and the trans-pacific partnership said gdp has the most significant trade negotiation in one generation because it has 12 countries hatter home to a combined 793 billion yen to account for 40 percent of global gdp. . .

it does come down in the short run, come out and the long run, that will be declining his share of the economy for the next several years, but after 2018 net debt will start rising is a share of the economy which is are we will be putting forward more balanced measures on both the revenue side and the expenditure side to assure that that debt is continuing to decline as a share gdp. a lot of you are focused on, understandably, on agriculture growth which is what i have been focusing on so far. it does matter as well have echoed the shared. matters. you work for companies the sold to consumers and the income

matters. matters for the short run recovery. matters for the sustainability of our economy over the long run and for the political support of the type of market oriented growth in hansen policies. that's why they guy room like that is a -- is important to reflect on just how large income inequality has bell of the last several decades and why is important to take steps to make sure that this growth the we have been talking about a share. one of the steps is raising the minimum wage bill which has declined more than one-third from its peak in the 1960's. in addition to that, the president has proposed other measures to help us join the middle-class including expansion of the air and income tax credit for workers without children and in addition to the immediate steps the president has set out of range of ideas to invest in education and quick workers for

the skills they will need for years to come, measures that help us grow and help ensure that that growth is widely shared. so in conclusion, i would say that the challenges we face are substantial. we continue to have some of the short run challenges, but the bigger ones are the ones that have been building up over the last decade, the slower productivity growth in the postwar years and the increase in inequality. a lot is in place to have more stability and certainty. i think that by itself will be a major help to the economy, but they're is a lot more the weekend should do. i would describe some of that ambitious agenda in my remarks here today and would be happy to discuss more of it in answer to any questions you may have.

[applause] >> ken simonson. one of the most unborn things that its share of economic advisers can do is educate an advocate for good, federal statistics. we have seen in the last year that bls nba have both had to discontinue important programs. we hear that the export price index may be next on the chopping block or other important series. hope he will appeal to stick up within the white house and to the extent that europe probably the charter of the importance of finding those properly and maintain the independence of this bill is a cease. >> i take it there is not a lot of debate over that topic in this room.

you're not going to get in the debate from the either. i would just say that it is generally -- we like to think of ourselves as focusing on the national interest. but to the degree we have a constituency in a pro way is federal data and it is important deal with in l.a. say is our put it in the context of a broader budget. will the buyoff 60 percent of the sequestered which means of we will have 40 percent of a sequester this year. that is on top of already tough spending in the budget control act. with that we are on track to having discretionary spending the lowest as a share of the economy since we started recording discretionary spending in 1962. and with that comes a lot of choices that we would rather not be making.

this -- there are certainly going to be difficult choices, the budget when it comes to the potential difficult choices and just about every area of the budget. so part of it is figuring at how to do the best the probably can't with your limited resources and with the even worse choices might have been. part of that is seeing what we can do to expand those resources and in particular if the sequester continued been bought of a fraction. they have not dead yet done that. if you have the full sequester it would force even more painful choices potentially. but thank you for your point. >> financial. can still alive the memories i was going to make the same point in to appreciate. on a broader and for search for question, and the president's

proposal image and corporate tax reform which has bipartisan support and immigration reform are which is critical for many companies in the trade talks. what are the chances of any of that getting done this year before this present lease? >> we're going to do everything we can to push him toward. i think there's certainly a reduced legislative appetite in this particular year, but the look of something like business tax reform. over time you have seen an increase convergence in terms of what the rate is, broadly how you would pay for that rate. and even a certain commonality in idea when it comes to more controversial areas like have to deal with overseas earnings and taxation they pass that on a strong basis.

and the camino, the strong constituency for it in the house , also a deep set of obstacles in the house. finally, i think the last one that was talked about was trade. we are working very hard to negotiate those agreements. tipis be is far along and will be continuing. >> fantastically comprehensive presentation. an important piece that was not included in and out was the discussion of the collapse and labour force, which, as you know, we have lost essentially three full percentage point since 2007. and it strikes me that this is one of the most important economic developments in the

united states in recent years. what set of policies in action or contemplation could help try to minimize the degree to which the extents of that chance out to be permanent. roughly half of it is demographics. the other half since to be behavioral of various kinds. obviously some of the infrastructure to proposals by create demand from some of these back into the market. in utah and a larger sense? it can't just be about infrastructure with the labour market policy. >> i think that is a great question and certainly is one of the important things going on. i would divide the decline in the participation rate into three general areas. the first area which as you

yourself just said is aging. that is it possible for about half. you can do a mechanical calculation of taking labor force participation rates in 2007 by age and gender groups. aging and the keeping of participation rates the same and you would have about the participation rate would fall by about one percentage point over this time. you get the same results of the use the refresh but dissipation rates this year. so it is not. to which of those you are doing. that is about half of it. that was predictable a predicted a quarter of it is. something like it normally would be. this is the part that we expect

that the employer rate comes down, the participation rate will go out. and anything that gives that the unemployment rate gets it done. the last quarter seems to be something a little bit to and from the normal cyclical pattern and if you look historically the thing that is different from the normal cyclical pattern seems to correlate very well with long-term unemployment. so whenever is causing total compensation of unemployment to be tilted toward long-term unemployment relative to what it has been his starkly also seems to be contributing to that last quarter on the participation rate. and that is the one that we are, frankly, a little bit less certain about what will happen to it the one for. terms of the policy implications , i think these three parts of the participation rate all have different answers. to the degree they're is a

demographic trend that does create challenges our economy in terms of growth, in terms of public finances, and one of the most powerful tools we have there is immigration reform. in addition, anything else all the people who wanted to need to work continue to work with up in that regard as well. the cyclical does not have any policy implication that is any different than the observation that at six and a half% the upon the rate is unacceptably high. so investments in infrastructure , the additional i read it demand to get extended an insurance benefits to many of those are part of it. the last quarter we don't, as i said, understand as well. to the degree and is related to long-term unemployment anything until the of long-term unemployment is going to help respond to it. and in that regard we have been trying to use -- the president talked about his pen in his own for your action.

he has been using his fallen that, being a lot of major companies and, having them about best practices for hiring long-term employed, and that should help with the last part of the participation rate, but we certainly need to continue to understand it better as well. >> thank you. >> david pritchard, purchase associates. thank you for your analysis and know what. and also want to say that of all the things a you cover comprehensively, the two things missing in my mind by the lack of national savings, which has been zero for the last five years, the very weak investment and these two together are responsible, in my mind at least, for a major part of the subpar growth rate of a lousy real person up 2%. obviously we have population growth. some small productivity growth, but without more investment which can only result in a sustainable way with higher

savings rates, i want to know why there is no more of a focus on savings rates. terms of policy we know that congress will do almost nothing because of extremists. both sides of the aisle are going to keep small baldy evanesces year. after that my question concerns will we're going to do sustainably to increase things with some kind of grand bargain for next year in terms of the things that affect the participation rate. for example, can we raise the retirement age, reduce the entitlements, make sure that the low income worker after tax and after entitlement is much better off than the guy who does not work? until those things happen all of them together, sometimes hopefully next year, i don't see any possibility. i appreciate your response. >> in terms of investment, think of it, it had to choose i would think of it as following and being a function of the overall

economy right now rather than being a driver of it. we have done some statistical analysis that looked at what some have said as a puzzle which is you have high profitability, high equity market valuation, a low-cost capitol, and yet investment growth has not been as fast as you might. and what we have found is there is a simple explanation for that which is investment growth is a function to a large part of sales growth in aggregate demand and if we can get aggregate demand increasing in an investment should follow. and you know, as i was saying before, and reid demand last year faced a challenge in terms of the apparel tax cut coming awake, the sequestered going into affect, and other sharp sources of deficit-reduction. we don't have any of that in 2014.

consumers are more be leveraged, have been by some measure on record since 1980. and as a result, i think we are in a stronger position for consumer spending this year. what we would like to see is investment following that. national savings is an important issue in its own right. i don't think it is an important determinant of investment in the short run. i think it is an important determinant of the sustainability of our overall economy of the medium and long run. net national savings including the federal sector of the corporate sector and the individual sector which has actually risen a lot and lost couple of years. as a result we have seen our current account deficit as share of the economy fall to lost his been since the 1990's. i think that is the direction and the movement you would want to see for sustainability. terms of the of the policy issues you raised we're looking

at a wide range of basic health, you know, continue to strengthen what we have. >> thank you. a quick follow-up. it is not on their trenary it demand killed but things other going to be sustainable to really be increasing. >> okay. my question concerns immigration. the argument the economic argument that she mentioned with increased up to the inertia and patents seem to apply more to age one be expanding h1 be green cards for engineers and so forth, but the majority or a major focus of the legislation is the 11 million undocumented workers. i would like to ask about policies to move to a path to legal status, what you see as

the economic benefits of that policy. >> i think the economic benefits of that policy very much centered around certainty. my guess is everyone in this firm has talked about howland certainly affects investment by businesses. the same thing is true for individuals. if you're not sure if you're going to be deported from this country you're not going to invest as much education. you're not going to invest as much training. you're not trying to invest as much in the business. these are people who have been here. these are people who are going to continue to be year. maloof like to do is give them a pass the that they can have greater certainty. we are collecting taxes, but we are also in a position to, you know, invest more and make greater contributions to our economy. >> thank you. >> thank you. >> thank you very much. >> thank you very much.

>> this week congress is considering several proposals to reform the irs and the tax code. meanwhile, the chairman of the ways and means committee in the house is set to unveil his proposals for tax reform on wednesday. the tax reporter for politico joins us from capitol hill. what are some of the things we know already about the proposal that chairman campbell announced >> it appears that dave camp is able to fulfil his goal of reducing the income tax rate for individuals to about 25%. we are hearing a lot of discussion about a big tax on big financial institutions and banks that could raise about $50 billion. we are also hearing different -- right now is rumor mill appear. k street is exploding with different rumors, will be on the base tax and rates you're hearing capital gain tax is -- about 40 percent of those will

be exempted. lowering rates. there will be a surtax on the nation's wealthiest turner's to raise some revenue. so a lot of different -- different proposals coming of ways and means today and coming out of k-treat them those the scene analysis are seen the draft. >> what i you hearing from rank-and-file members, democrats and republicans, how are they greeting the news of a potential tax reform package? >> well, jake sherman then i reported this morning and last night. republicans are actually really fretting this discussion draft coming out because of the election. they're supportive and general in theory of tax reform the man republican ideal : it comes to being a few months out from the midterm election they're not necessarily pleased. it will be asked to take a stand on a bill a potentially has a lot of democratic ideals or even if it does, you know, bring those individuals and corporate rates down low enough.

it might take a lack of mortgage infrastructure, things that are popular with taxpayers and our bipartisan the popular. that is not really acting date -- helping dave can that he as rank-and-file republicans fretting. eric cantor and the leaders of the house republican caucus told him last december to put the brakes on it. there was not democratic support that has been lifted a little bit allowing him to move forward with the draft, but there is still not support from what we understand. and democrats are lethal. this will give them an amazing opporunity, what they think at least is an amazing opportunity to walk republicans ahead of the midterm recollections are being anti middle-class or being in the park and a big business. of course it will be harder to make that argument when there is that the levy on banks as well as the surtax on the wealthy. our democratic ideals, but there

will be given their rigidity in the future negotiations over the budget of the scope of to point to anyone who would be included in the cancer program and say, hey, you know, we can raise money by taxing big finance of institutions because that is a bipartisan proposal. so democrats by and large are pretty grateful that this is happening. >> the process starts with ways and means on the house side, but are ready we're hearing now republican leaders saying that this package has no chance in the senate. >> that is exactly what mitch mcconnell and his senators are saying. but always much more rocky. former senate finance chairman max baucus, dave kansas partner in this. they want to get online and on ford. in the senate is much more disagreement over how much present -- revenue should be

raised. u.s. senators ipad and mary in harry reid saying the trillion dollar should be raised. among republicans. so there's really no path for right now for tax reform in either the house or the senate because it would hit such an immediate roadblock. >> also, leaders give any helpful floor vote? >> it appears that they did not. like us said, they did tell him to put the brakes on and last december. they seemed to really v-8 that hard-line a little bit to allow him to put out a draft, but this is a draft. this is not even a real bill. it might be written in legislative language but it would have to introduce it as legislation to give it to go forward as a markup or even a vote on the house floor. what we're hearing from both conservative members of the republican caucus and moderates is that it is morally not going to do anywhere past of the debate and discussion. the markup is unlikely.

it is most likely not at least until after the midterm elections going to get to the house floor. >> there are bills and the house floor this week. the tweeted about some of this this morning saying in the morning tax the cut back on american future funds, the ira's treasurer for overstepping. lastly, these bills the house is considering in terms of virus regulation. >> so there will be much more success with this. more than likely going to pass with a sweeping measure -- sweeping republican majority to of the irs regulations which would change the way firewall wednesday for, those groups started by the arabs also, you know, play into reactions a lot. how much they can engage in and keep their tax exemption. those regulations should not be able to go forward until congress can complete its four

different probes. that is by mostly every republican on board. that will come to a vote this week. tonight the house expected to vote on to a taxpayer bill of rights style of or style legislation. one would ban al right the irs from asking about religious, political, or social beliefs and the other within sure that if the irish shares your tax pair formation with another government entity they would have to tell you in writing about it. >> you can follow her reporting on twitter. thank you for the update. >> thank you for having me. >> coming up on c-span2 attorney general eric holder took civil rights.

>> i think there are some myths out there. some miraculously preserved product. it is no different than a pickle cherry.

the burning process is no different than the types of, you know, sulfates used in making wine. really it is -- i would not call it a healthy product, but i would call it something that is a tasty treat. >> there will go through an extensive washing to get the brine, sulfur back out of the brew. the process of making maraschino is really basically you're taking that and sucking it in a progressively stronger shares and color solution. so over the course of that schedule you will see the colored pickup as a sugar content picks up. you can see, very rarely. the process. it is likely -- lightly colored. you can see a much darker it is.

much farther along giving you an idea. on a normal day it is deep red. it is that cycle of the infusion and where it is that in the process. >> this weekend book tv and american history to be left behind the history and literary life of salem, oregon saturday at noon on c-span2 and sunday at 2:00. >> u.s. attorney general eric caller spoke today at a meeting of the national association of attorneys general on the topic of civil-rights. the disgust of the offensive and the justice department decision not to defend it in court.

>> obviously our next guest is a very special guest to we appreciate having year as we always have. recommended general holder or his willingness to attend this meeting in to speak to us candidly and openly every year. the fact that our parting gift for general holder when he is here today is going to be a baseball cap i think speaks to how many times you have been here because all of the guess we usually give out we already given to you. [laughter] we are going to actually give you something you might be able to use. but obviously we are all familiar with general holder. sworn in as the 802nd attorney general of the united states does a nine by the vice-president joe biden. in 1997 he was named by president lyndon b. that be the attorney general.

prior to that he served as u.s. attorney for the district of columbia. in 1988 he was nominated by president reagan to become an associate judge of the superior court where the district of columbia. prior to becoming attorney general was a litigation partner at covington and growing. truly a pleasure and privilege to have the year to address this here today. [applause] >> well, good morning. thank you mr. attorney general. i usually come man just that my little speech. wanted thank you for your dedicated service. we're wondering what is next. we were wondering as they were walking through.

it is a privilege for me to take part in this important meeting. i would like to think the team and professional staff for bringing us together. as the journey general said i had the privilege to work closely with many of the attorney general some this warm. solace of collaborative and cutting needs safety and financial crevices kelso as a working give it to strengthen our court and correction systems and to share resources. some of us occasionally found ourselves on opposite sides of an issue. despite the differences that we have encountered from time to time we all share the same set some goals. we're striving to a share the same set of responsibilities protecting the safety of those citizens and the security of our nation by safeguarding civil rights.

thus vulnerable members of our society and improving the effectiveness of our criminal justice system and by strengthening collaboration among government, law enforcement, and community partners and every level. now for more than a century the national association of attorneys general has brought america's leading legal minds yet discussed and advances toward. especially in recent years through sequestration, federal government shut down and then president budgetary difficulties your life shown remarkable leaders. at every stage of my career it is a prosecutor and judge him, u.s. attorney here in d.c. in deputy attorney-general of i have seen a profound posit differences estate leaders like you can make.

the growth the play as the chief law enforcement officers at your respective jurisdictions. your pioneering broadbased efforts to reach elbert and reform america's processes system, 21st century challenges to of the 21st century solutions. the federal level while working to break the vicious cycle of poverty criminality in incarceration. this amendment has given way the principle that sent to expand the federal estate partnerships. in recent years nephew than 17 states and led by state officials as directed significant funding away.

they're proven to reduce recidivism well improving public safety. now, rather than increasing costs and new report funded by the bureau of justice assistance projects a lease 17 states will save over $4 billion. the full impact of largess is reinvest and policies will remain to be seen in this did these efforts are bearing fruit from georgia, north carolina, texas, ohio and far beyond all we've invested in serious reform including public safety, improving public safety and saving public resources. i believe that the changes that have led to these remarkable results if it should be carefully studied and they should be emulated which is why last august in a speech before

the american bar association in san francisco i it announced a news marron crime initiative that is allowing the disbarment to expend any innovations that so many states have led. smarter and more efficient in battling crime. the conditions and choices that breed crime and to develop and implement common-sense reforms of the federal criminal justice system. now, under this initiative we are ensuring that stringent, mandatory minimum sentences for certain federal related crimes when now be reserved for the most serious criminals. rear taking steps to advance the diversion programs that can serve as alternatives to incarceration in some cases. and as we look for the future of this work to continue to rely on your and clothes in basement to keep advancing the dated driven public safety solutions that many of you have championed for decades. this also means making good on a commitment to provide 4 million

incarcerated people with terror virginity to rejoin the community and to become productive law-abiding citizens once they are involved with the criminal-justice system is that an end. we have done important work in this regard cataloging tens of thousands of statutes and regulations that impose on wise collateral consequences related to things such as housing, employment, and voting which prevent individuals with past convictions for a fully reintegrate into society. as you know, i ask the state attorneys generals to undertake similar using your own jurisdictions and apostle to mitigate or eliminate unnecessary collateral consequences without decreasing public safety. i've made this same request of high-ranking officials across the federal government as well. moving forward and directed every component of the justice department to lead by example on this issue by infering whether

any proposed rule, regulation, or guidance may present unnecessary barriers to successful reentry. two weeks ago at george sterne university law center here in d.c. i call upon state leaders and other elected officials to take this even further bypassing clear and consistent reforms to restore voting rights to those who have served there terms in prison rjo, completed their parole or probation and pay their fines. i will renew his call today because like so many other collateral consequences we have seen a permanent disenfranchisement of those who pay their debts to society serve no legitimate public safety purpose it is purely punitive in nature, counterproductive to efforts to improve reentry into reduced recidivism and is well past time that we affirm as a nation the free exercise our citizens most fundamental rights and should never be subject to politics of geography or the lingering effects of flawed and unjust policy.

i applaud those like senator rand paul of kentucky who have shown in helping to address this issue and encourage each of you to consider and take up this fight in your home state. of course i recognize that this reform and the other changes that we seek will not be easy to achieve. none of them will take hold overnight. i know that as law enforcement leaders your work as in many ways ever been more complex and challenging and particularly in this time of budgetary uncertainty when otherwise across-the-board cuts have been packaged, federal, state, and local programs that we depend on you and your colleagues they all support and resources the you can get which is why i am never knowing the stop fighting to provide the tools and assistance that state and local law enforcement leaders desperately need. i am pleased to report that the bipartisan funding agreement that was recently signed into law by president obama will restore essential funding.

the frustration levels. already this legislation as an analyst to invest it apartment wide hiring freeze that had been in place for just over three long years so that we can begin to bring on additional federal agents, prosecutors, and other staff to bolster ongoing investigative and enforcement efforts across america. we anticipate that this will also allow us to further invest in the kinds of plays-based intelligence test driven strategies than many of the have proven effective. people offering assistance, states and the cut is suffering it, yeah -- acute crime challenges and to continue building of the work that attorneys and others have made possible against victimization and three core rights and justice.

this is essential since we have been sworn not just to win cases but to see that justice is done. this is a cause that brings us together in washington working to confront the threat sent to seize the opportunities that are before us. this is the extraordinary task with which the american people have adjusted the leaders in this rented challah set of justice professionals are called to address to use of the old system to address disputes but to answer the kind of fundamental questions about fairness and about equality that have always determined to we are and do we aspire to be built as a nation and as a people. these other questions that drove president obama and the to decide in early 2011 that the probative a jury's manila in the fed section three of the defense of marriage act. this decision was not taken

lightly. our actions were motivated by the strong belief that all measures that distinguish among people based upon their sexual orientation must be subjected to a heightened standard of scrutiny and therefore that this measure was unconstitutional discrimination. last summer the supreme court issued a decision in the united states forces windsor striking down the federal government ban on recognizing gay and lesbian couples who are legally married off. this marked a step forward and a resounding victory for equal treatment and equal protection under love. recently and partly in response to the decision a number of state attorneys general familiar command oregon every similar determinations after applying heightened scrutiny to laws in their states know when must

never extend from policy or political disagreement standing only on from constitutional ground, but i believe we must be suspicious of legal classifications based solely on sexual orientation and we must endeavor in all of our efforts of topol some the value that once lit our forebears' to decide that all i created equal ended to of equal opportunity. this bedrock principle is immutable, timeless, and goes to the very heart of what this country is still for white even as they have shown our understanding of it evolves over time. as i suggested to the administration's decision was announced, america's most treasured deals will not put into action or given a full force of law in a single

instance. on the contrary, our ideals are continually advance as our justice systems and unions are strengthen us in the social science, human experience, legislation, and judicial decisions expand the circumstances of those who are entitled to the protections and rights enumerated by the constitution's. as we gather i believe that our highest ideals of realized in the landmark supreme core rulings, a clear path toward whom they have an bell less in some instances to truly extraordinary action. the progress that we have seen has been consistent with the finest traditions of our legal system, the essential tenets of our constitution and the fundamental truth that as president obama once said, all americans are treated as equal, we are all more free. as we come together this week to renew our commitment to the rectory share to steal a result

to combat crime and pledge their continued fidelity to the values that guided us in the constitution where sworn to uphold the must drive to move our country forward, keep fighting the violence, safeguarding civil rights and working to bring our justice system in line with the highest ideals that keep refusing to except the status quo that falls short of that which our constitution demands of the american people. we must keep standing at been speaking in a matter the challenges that we face to eradicate victimization of injustice and all its forms. this will not always be easy. occasionally would inevitably our paths will emerge, but as long as we're dedicated to working in a common cause, determined to disagree with me to respect and devoted to our share percent of the more just and perfect union, i am confident in our collective efforts and your steadfast will take us, i know, as this

organization approves every day, a vigorous debate need not be consumed by partisanship. attorneys general are called to serve and also expected to lead. i wanted thank you once again for your work, for your partnership, and for their progeny to take part in this important dialogue. like ford although we will do know that we will achieve and the critical days ahead. thank you very much. [applause] >> if everybody could kind of stay in their positions we are going to just pause briefly to allow the media to get their things together.

[inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] >> thrown ln broke.

year in and year out, uncomplaining, choked to death on the barren land, the swirling dust, night and day. many went ahead. many stayed. holmes, credit, food, and even hope was gone. >> this week in american history tv real america the 1936 u.s. resettlement administration documentary the plow that broke the plains, a history of the great plains region sunday at 4:00 p.m. eastern on c-span2. >> than 83 website makes it easier than ever for you to keep tabs on washington d.c. and share your finds via facebook, twitter, and other social networks.

easy search functions the u.s. access our daily coverage of events, new tools make it simple to create short video clips and share them with your friends via facebook, twitter command of a social networks. you can send links to your video clips the e-mail. just find the share tools on our video player or look for the green icon links to our site. watch washington on the new c-span.org. and if you see something of interest clip it and share it with your friends. >> the u.s. country leads the world and the use of solitary confinement where a prisoner can be kept isolated in a cell for 23 hours a day. the director of the federal bureau of prisons testified about the practice that the seizure sherry many hearing in one year from former inmate and author of orange is the new black and from nl exonerating death row inmate who spent 15

years in solitary confinement. this is an hour and 20 minutes. canada. >> this hearing begins. today's hearing is entitled reasing soly human-rights cruz for his opening statement. thank you for those in person person & those falling online. there was so much interest we moved to this larger room. and we have an overflow room as well. you will see a number of pictures of children during the course of the hearing who are being held in solitary

confinement. i want to thank richard ross, the photographer, for allowing us to use these. we have worked on programs around the world and we have an obligation to consider our rates at home. 5 percent of the world's populatipo population gives us 20 percent of the incarcerated prisoners. african-americans and mexicans are incarcerated at a higher rate and we hold more prisoners in solitary confinement than any other nation. thesis we cannot ignore these human right issues. criminal justice reform is one area where the government is still functioning. we have made progress.

in 2010, congress uninanimouuna passed the act that stops make a difference between crack cocaine and cocaine. and another bill that will focus on the most serious offenders. i want to thank my ranking member for co-sponsoring that. and i want to thank senator cruz for putting this hearing together. two years ago, we heard the first meeting on solitary confinement and heard on the increase of the use in the 1980s.

immigrants, children, sex a abusers and people with mental illness are held in solitary confinement. it also cost almost three times as much to them in confinement than in the general population. we learned about the human impact of putting people in windowless cells for 23 hours-a-day for months, days and years with little contact to the world. this causes psychological impacts on an inmate. at least half of all prison suicides occur in solitary confinement. and i will never forget anthony

graves who was held in solitary confine for 23 years and he said quote you cannot imagine what this does to another human being. it does one thing: breaks man's will to live. i have been here for seven years and i cannot remember more compelling testimony. at the last hearing he heard from the director of the bureau charles samuals and he is here. i wasn't happy with his first message but did agree to the assessment of solitary confinement and it is underway and i look forward to the update. in the 2012 hearing, we found overuse increases public safety

and the reality is the vast majority of prisoners held in isolation will be released and this damaging impact or being released from solitary makes them a danger to their neighbors. eric williams was killed a year ago who was killed by an inmate released from a prison in pennsylvania. we owe it to correctional officers who put their lives on the line every day to do everything we can to protect their safety. make no mistake, that means that some dangerous inmates must be held in separate housing. but we learned from states like maine and mississippi that released violence in prison by reducing the overuse of solitary. i went to a prison in illinois that was the state maximum

prison. i asked them to take me to the worst of the worst. they took me to an area of five prisoners. each of the them was in a separate fiber class unit protected from one another and the teacher. i went to each one, talked to each one and they perceived the situation different. there was one in particular i remembered. he looked to be a community college professor. i asked him how long are you sentence to prison and he said originally 20 years. and he said they added another 50 and he said why? and i said because if they put

anybody in a cell fee with me i would hurt them and i did. we want to make certain those who work in prison are safe and we have to balance that against solitary confinement. we must address the overcrowding that is making them more dangerous and increase the officer-inmate ratio. that is why i want to pass the smarter act that will reduce crowding by inmates who created non-violence drug offenses. i am looking to opening a thomas thompson center in my state to a help with crowding. let me talk about children.

45 percent of juveniles report being held in solitary confine. -- 35 percent -- the mental health effects of short isolation including depression and risk of suicide are heightened among youth. there is a ban called for isolation for children. the case state governments continue to lead the way. let's take a few examples. my own state of illinois closed the tams correction scenter. in texas, the state legislator passed legislation to review solitary confinement in jails. and new york city is has reforms

to limit solitary confine for juveniles and pregnant women. guidance is being issued for immigration detainies. this is a big step for these vulnerable people. and the american psycho called for the end of this to end for mental illnes except in rare circumstances. the united states can protect human rights, improve safety, and be fiscally responsible.

senator cruz isn't here so i will turn to our first witness. i want to note i invented the justice department to participate but unfortunately they declined. we will be following up with them to make sure they are enforcing the civil rights law in solitary confine. and i ask consent to enter the custom immigration and enforcement. our first witness is charles samuals. you will have five minutes for the oral statement and your complete written statement is in the record. if you would stand and raise your right hand to be sworn in. [swearing in] >> let the record reflect you

have answered in the afirmmative. good morning, chairman durbin, ranking member cruz, and members of the subcommittee. thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today to discuss the use of restrictive housing within the bureau of prisons (bureau). chairman durbin, i appreciate you and other members of the judiciary committee for your support of the bureau over the years, and i look forward to continuing our work together. wharf i cannot start without honoring officer williams who was stabbed in pennsylvania. we will always honor his memory and all of the staff who lost lives in the line of duty. these underscore the dangerous that staff face on a daily bases. our staff faces the dangers of other law enforcement agencies. we house the worst of the offenders and do so with fiercer

staff than other correctional systems. the federal prison system is operating at 32 percent over capacity and 51 percent over capacity at high institutions. 120 staff members were assaulted by inmates in the high security institutions police year. and 200 were seriously assaulted by other inmates. our staff interacts with a lot of them in an open setting without weapons and physical barriers. it isn't uncommon for one staff member to be on the floor with hundreds of inmates. the staff encourages them to improve their lives with cognitive therapy, job training,

drug program, and other programs. i have focused attention and resources on restrictive housing. we have olympiaccomplished a gr deal with our approach to restrictive housing. it can interfere with interaction with family. please note the majority of them remain in this situation their entire time. we have a number of regulation we will enter to make sure this is being used appropriately. we have put a variety of in

initiati initiatives in place over the 18 months. we have had discussions about wardens and other managers about the restrictive housing. we respect to specialize in mental health treatment and actiivated a stepdown unit that is providing treatment for inmates with serious mental illness and we have plans for high security inmates suffering from severe personality disorders that make it difficult to function. we have a reintegration unit to help inmates adapt after an extended stay in restrictive houses. in addition, we implements a gang renunciation and disassociation program gang to alow them to use their gang and work toward reentry.

we are reviewing restrictive housing and we expect the report to be issued by the end of 2014 and look forward to making additi additional changes. i promise you i share the commitment to proceed save housing that supports physical and mental health. through the continuous efforts of the staff who work 24 hours each day, 365 day as year, we protect the american public and we reduce crime. again, i thank you chairman durbin and mr. cruz and the subcommittee for your support of the committee. >> thank you. let me try to zero in on two or

three specifics. the law recognizes that children are to be treated differently than adults. that is why facilities for juveniles are different than prison. we know children are vulnerable to solitary confinement. we heard from a man name john stewart about his short time in solitary confinement. nowhere is the damaging impact of incarceration on vulnerable children more obvious than when it involves solitary confinement. i don't believe juveniles should be in solitary confinement. i know the federal prison has a limit number of juveniles, but what policy and guidance does

bop have to ensure the juveniles are not placed in solitary confinement except situations where there are no alternatives to protect staff? >> i recognize the unique need to protect juveniles. we have 62 juveniles in contract facilities. and they have to provide 50 hours of various programs to ensure that individualized training is also provided for these individuals under our care. out of 62 inmates in our system, in thes contract facilities, we only have one individual in restrictive housing. any individual in restrictive

housing, there should be 50-minute checks done. we're ensuring they are working with a committee to ensure a lot of issues are addressed and we are moving them at the earliest day possible. >> are there limits to how long-they can be housed? >> if they are going beyond five days there has to be a meeting to justify why there is a continued need. we only have one individual being used under the rarest circumstances when there is the belief of potential harm to the individual and/or to others. we don't support long-term

juveniles in restrictive housing >> i would like to ask you about mental health when i cthink it s linked. senator lindsay grahm asked about how this affected prisoners and you responded there was no study conducted and that frightened me. i am pleased that one of the five key areas for the independent assessment of health. and i would like to ask you if you anticipate the assessment will help provide the mental health effects of segeraration

do you agree that people that exhibit this behavior need more mental health treatment and not just a lockdown? >> yes, sir, to your first question. i do believe the assessment being conducted will provide us a road map to look at the internal operation relative to treatment that is provided to the inmate population when placed in restrictive housing. as i have indicated, since the hearing that was conducted in june of 2012, this assessment has been put in place with our audit. we are very much in agreement with the number of mental health staff being provided to look at the specific population when individu individuals are placed in respect -- restrictive

housing -- with mental illness. we asked staff for scanning -- psychology care -- >> has that changed? >> yes, sir, we have five individuals devoted to that population. we are in the process of hiring a full-time doctors and there

are a lot of things we can do remotely but we're increasing the staff and staying on top of it. >> has there ever been a time when you have been in charge with a person is released from retrictive housing directly to the general public? >> yes. and that is something from it discussion that we had in june of 2012, we have discussed extensi extensively throughout the agency with leadership and i don't believe it is appropriate. it is something to address. no one should be released based on the concern that was raised directly from restrictive housing to the general population and we will do everything possible to ensure we have things in place. we have implemented a step down

unit for those suffering from a significant illness so we don't have them going out without a form of treatment. >> the last question relates to testimony. we have witnesses coming in. testimony about women, particularly pregnant women placed in restrictive housing. what have you found? >> out of 14, 008 female offenders we have in the system, only 197 with in restrictive housing. in an individual requires placement to ensure no threat to themselves or others, we are not looking to put people in

restrictive housing. the majority of the time it is temporary. these are not individuals who are placed in for long period of time. >> could you define temporary and long period from your point of view. >> if an individual, right now out of the entire population, for individuals in restrictive housing and i will start with the special housing unit, we have 9, 400 individuals in there. only 15 percent are in there for periods longer than 90 days and that is sanctions relative to discipline or administration detention. displain and sanctions are for violating a rule and we need to maintain order within the facility if individuals do thank

think things that require short-term. and long-term housing like due to threats to the facility or harm to others and ensuring we're keeping them safe, requires longer periods. when you look at the control element, we have 47 percent of those individuals and 13 inmates at the adx. 47% have killed other individuals and that is a combination of murdering before they come in or murdered other inmates or staff within the system. those individuals require longer periods of placement in restrifkt -- restrictive

housing -- i am not saying, however, that we given on them. we are doing what we deem is appropriate and assessments by staff for consideration. i am hundred percent behind ensuring that we're not causing damage to an individual placed in that setting. but to ensure the safety of inmate and staff, the individuals that only represent, sir, a small number within our entire population, it is less than 1/5 of a percent when you look at the 215 in the agency,

the number is small. even when you look at the displain -- discipline -- you are talking about 1500 inmates from a 250,000 population. we will continue to reduce the number, as best as we can, and i am committed that in our population, it is better manage inmates in general population. they need to have to opportunity to participate in programming. and when we are looking at recidivism reduction, we want them receiving a lot of intensive programs we can provide. when they are not given those opportunities, you are looking at the issue and concern relative to threat to public safety. and we do not want to be a part

of anything that causes us not being able to bring about the mission. >> senator chris? >> thank you, mr. chairman and thank you for holding this hearing. everyone here shares a number of objectives and wants to make sure federal prisoners are held in a humane manner that respect their dignitity and also allows rehabilitation when possible and ensuring the safety of other inmate and of prison guards trust today guard some of the most dangerous people in the country, if not the world. mr. samuals, i appreciate your

service and being here today and engaging in this discussion. i mind like to ask questions to further understand and the scope of solitary confinement within the federal prison system. you testified there is 250,000 inmates to about 1.2 million incarcerated in various state systems. and the majority are in the general population at any given time in the federal prison? >> yes, sir. the majority are in general population. also, the majority of the inmates in the system spend the entire period in general population. this is a small percentage. right now 6.5 percent is in some

form of restrictive housing and when you break that down with temporary, they are given a set number of days and/or months they have to serve. in a prison environment, and i would hope that everyone understand that it is all about order. and if we don't have order, we cannot provide programs. we're constantly looking down institutions. since the hearing in 2012, we have restricted housing population reduction by 25 perce percent. we have gone from 13.5 percent to 6.5 percent. so reductions are occurring. we are only interested in placing people in restrictive

housing when there is justification. we have 20,000 gang members in our system. they are watching this hearing. they are watching our testimony very, very closely for the reason being if they see we will lower standards and not hold the individuals accountable, it puts the staff and inmates at risk. and this is why i mentioned in my oral statement, we are looking at staff being injured and harmed but our staff is putting their lives on the line to protect the american public. and we have inmates within the population who are being harmed by these individuals who have no respect, i mean no respect for other's when it comes to their safety. we cannot afford, at any time, to say that for those individual

whose assault staff, assault inmates don't have accountability. this is no different than in society. if individuals violate the law, hurt citizens, they are removed from society and placed in a jail or prison. if these individuals attack police officers, they are not given second chances where we say don't do it again. my staff, as i have indicated who are putting their lives on the line, have to know there is accou accountability for others. with treatment and working with the individuals, we will tine continue to that. 95 percent of the people will be released at some point and we have an obligation to do everything for that captured

population, we are working to change their behaviors. many come in with significant issues. we have to address those issues. and this is very important for the subcommittee to know that when you look at secure levels for mental health, we have approximately 94 percent of the inmates within our system who have no mental illness. 94 percent. that is 187, 264 inmates. we have 1-4 care levels. when you go to level two, your talking about 10, 809 individuals who have been diagnosed with mental illness that would require the mental health staff to engage with these individuals once a month. care level three.

we have 500, 055 inmates that require intensive treatment and we need to make sure they are receiving access and there is quality time with mental professionals. and 286,000 individuals are acute individuals. the majority of the inmates don't suffer from significant ment mental illness. it is a very small number who will do anything to hurt others. i have been in the prisons 26

years. i have talked to inmates and had inmates tell me if you release me to the general population or take me out, i will kill someone. i have a duty and obligation to protect the staff and inmates and when someone is willing to tell you if you do this, this is what i am going to do, there are issues with that. >> i appreciate your decades of service. as someone who spent a significant portion of my adult life in law enforcement, i am grateful to the many employees of prison, many who risk their live toes protect citizens every day. it isn't an easy job you are

doing. i would be interested what is the value of solitary confinement and what circumstances should it be employed and what are the risks? what are the downsides to using it as tool? >> the value of restrictive housing should only be used with slight necessary for those individuals who pose a threat to other and the safety and security of the facility. that is to make sure we are protecting staff, inmate and the general public. it should never be used as being viewed as retaliating against

individuals. we are trying to correct behavior. i strongly ensure that we use it for the sake of we can. it is no different than the state systems who are looking at this issue as well. and the one thing i do appreciate is this is a national discussion. the association of state correctional administrators, which i am a member of, immediately after the hearing, we all met. we talked about the best practices what we should be doing. when you look at state systems, federal systems and even toe -- at the -- alexandlocal level, y

different ideas on what restrictive housing is. and we are reaching out to the jurisdictions to provide their best practices and it will be posted on the website. ...

>> to look at what they are attempting to do and what they are doing, and i'm very, very mindful the concern, and i am the direct in treating inmates respectfully, ensuring they are living in a humane environment because our actions will dictate to these individuals what our country's all about, and we are not there to judge these individuals. we are there to ensure that they serve their time, cater to society, and hopefully put them in a better situation so when they are released, they are productive citizens. the goal of them never returning so that i don't see a downside with individuals who are not abiding by the rules because if they are not abiding by the rules within the prison, i mean, at some point when they are released, there's no

accountability. we have to hold them accountable because if they go out and continue with that behavior, guess what? they are coming back. we will do everything possible to try to get them to turn and move from the negative behavior, but that requires intensive treatment. i'm also looking at ensuring that we are developing a therapy program for those individuals who are within our restrictive housing unit we want there to be an active engagement of showing, hey, we can be willing to accept the olive branch. we just don't want to leave individuals sitting there. >> very good, thank you, mr. sanders. >> senator cruz. senator franken. >> thank you, i want to welcome a minnesotan testifying later

today. you terned your story from tragedy to hope, and thank you for holding the hearing and all the work you've done over the years. this practice, solitary confinement, restrictive housing is troubling for a number of reasons, moral reasons, economic reasons as the chairman said in the opening statement, public safety reasons, and one of the aspects of this that concerns me is mental health aspect of the problem. we've been discussing over the years we've seen the corrections and law enforcement system take on more and more responsibility for responding to menial illnesses, and our communities. last winter, i hosted a series round table discussions with law enforcement, personnel, mental

health advocate, and my state of mips. the the sheriff who runs the jails in minnesota told me about a third of the inmates in his jails really belong in mental health treatment programs and not behind bars. you've been talking about treating people behind bars. maybe that's not where they should be treated. if it's possible. there are people with illness who committed some crimes that they need to be behind bars, but there are a lot who should be elsewhere. i have a bill called the justin's mental health collaboration agent to improve access to mental health treatment for those who need it, and i think we're leaving -- the purpose is to relieve burden on law enforcement personnel and on correctional personnel. the bill also funds flex the in

creating alternatives to solitary confinement in our jails and prisons. i'd like to thank senators durbin, leahy and others for cosponsoring the bill, and i want to ask others to join that effort. i want to ask you a couple things. one about crisis intervention training. director, last march, i visited the federal medical center in rochester, minnesota. they have -- they are kind of a psychiatric unit and also behind bars, and they said they benefit tremendously from crv, crisis intervention training, and they avoided serious incidents that may lead to inmates going in the

solitary confinement when they act out, become violence, and we see these on the weekend shows, show people behind bars, and the guards have to strap op all kind of protective wear. they can avoid that by understanding when some -- and talking someone double instead of in a way not provoking terrible conflict, but also not stopping it. can you talk a bit about the role that cit, crisis intervention training, plays in federal prison system? >> thank you, senator franken, and i'm glad you raised this question. the national institute of correctness, part of the bureau prison, actually provides the training for crisis intervention, and it is based on a request of the state system. we ensured that our staff, and

as a result of what they have seen, we implemented our own protocols, related to the youth various element, and we have bill tested this training in one of our institutions, and as a result of it, we are obtaining the feedback with something that we are considering to look at actually adopting within the bureau based on the federal system in our unique needs, so to your point, it does serve value, and we're looking to explore doing more with it within the federal system. i kind of want to, you know, you provided a lot of status statistics about solitary or restrictive housing. i just want to get more into the

human aspect of this. i kind of want to, crisis intervention training, but how big is a cell? how big is the average cell in solitary? >> average size? >> cell, yeah, the size of the cell, how big is it? i'm trying to get this -- is the human thing we're talking about. how big is the cell? >> the average cell is -- i guess -- you're looking for the space of what -- >> yes. the dimensions in feet, in inches. the size of the cell that a person is kept in. i want to get some idea of -- i don't know -- am i asking this wrong? [laughter]

is there -- i mean, is what you're saying is that there is no such thing as app average cell for solitary? typically, in the bureau of prisons, the cells in solitary confinement, how big is the cell typically? >> the average size should be equivalent to six by four. >> okay. that's an answer. six by four. does a person in the cell during months and months say of this, they have ability to talk to families? >> yes. >> they always do? >> it's not op a frequent basis, but we provide individual to restrictive housing op average. i mean, they are receiving one

phone call per month, and this is something that we are looking at when i talk about reforms for our disciplinary process for those placedded in restrictive housing that we need to change, that is something we are willing to continue to look at to ensure we provide more access for frequency for the phone calls as well as visits. >> well, i've run out of of time. we'll have some witnesses who may be more descriptive. >> and it's ten by seven for the cell size. >> okay, thank you. thank you, mr. chairman. >> thank you, senator franken. >> thank you, mr. chairman. thank you for your service and all that you're doing to address what is really a troubling situation. we do have someone on the second panel who will testify or talk

about women being con finded in solitary for reporting abuse including sexual abuse by their bureau of prisons staff. i have a series of questions regarding this situation. are you aware of this happening in the system? rare as it may be, we hope? >> yes. >> same question. then what do you have in place to prevent this kind of abuse from happening? >> well, what we have in place is our staff being active in ensuring rounds are made. we have also addressed concerns with ensuring the inmates are able to reach out and let us know and being comfortable with that. we have zero tolerance. >> so you have zero tolerance, so does that mean that that inmates that this is happening

to feel free to come forward and report? who would they report this too? certainly, it shouldn't be the person that, you know, has power over them and who is actually the abuser, alleged abuser. >> they're able to report any allegations to staff, and we also have a hot line number that the inmates are given, and they can also report it in that manner. >> in terms of getting the information out to inmates, do you do this in written form? how do your inmates know, regardless if they are in solitary or in the general population that if they are faced with this kind of abuse, that they no what to do, where to go. >> it's provided to the inmates' population verbally during discussions as well as in writing. >> mr. chairman, i would --

would be good to provide with a sample or, in fact, a directive regarding what they tell the inmates, this is the situation, so we can -- >> we can provide that for the record. >> so in terms of the enforcement of this policy or this directive, how do you go about in making sure that this is being followed by your staff? >> well, a number of thing, the local level is something that the leadership concludes that staff are focused on ensuring we do call control review. we utilize our national office when we go out and conduct audits of the facilities. we look at the operation practices and procedures to ensure that we are following

policies. >> how long have they been in place? >> for decades. we've always have zero tolerance for any type of activity and given the staff to carry it out. for the individuals who do this, we quickly take all allegations seriously, and those individuals are removed from general populations as well as the individuals who have been victimized to make sure we're looking at the security issues on both sides, and we ensure that the investigation relative to the allegation that we're doing it in a timely manner, and holding those individuals accountable because as i mentioned, senator, we do not support nor do we want anyone

victimizing others. not being held accountable for their actions. >> and is this kind of behavior considered a crime for which the perpetrator can be prosecuted? >> yes, and if the investigation's leaked to individuals charge, which we refer all issues to the fbi and then they move in, and they did their investigation and, ultimately, this determines whether or not a crime is committed, and we believe ensuring those individuals are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. >> do you have the numbers how many are prosecuted in a way and then discipline and then prosecution. >> i don't have that information with me currently, but i can provide that for the record. >> do you have that? >> yes. >> thank you. any studies on the effects of

solitary confinement on recidivism and early entry? >> there's been no stoids as a result of the hearing conducted in 2012 when that was presented to me, and we have not participated in any type of study. we dprea to undergo the analysis that's take b place right now with cna, and hopefully from that review, we'll have some insight, but, senator, i have to add, when you are looking at recidivism, that will require a long period of time to assess when you're looking at the number of individuals who have since been released and impact on recidivism, and, also, they have resources for ensuring if we undertake something like that, there's substantial costs, but currently, we do not have anything like that in place other than what we're being looked at. >> i recognize that it's not that easy to determine cause and

effect in these situations. are you aware of situations that show differences in the effects of solitary confinement on men and women? >> no. >> is this an aspect going to be addressed in some ways in the studies you refer to? >> the competence of the study we're undergoing now, that's not part of the assessment, but i agree with you. it's something that we should continue to look at, but also, as i stated, when you look at the gender issues for restrictive housing, the number for us is very, very, very low for the female population, and they are not as likely as the male population to be engaged in behavior that requires them to have restribtive houses for long period of time. >> you have 198 women in restrictive housing.

how many of them are in the adx facility? >> we do not house any females nor do we require for the record to have that type of housing for female inmates, only for males. >> thank you, thank you, mr. chairman. >> [inaudible] >> thank you very much for your testimony. we appreciate it. we're going to follow-up with the questions raisedded here earlier. we invite the second panel to come before us and ask the witnesses to take a place at the witness table. i'll read background on them before they are called on. rick is here, the executive director of the colorado department of corrections, three decades of law enforcement experience for this position. he was secretary of wisconsin department of corrections, and he also received at deputy secretary. previously, he was a sheriff at bane county, wisconsin, served as u.s. assistant attorney and

assistant attorney and undercover and narcotics executive and deputy sheriff, and i thank him for joining us today. thank you for being here. piper carmen is with us, author of the "new york times" best selling memoir "orange is the new black: my year in a women's prison," it was recently adapted into a netflix original series. she works at the communications consul at that particular time for nonprofit organizations and serves on the board of women prisons association, spoke and written about prison issues in media outlets and received a 2014 justice trail blazer award from john j. college center for media crime in justice. thank you for being here. president of the justice fellowship, public policy affiliate at prison affiliate advocate principles for restorative justice found in the bible. he served as haven't and director of external affairs,

and he served in the mission house of representatives elected speaker, lives in michigan with his wife, stacy, and three young daughters, and i thank you and justice fellowship for your appearance here today. mark levin, at the texas public policy foundation, playing an important role in adult and justice reforms, and the state, the leader of the public policy foundation, right on crime initiative, led conservative efforts to reform the criminal justice system. he was law clerk to judge will garwood on the fifth circuit and staff attorney at the texas supreme court. thanks to the texas public policy foundation's work led to reforms of the drug sentencing law and in particular, i thank you for your support for the sentencing act, which all members here today have cosponsored. damon, a witness before us, in late september, he was mission's

141st death row inmate to be exonerated on actual innocence grounds since the spring court reinstated capital punishment since 1976. he was released from the louisiana state pent ri after 15 years in solitary con findment. his release supported by the district attorney's office, responsible for the original prosecution. following release, he relocated to minneapolis working, obtained a ged, got a commercial driver's license, and then began truck driving career with the truck company, and i'm sorry what you've been through, sir, commending you for what you did to rebuild your life. amazing story. thank you for the courage to appear here today, and we'll hear testimony here in a couple moments. you have five minutes, and i read the written staples, and i commend them. they are extraordinary statements. five minutes to summarize, if

you would, and then we'll ask a few questions after the whole panel. >> thank you, mr. chairman, ranking member cruz, and distinguishing members of the committee. it's an absolute honor for me to be here. i'm rick, the executive director of the colorado department of corrections. i was appointed by governor john to fill the vacancy left by the former executive director who was assassinated in march of last year. in a horrific irony, he was assassinated by an individual who had spent simple years in administrative segregation and was released directly from segregation into the community which is an absolute recipe for disaster. the other irony involvedded here is that he had dedicated his short time as the colorado department of corrections on reducing the large number of individuals in the system that were in segregation.

in fact, colorado, was one of the leaders, unfortunately, of incarcerating people in administrative segregation. i was picked because i had the same vision in wisconsin, was able to do things there, this gives me the opportunity to continue that vision. having spent some time in administrative segregation myself recently, it just reenforces feeling about it, and these are my feelings. thirty years in the criminal justice system that segregation is overused, misused, and abused, and what i feel is that we are failing in this particular area in our missions, and in our mission really is not about running more efficient institutions, although that's certainly something we want to do. that's something we need to do, but that's not our primary

mission. 97% of all of our inmates return back to the community, and out of those 9 p 7%, some have been in administrative segregation, and our duty and primary mission is very simple. make a sacred community, and the way we make a safer community is by having no new victims, and the way we have no new victims is by ensuring the people we send back into the community are prepared and dedicated to being law-abiding citizens rather than returning in worse condition than they came in, and that's where i feel we're failing. some of the things we've done in colorado, i was charged by the governor with three tasks. eliminate or reduce the number of major mentally ill in the segregation area, and what we did last spring, for example, 50 were in seg, and this january, there were four. the second challenge was to eliminate or drastically reduce those released directly from

segregation into the streets. i might ask anyone in the audience to stand up if they want to live next to someone released in direct segregation into the street, and i'm pretty sure people stay in the chairs. what we were able to do in 2012, we released 140 directly into the streets and in 2014, we released two so far. in the other area challenged by the governor is look at everyone else in administrative segregation and see if you determine the numbers of of those released, and we've done that. that was started by executive director which was continued by me. in january of 2011 #, we had 1451, and in january of 2014, we have 597. in a sense, i don't feel i'm replacing him. i feel i'm fulfilling his vision. that's what we're doing in colorado. i believe that nobody should be

release the directly into the community, and what we are doing all can be doing. i don't disagree with thinking said, i knew him for quite some time, and working with the association and state correctional add strags correction association, we've done a lot of work with best practices. throwing a few things out there as i run out of time. for some reason, we think for this, they are in a cell 23 hours a day. who defines that? there's probably some of your court cases that mandates that's what happened. why suspect it 22 hours a day, what about 20 or 18 hours a day? start at 23 and work down to ten, that's what we're going to be doing. it's been automatic for the most part if someone on death row stays in segregation physical they are put to death, and as we know, a person spends many years, and some are found innocent and released.

we'll change policy on that giving them the opportunity to get out of the cells. where reare in colorado, only extreme violence, a small handful, all we talk about, are those who remain in administrative segregation, but we don't give up on them. we have to continue to find a solution for the problems because as i sat in the cell for 20 hours, my response was this is not a way to treat an american. it's not a way the state should be treating someone, and it's not a way the nation should be treating someone, and intergnarlly, it's not a way to treat someone. this is receiving the right amount of attention now at the right time, and i think it's time we move this forward. thank you. >> thank you. i might say to those gathered here, roll call vote started so colleagues will leave to vote. there could be interruption for recess because of role call, but we'll be back shortly to resume.

>> chairman durbin, ranking member cr cruz z, distinguished members of the committee, thank you for having me here to address this important issue. i spent 13 months as a prison in the federal system. if you're flail with the back, i was never held in isolation unit. the longest amount of time i was placed alone in a holding cell was four hours, and i was ready to climb the walls of that small room by the end of that. i am here today to talk specifically about the impact of solitary confinement of women on women's jails and detention centers. they are the fastest growing segment, and their families and communities are affected by what happens behind bars. at least 63 #% of women in prison are there for a nonviolence offense; however, some of the factors that contribute to these women's incarceration end up landing them in solitary confinement. during my first hours of

incarceration, warnings about solitary or the shoe came from both prisoners and staff very quickly, and very minor infractions could send you to the shoot. they can then keep you there as long as they want under whatever conditions they choose. unlike the normal community of prison, 24 #-hour lock dop leaves you in a six by eight cell for weeks or months or years, and this is unproductive for individuals, for prison institution, and the outside communities to which 97% of all prisoners return. several factors make women's experience in incarceration and solitary different from men. women in prison are much more likely than men to suffer from mental illness making being put into solitary confinement much more likely and damaging. the majority of women prisoners have a history of mental illness, and 97% do.

she spends the first year of the six year sentence in solitary confinement. you have her full written statement. i'll share a few words of hers with you. i spent three quarters of the time on a bunk with a blanket over my head in the fetal position rocking back and forth for comfort. i can separate mind from body. i cried a lot, not for me, but for my kids. i laughed inappropriately. i got angry at myself. angry at those who abused me and led me to the life of addiction. i felt ashame because i let others abuse my body because i felt i deserved it, felt sorry i was born. felt sorry for all the hurt i caused, but most of all, i felt sorry there was not a rope to kill myself because every day was worse than the last.

they are sexually abused by staff. ..

a muffled will mark the next up and evidently needed long-term oversight and reform. >> thank you. as i said to my review the testimony of all the members of this panel. it is extraordinary, and i don't want to miss it. if you could hang around for a few more minutes we will be back. this committee will stand in recess for tenants. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations]