This Article is the first to provide a comprehensive comparative analysis of the solitary confinement of youth in the United States, Europe, and across the globe. Part I reviews the literature detailing the varieties of harm that young people suffer as a result of solitary confinement. Part II discusses the rationales that facilities use to justify solitary confinement and the prevalence of the practice internationally. Part III analyzes the history of solitary confinement and the legal response within the United States and the international community. Part IV offers strategies for reform, including legislation, federal regulations, and litigation; the adoption of best practice standards; and the role of the juvenile defender and other advocates for incarcerated youth. The Appendix presents the author’s original research documenting the current policies of the fifty-seven countries that either legally condone or employ the practice of juvenile solitary confinement.
