California lawmakers on Monday passed a bill that would significantly scale back solitary confinement in prisons, jails and private immigration detention centers.
Under the California Mandela Act, AB 2632, solitary confinement would be limited to no more than 15 consecutive days and no more than 45 days total in a 180-day period.
Meanwhile, solitary confinement would be eliminated entirely for pregnant women, people with certain disabilities and inmates under 25 or over 65.
Assemblyman Chris Holden, D-Pasadena, who introduced the bill in February, previously called solitary confinement "cruel and a racial justice issue that does nothing for the rehabilitation of a person."
"Not only is it deemed as cruel and unusual punishment by the United Nations, but it deeply damages the psyche of a person," Holden said, according to the Sacramento Bee.
Sen. Brian Dahle, R-Bieber, who is running for governor to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom, has criticized the bill, arguing that it would allow gang leaders to be free among the general population.
"Basically, we have no tools to keep other prisoners safe from people who are very violent in prison," Dahle said. "If you’re in prison here in California, and you’re violent against other prisoners, or you’re using your ability to be a gang leader, this is very egregious towards other prisoners."
Fox News has reached out to Holden’s office for comment and will update this story accordingly.
AB 2632 now heads to Newsom’s desk for his signature.
