Solitary confinement of women in the United States

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While segregation as a disciplinary measure or a precaution that protects other inmates is allegedly reserved for offenders who have committed violent acts while in prison, women in particular are often put into solitary confinement for much smaller offenses, such as throwing things or talking back to guards.^[1] Solitary confinement is also often applied to women who complain of sexual assault from prison guards or other inmates.^[2] Once they are in solitary confinement, women are often monitored more closely and disciplined more harshly than are men.^[1]

While studies have shown the effects of solitary confinement to be detrimental to some inmates, solitary confinement of women has particular consequences for women that may differ from the way it affects men. Solitary confinement rates for women in the United States are roughly comparable to those for men^[3][4] and about 20% of prisoners will be in solitary confinement at some point during their prison career.