BOARD OF CORRECTION
CITY OF NEW YORK
RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF CORRECTION
NOVEMBER 9, 2021 PUBLIC MEETING
WHEREAS, on June 9, 2021, pursuant to its authority under Section 626(e) of the New
York City Charter (the Charter), the Board approved rules (the RMAS Rules) prohibiting
the Department of Correction (the Department) from using the system of solitary
confinement known as “punitive segregation” and requiring the Department to implement
the Risk Management and Accountability System (RMAS), a form of restrictive housing
that provided for fairness and accountability, by, among things, increasing out of cell
time, reducing the amount of time people in custody could be held in restrictive housing,
eliminating the use of shackling known as “desk restraints” and providing for attorney
representation for persons subject to the use and possible use of RMAS;
WHEREAS, the policy animating the Board’s decision to end the use of solitary
confinement is set forth in Minimum Standard Section 6-07 (a) as follows: “Punitive
segregation, also known as PSEG or solitary confinement, imposes significant risks of
psychological and physical harm on people in custody. These risks are intensified for
those with pre-existing mental illness or medical conditions and young adults. The risk of
self-harm and potentially fatal self-harm is also strongly associated with solitary
confinement. The hallmarks of solitary confinement — social deprivation and enforced
idleness — create these serious health risks and are antithetical to the goals of social
integration and positive behavioral change;”
WHEREAS, the RMAS Rules required the Department to end the practice of punitive
segregation on November 1, 2021 and implement RMAS;
WHEREAS, the Department failed to implement the RMAS rules by November 1, 2021;
WHEREAS, having been denied a number of variances at the Board’s September Public
Board meeting, the Department did not seek to apply to the Board for variances to delay
or modify implementation of some or all of the RMAS rules;
WHEREAS, on November 1, 2021, Mayor Bill de Blasio instead signed Emergency
Executive Order 279, which suspended several of the Board’s Minimum Standards,
including Section 102 (b) (1, 3 & 4) (prohibiting commingling of young adult and adult
populations, including in ESH); Section 1-05 (limiting involuntary lock-in); Section 1-08
(f) (allowing access to law library); and Section 6-24 (creating due process and

procedural justice protections for persons in custody), and effectively suspended the
implementation of the RMAS Rules, thus allowing the continued use of solitary
confinement;
WHEREAS, the use of emergency executive orders to circumvent the Board’s rules,
rather than targeted, temporary modifications to the Board’s rules through the variance
process undermines the Board’s authority to fulfill its Charter mission as an independent
agency providing regulatory oversight of the Department and the Correctional Health
Services;
WHEREAS, any weakening of the Board’s authority represents a limitation of the rights
of people in custody to humane, non-arbitrary treatment, which poses a serious risk to the
safety, health and wellbeing of people in custody and Department and CHS staff;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board condemns the failure of the
Department to seek a variance from the RMAS Rules through the Charter-mandated
process;
IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board condemns the use of emergency
executive orders to circumvent the Charter-mandated process for seeking variances from
Board rules; and

IT IS FURTHER AND FINALLY RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be
posted on the Board website and sent to the mayor, speaker, presiding justices of First
and Second Departments of the Appellate Division, the President of NYC
Health+Hospitals and the New York City Commissioner of Correction.
At the Board’s public meeting on November 9, 2021, the Board voted to approve the
Resolution by a vote of 5 in favor and 0 in opposition.