Youngsters in New York’s juvenile detention facilities had been positioned in solitary confinement in tiny cells for as much as 24 hours a day — some missing recent water and a bucket for a bathroom — over minor infractions or as a technique to take care of staffing points, a brand new bombshell lawsuit claims.
The category motion swimsuit claims 5 services below the State Workplace of Youngsters and Household Companies “routinely and unlawfully [impose] solitary confinement” as punishment on youngsters as younger as 12 left “alone in small, barren cells for prolonged durations.”
Most of the so-called “infractions” sparking the punishing remedy are as a result of behavioral points from identified disabilities, the swimsuit claims — including some youngsters advised guards they’d somewhat kill themselves than endure the care of OCFS.
The “illegal” solitary lockup durations can final so long as weeks or months, regardless of a statewide prohibition on solitary confinement for youth in grownup services, the lawsuit states.
“OCFS should instantly put an finish to those barbaric illegal and inhumane practices and guarantee these younger New Yorkers are supplied acceptable care, together with fundamental hygiene, training and rehabilitative providers,” mentioned Dawne Mitchell, a Authorized Help legal professional for juvenile rights.
“The devastating and everlasting hurt inflicted on younger individuals by way of solitary confinement calls for fast authorized intervention to power systemic change in how our state treats its most susceptible youth,” mentioned Jeremy Creelan, of regulation agency Jenner and Block, which filed the swimsuit together with Authorized Help.
5 named plaintiffs — all black kids from New York Metropolis — described related experiences on the state services within the lawsuit filed in Manhattan Federal Courtroom.
One 17-year-old named Issac who suffers from PTSD had proven progress and dedication to persevering with his education, almost incomes his highschool diploma, whereas in pre-trial detention in Brooklyn, the place he obtained reward for his conduct and tutorial work, the swimsuit states.
However when he entered OCFS’s facility in Goshen, he was quickly “repeatedly subjected to solitary confinement,” the swimsuit alleges, “undermining his documented dedication to rehabilitation.”
In February, Isaac’s unit was positioned in solitary confinement for a month-long “lockdown,” and has been confined to his cell “for no less than 20 hours every day” since, the swimsuit claims.
Regardless of his mom’s pleas that Isaac’s psychological well being had deteriorated, the filings declare officers did nothing.
His personal efforts to file a proper grievance had been stymied by bureaucratic technicalities, making any recourse seemingly not possible, the swimsuit states.
Christopher, 20, who was convicted as an adolescent offender, mentioned he’d somewhat return to Rikers, the place he no less than had entry to education, actions and “unrestricted toilet entry” after his switch to Goshen, the swimsuit claims.
In a grievance letter, his mom mentioned Christopher had “tried to take his personal life,” and begged that he be transferred to an grownup facility, the place youth solitary confinement is prohibited.
One other youth claimed his expertise at two separate services has resulted in “a profound sense of hopelessness and defeat,” regardless of his makes an attempt to manage by way of meditation, yoga, sleep and “the one ebook OCFS permits him to have in his cell,” based on the swimsuit.
The acknowledged mission of the OCFS is to stop the “violence, neglect, abuse and abandonment” of kids, based on its web site.
However that was not the case on the 5 so-called “safe services,” the place frequent unit-wide “lockdowns” as a result of staffing shortages compelled some youths into solitary cells with out loos to “urinate and defecate in meals containers or in bottles when employees fail to reply,” the swimsuit states.
This swimsuit additionally claims that OCFS has lengthy been on discover for its staffing points and horrific situations, citing a June 2025 letter from the staffer’s union describing years of “deeply troubling reviews” on the Business Residential Heart in Rush, together with persistent understaffing, unsafe situations and “decimated important youth programming.”
“The truth that these youth — predominantly Black and Brown — are compelled to reside in squalid, dehumanizing situations is unconscionable,” the letter reads. “Employees and residents alike are dropping hope.”
State officers didn’t reply to a request for remark Friday.
