Detainees at BTC placed in solitary confinement for weeks after seeking mental health support
2025·Location: Pompano Beach, FL
Women and men at the Broward Transitional Center reported that seeking mental health support led to punishment. Those who complained of emotional distress were placed in solitary confinement for weeks, creating a chilling effect. 'If you ask for help, they isolate you. If you cry, they might take you away for two weeks. So, people stay silent,' one woman said. She described a fellow detainee taken to the psychiatric ward multiple times for weeks because she was often crying. In the ward, the woman's hands and feet were restrained, further traumatizing her. A man witnessed a cellmate beg for mental health support and be denied. When he began to self-harm, nine officers removed him and placed him in solitary for a week without any medical or psychological care.
Sources
- “You Feel Like Your Life Is Over”
hrw.org·Jul 21, 2025·archived copy
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