For this story, “solitary confinement” refers to what the state formally classifies as “restrictive housing.” While the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS) says “solitary confinement” isn’t an official term, it is widely used by incarcerated people, advocates, and researchers.
Maryland used solitary confinement more in the last fiscal year than at any point in the previous six, according to the state’s annual Restrictive Housing Report.
Disciplinary segregation accounted for 9,486 placements in 2024, making up more than two-thirds of all restrictive housing. It also rose sharply, up 38% from the previous year. That rise occurred even as the state’s prison population continued to fall…