Citizens for Prison Reform released a report this week calling for the decreased use of solitary confinement in Michigan prisons.
Citizens for Prison Reform is a criminal justice group. Its report says segregation contributes to mental illness. It also hurts families. Karen Knox is a mother of an incarcerated man who was in isolation.
“This is very traumatizing," said Knox. "I have depression spells and are worried you're stressed out because you don't know from one day to the next what is happening to your loved one, when they take away the visitation. “
Michigan Department of Corrections spokesperson Chris Gautz said the report does not use Michigan's definition of solitary confinement.
He said MDOC also wants to further reduce the number of isolated people.