New York City to end solitary confinement in jails

New York City officials voted to end solitary confinement in its jails, however, critics of the punishment say the new rules don't go far enough.

New York City officials voted Tuesday to end the current rules on solitary confinement in all city jails starting in the fall. Critics of the controversial punishment, however, say the changes proposed by the city's Department of Correction don't go far enough to ensure that inmates are treated properly. The department's vote will do away with keeping an inmate in a cell away from other prisoners for 20 to 24 hours a day with no limit on the number of days. Instead, any inmate who poses a high risk to other inmates or staff will be put in a new alternative disciplinary model called the Risk Management Accountability System (RMAS).