SPRINGFIELD — A new law championed by State Senator Robert Peters will shed light on the use of restrictive housing, requiring the Illinois Department of Corrections to collect and publicly share data on how often and why people are placed in solitary confinement.

“For too long, solitary confinement has existed in the shadows, with little public insight into its use and impact,” said Peters (D-Chicago). “Thanks to this law, we can now hold our system accountable and work toward meaningful reforms that prioritize the well-being of those in custody.”  

“Restrictive housing” is another phrase for solitary confinement – a form of housing that separates an individual in custody from the general population. The law responds to growing concerns about the lack of publicly available data on solitary confinement practices in state facilities. Recent surveys conducted by the John Howard Association found that 42% of incarcerated individuals reported spending excess time in their cells, often not meeting the daily required minimum of two hours outside their sleeping area.

Under Peters’ law, IDOC will be required to publish quarterly reports online detailing general trends, including demographic information, lengths of confinement, incidents of self-harm and access to health care in restrictive housing units.

“This law is a victory for transparency, accountability and human dignity,” said Peters. “By shedding light on solitary confinement practices, we’re taking a crucial step toward ensuring our institutions operate with fairness and oversight.”

House Bill 4828 was signed into law Friday.