CT prisons to end in-cell restraint in settlement with civil rights groups

The Connecticut Department of Correction (DOC) has reached a settlement with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Disability Rights Connecticut (DRCT) to end its practice of in-cell restraints for incarcerated individuals with mental illness. The settlement, announced on August 5th, 2026, resolves a long-standing case that criticized the DOC's use of in-cell restraints on people with mental health disabilities.

Under the agreement, the DOC must revise its policy, provide staff training on full-stationary restraints, and report the use of restraints to the ACLU. Jaclyn Blickley, an attorney from the ACLU of Connecticut, emphasized that the settlement marks a significant step towards ensuring that people with mental illness in Connecticut's prisons are treated with dignity and care.

The ACLU has long criticized in-cell restraints, describing them as in-cell shackling, which involve chaining a prisoner's legs and wrists, binding their hands to their feet, and leaving them in their cell for extended periods. Kasey Considine, legal director of DRCT, also applauded the policy change, stating that it represents an important step towards protecting incarcerated individuals with mental health disabilities from unnecessary and harmful restraint.

Despite the settlement ending in-cell restraints, it still allows the DOC to utilize full-stationary restraints when an incarcerated person presents an immediate risk of self-harm or harm to others. Full-stationary restraints involve securing a person's arms and legs to a bed.