhode Island has no law limiting the duration or scope of solitary confinement for adults. Two federal class action lawsuits remain active: Liberty v. RIDOC, challenging solitary for people with disabilities and mental illness; and Paiva v. RIDOC, enforcing the 1970s consent decree. A pending bill -- the Restrictive Housing Act (H 8275) -- would codify and strengthen these protections, but it remains in committee as of April 2026.
What Solitary Confinement Is Called in Rhode Island
RIDOC uses "restrictive housing" as its official term. RIDOC denies that what it operates constitutes "solitary confinement." RIDOC's types:
Disciplinary Confinement: Punitive isolation for rule violations, following a disciplinary hearing. Prior to July 2023, prisoners could be held for 31 days to a year on a single offense. As of July 30, 2023: capped at 30 days for most serious offenses, 15 days for other serious offenses. Per RIDOC policy (pre-reform): one visit and one 10-minute phone call per week; no phone calls every 30 days in the most severe form.
Administrative Confinement: Non-punitive long-term isolation for safety or security reasons. Indefinite, with case reviews every 90 days. Before the July 2023 reforms, people in administrative confinement could be held with very limited out-of-cell time indefinitely.
Transitional Confinement: A placement that RIDOC does not classify as restrictive housing despite conditions that can include as little as 2 hours of out-of-cell time per day.
Restorative Housing Program: The step-down unit created as part of the July 2023 reforms. After the maximum disciplinary confinement period, people are either returned to general population or placed in the Restorative Housing Program rather than being held in continued isolation.
The Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI) in Cranston is Rhode Island's main correctional facility.
The July 2023 Court-Mediated Policy Reforms
Effective July 30, 2023, RIDOC implemented major policy changes developed through court-supervised mediation with ACLU of RI cooperating attorneys, the Rhode Island Center for Justice, and court-appointed experts. Key changes:
Disciplinary confinement caps: 30 days maximum for the most serious offenses; 15 days for other serious offenses. Previously, people could be held 31 days to a year on a single offense.
No stacking: Offenses cannot be "stacked" to hold someone in disciplinary confinement beyond 30 consecutive days.
Medical and psychiatric evaluation: All prisoners must be medically and psychiatrically evaluated before being placed in disciplinary confinement.
Restorative Housing Program: After the maximum disciplinary period, people are returned to general population or entered into this step-down program rather than continuing in isolation.
These changes were implemented through mediation, not legislation. The lead plaintiff in the underlying case (Paiva v. RIDOC), Richard Paiva, described the reforms as "not perfect" but said they "will end the harmful use of long-term punitive segregation and solitary confinement at the ACI."
What Has Not Changed
Despite the July 2023 reforms:
- Administrative confinement remains indefinite with 90-day reviews only -- no maximum duration.
- Transitional confinement (as little as 2 hours out of cell per day) is not classified as restrictive housing.
- No statutory prohibition on solitary for any vulnerable population.
- No mandatory minimum out-of-cell time for administrative confinement.
- The reforms are court-supervised administrative policies, not law, and can be modified through administrative action or litigation.
- The ACLU of RI notes that even the 30-day cap falls short of the 15-day cap the pending Restrictive Housing Act would establish.
The Active Federal Lawsuits
Liberty v. RIDOC: An ongoing federal class action challenging the use of solitary confinement for people with disabilities and mental illness, alleging it constitutes cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment and violates the ADA.
Paiva v. RIDOC (Morris v. Travisono): The continuation of a consent decree from the 1970s that limits disciplinary confinement to 30 days for all incarcerated people. This was the case whose enforcement produced the July 2023 reforms. The case continues to monitor RIDOC compliance.
The Pending Restrictive Housing Act
Rhode Island advocates have introduced multiple versions of the Restrictive Housing Act over several legislative sessions. The most recent version (H 8275, as of April 2026) would:
- Cap disciplinary confinement at 15 consecutive days and 30 total days in any 60-day period.
- Restrict disciplinary confinement to offenses involving violence, escape, or threats to safety.
- Prohibit placement of vulnerable populations in solitary (people under 21, over 55, deaf or blind, with serious mental illness, developmental disabilities, or serious medical conditions).
- Require minimum 4 hours of out-of-cell time per day for people in administrative confinement.
- Create a 5-member restrictive housing oversight committee.
- Require minimum 6 hours of out-of-cell time in step-down and transitional housing.
- Bring certain RIDOC policies under the Rhode Island Administrative Procedures Act for public comment.
As of April 2026, H 8275 remains pending in committee. It has not been signed into law.
Visiting and Communication During Solitary
Per RIDOC policy, people in disciplinary confinement receive one visit and one 10-minute phone call per week. In the most severe form, contact may be further restricted. Legal and professional visits are maintained. Administrative confinement visiting rules should be confirmed directly with the facility.
What Families Can Do
If your person is in restrictive housing at Rhode Island's Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI) in Cranston:
Confirm the housing category. Contact ACI's administrative staff to confirm whether your person is in disciplinary confinement, administrative confinement, or transitional confinement -- each has different rules and protections.
Know the disciplinary caps. For disciplinary confinement: 30 days for the most serious offenses; 15 days for other serious offenses. Stacking is prohibited. If your person is being held in disciplinary confinement beyond these limits, this may violate the court-mediated policies. Document and contact the ACLU of RI immediately.
Know the 90-day review for administrative confinement. If your person is in administrative confinement, RIDOC must conduct a status review every 90 days. Ask when the next review is and what criteria must be met for release from administrative confinement.
Know the evaluation requirement. Under the July 2023 reforms, medical and psychiatric evaluation is required before anyone is placed in disciplinary confinement. If your person was placed in confinement without an evaluation, document this and raise it through the grievance process.
Know about the Restorative Housing Program. After maximum disciplinary confinement, your person should either be returned to general population or placed in the Restorative Housing Program step-down. If neither is happening, contact the ACLU of RI.
Monitor visiting and communication rights. Confirm current visiting rules before traveling. RIDOC's ACI is in Cranston, Rhode Island. Facility contact information is at doc.ri.gov.
File a grievance. RIDOC has an administrative grievance process. Help your person file formal grievances for any cap violations, missed 90-day reviews, denied evaluations, or conditions below RIDOC's policy standards.
Contact the ACLU of Rhode Island. The ACLU of RI (riaclu.org) is co-counsel in Paiva v. RIDOC and Liberty v. RIDOC and is the primary legal advocate monitoring RIDOC restrictive housing compliance.
Contact the RI Center for Justice. The RI Center for Justice (rijustice.org) participated in the July 2023 mediation and monitors RIDOC restrictive housing policies.
Contact OpenDoors. OpenDoors (doorsofrhodeisland.org) is a prison reform organization that is part of the Close High Side coalition and advocates for people in RIDOC solitary.
Seek legal help. If your person is in disciplinary confinement beyond the applicable caps, if administrative confinement has extended without proper 90-day reviews, or if your person has a disability or serious mental illness and conditions of confinement violate the Liberty v. RIDOC standards, consult a prisoner rights attorney familiar with Rhode Island federal courts.
Frequently asked questions
What is solitary confinement called in RI prisons?
RIDOC uses "restrictive housing." The main categories are disciplinary confinement (punitive, post-hearing), administrative confinement (non-punitive, indefinite with 90-day reviews), and transitional confinement (RIDOC does not classify this as restrictive housing even though conditions can include as little as 2 hours out-of-cell per day). RIDOC denies using "solitary confinement" as a term. The Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI) in Cranston is the main facility.
What are the types of solitary confinement in Rhode Island?
Disciplinary Confinement: punitive, post-hearing, capped at 30 days for most serious offenses and 15 days for other serious offenses under the July 2023 reforms. Administrative Confinement: non-punitive, indefinite, 90-day reviews. Transitional Confinement: as little as 2 hours out of cell per day, not classified by RIDOC as restrictive housing. Restorative Housing Program: step-down from disciplinary confinement, created July 2023.
What did the July 2023 RIDOC policy reforms change?
Effective July 30, 2023, under court-supervised mediation: disciplinary confinement capped at 30 days for most serious offenses (previously up to a year on a single offense), 15 days for other serious offenses; no stacking of offenses to exceed 30 consecutive days; medical and psychiatric evaluation required before placement; Restorative Housing Program step-down created. These reforms were developed with ACLU of RI cooperating attorneys, RI Center for Justice, and court-appointed experts. They are court-supervised administrative policies, not statute.
How long can someone stay in solitary in Rhode Island?
Disciplinary confinement: 30 days maximum for most serious offenses; 15 days for other serious offenses; no stacking beyond 30 consecutive days. Administrative confinement: no maximum duration; 90-day case reviews required. Rhode Island has no statute limiting the duration of any form of restrictive housing.
What is the Restorative Housing Program in Rhode Island?
The Restorative Housing Program (RHP) is a step-down unit created as part of the July 2023 RIDOC policy reforms. After completing the maximum disciplinary confinement period, people must either be returned to general population or placed in the RHP. The RHP provides programming to modify behavior and prepare people to return to general population. It is an administrative program created through court-mediated policy change.
What are the Liberty and Paiva v. RIDOC lawsuits?
Liberty v. RIDOC: An ongoing federal class action challenging RIDOC's use of solitary confinement for people with disabilities and mental illness as cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment and violating the ADA. Paiva v. RIDOC (Morris v. Travisono): Enforcement of a 1970s consent decree limiting disciplinary confinement to 30 days. This case produced the July 2023 policy reforms and continues to monitor RIDOC compliance. Lead plaintiff Richard Paiva said the reforms, while "not perfect," "will end the harmful use of long-term punitive segregation."
Are vulnerable populations protected from solitary in RI?
Not by statute. Rhode Island has no law prohibiting solitary confinement for any vulnerable population in adult prisons. The pending Restrictive Housing Act (H 8275) would prohibit placement of people under 21, over 55, deaf or blind, with serious mental illness, developmental disabilities, or serious medical conditions in solitary -- but this bill has not passed. Liberty v. RIDOC challenges the constitutionality of conditions for people with disabilities and mental illness.
What is the Rhode Island Restrictive Housing Act?
The Restrictive Housing Act (H 8275, current version) is pending legislation that would cap disciplinary confinement at 15 consecutive days / 30 in any 60-day period; restrict disciplinary confinement to serious offenses; ban solitary for vulnerable populations; require 4 hours out-of-cell per day in administrative confinement; create a 5-member oversight committee; and bring RIDOC policies under the RI Administrative Procedures Act. As of April 2026, it has not been signed into law. Multiple prior versions have died in committee.
Can families visit someone in Rhode Island solitary?
People in disciplinary confinement are entitled to one visit and one 10-minute phone call per week under RIDOC policy. Legal and professional visits are maintained. Contact ACI directly to confirm current visiting rules before traveling. ACI is in Cranston, Rhode Island. Facility contact information is at doc.ri.gov.
What can families do if someone is in RI solitary?
Contact ACI in Cranston (doc.ri.gov) to confirm housing category (disciplinary, administrative, or transitional). Know the disciplinary caps (30 days / 15 days) and no-stacking rule. Know the 90-day administrative confinement review requirement. Confirm the medical/psychiatric evaluation was conducted. Know about the Restorative Housing Program pathway. File grievances for any cap violations or missed reviews. Contact ACLU of RI (riaclu.org) or RI Center for Justice (rijustice.org) for advocacy support. Monitor Liberty v. RIDOC and Paiva v. RIDOC for court orders affecting conditions. ---
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