Judge OKs Sweeping Plan to Reduce NY Solitary Confinement

A federal judge has approved a sweeping plan to reduce solitary confinement in New York state prisons.

Judge Shira Scheindlin approved what she called the "historic settlement" on Thursday. She said she hopes it becomes a model for other states.

Scheindlin said the class action settlement will greatly reduce the frequency, duration and severity of solitary confinement.

The settlement was the culmination of a 2011 case that began when an inmate sued the state. He said he was unconstitutionally subjected to solitary confinement for three years for improperly maintaining certain legal documents.

In December, Scheindlin preliminarily approved the settlement. On Thursday, she wrote that the settlement will produce "more humane and more just" conditions in state prisons.

The state has about 4,000 inmates in solitary at any time.