A coalition of San Diego high school students is calling for changes to solitary confinement policies in San Diego County jails, arguing the practice harms inmates and increases the likelihood they will reoffend.
Youth to End Solitary SD met with San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez and plans to continue discussions about possible policy changes. The group says about 150 of the county’s roughly 4,000 inmates are currently in solitary confinement and hopes to eventually reduce that number to zero.
“Our goal ultimately is complete eradication, but we understand that this is going to be a multi-year process,” said founder and executive director, Nikhil Plettner Booker.
The coalition points to research it said supports reform such as a Cornell University study that found even short stays in solitary confinement increase an inmate’s likelihood of reoffending by 15% within three years of release. The group also cited research from Palo Alto University that found mental health disorders are often aggravated in solitary confinement.
“Our proposal is not simply about ending a harmful practice. It is about replacing it with a model that has already demonstrated success,” Ashley Ordaz, the coalition’s director of legislative affairs, said.
The coalition is proposing that solitary confinement be reserved for violent infractions only and that a transitional rehabilitation program be created for inmates.
Members pointed to North Dakota as an example, saying the state reduced its use of solitary confinement by roughly 75% between 2016 and 2020.
“Violence decreased and the rehabilitation created better outcomes for both staff and incarcerated individuals. That is exactly why we believe reform is possible here in San Diego,” Ordaz said.
Over the past year, coalition members said they have met with a county supervisor, a senator’s office and numerous nonprofits to build support for reform.
The coalition is entirely made up of high school students.
“Anything that a student, whether it be high school or college or even middle school student is passionate about, it can be turned into tangible change with action,” editorial director, Yasmeen Elmezain, said.
“Especially in high school, there are certain times where kids have ideas and they do go up to adults and they kind of get shut down,” Ordaz said. “But, we started this by going to each other instead of going to adults first. So I think that’s what I would say to the people who want to be advocates or kids our age who have ideas. Just get a group of people, meet at a garage and plan.”
The coalition said Martinez was receptive during the meeting. Members said the sheriff told them she is working to hire a chief psychologist and will continue meeting with the group to discuss possible policy changes.
Under current Sheriff’s Department policy, inmates may be isolated if they require special housing for their own safety, staff safety, facility security or while they are awaiting a disciplinary action hearing.
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office sent the following statement on Wednesday:
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office met today with representatives from Youth to End Solitary SD as part of our ongoing commitment to engage with community organizations and stakeholders. Sheriff Martinez recognizes the importance of working collaboratively with community groups and leaders to strengthen operations, build public trust, and continually improve the care and custody of the individuals entrusted to us.
The meeting was productive and respectful, with an open exchange of ideas regarding the use of Administrative Separation and other detention practices. Sheriff Martinez was particularly impressed by the amount of time, effort, and thoughtful research these young, future leaders invested in developing and presenting their proposal. Their professionalism, passion, and commitment to improving outcomes for individuals in custody were evident throughout the discussion.
While there may be differing views on specific policy proposals, we share the common goal of ensuring the safety, dignity, and well-being of those in our custody while maintaining a safe and secure environment for staff, incarcerated individuals, and the public.
The dialogue was constructive, and both the Sheriff’s Office and Youth to End Solitary SD agreed to continue working together to explore opportunities for improvement. The Sheriff’s Office values this partnership and looks forward to ongoing collaboration with Youth to End Solitary SD and other community organizations as we continue to evaluate and strengthen our detention operations.
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office uses Administrative Separation only when necessary to maintain the safety and security of our detention facilities. It is not intended as punishment, but rather as a housing status used when an incarcerated person’s presence in the general population presents a significant safety, security, or investigative concern.
Placement into Administrative Separation may occur for several reasons, including credible threats to the safety of staff or other incarcerated persons, serious acts of violence, ongoing criminal activity within the facility, protective custody needs, separation requirements, or other circumstances where housing in the general population would create an unacceptable risk.
Administrative Separation is considered after evaluating available housing options and operational needs. Whenever it is safe and appropriate to do so, the Sheriff’s Office seeks to house individuals in the least restrictive environment that is consistent with institutional safety and security.
There is no predetermined maximum length of stay in Administrative Separation. Rather, each placement is individualized and is reviewed on a regular basis to determine whether the circumstances requiring separation continue to exist. When those safety or security concerns can be safely mitigated, individuals are returned to a less restrictive housing environment.
The Sheriff’s Office continually evaluates its housing practices to ensure they reflect current correctional best practices, comply with applicable laws, court orders, and state regulations, and balance the safety of incarcerated persons, staff, and the public.
The Sheriff’s Office recognizes that restrictive housing has been the subject of national discussion and continues to evaluate opportunities to reduce unnecessary isolation while maintaining a safe environment for incarcerated individuals and staff. Many reforms have already been implemented, particularly regarding individuals with serious mental illness, and the Sheriff’s Office remains committed to evidence-based practices that prioritize both safety and humane treatment.
This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC San Diego. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC San Diego journalist edited the article for publication.