The New York City Council's Committee approved legislation on Wednesday morning that aims to ban city jails from imposing solitary confinement on inmates in the vast majority of circumstances. The bill will now move forward to the full council for a vote in the afternoon, despite protests from the New York City Police Department and Mayor Eric Adams.

Mayor Adams has expressed his intention to veto the bill; however, advocates believe that the City Council has enough support to override the potential veto. The proposed legislation has garnered the backing of 38 sponsors, including Council member Yusef Salaam, known for his involvement in the Central Park Five case, according to The New York Times.

The bill seeks to prohibit the use of solitary confinement in all cases, except for a four-hour de-escalation period to be utilized in emergency situations. Furthermore, the legislation would require that all inmates have a minimum of 14 hours outside their cells each day.

Council members supporting the bill argue that solitary confinement amounts to a form of torture. Salaam highlighted the distressing experiences of those subjected to this practice, stating, "You can hear people crying out, you can hear people in pain, you can hear people going through a mental breakdown. It's one of the most horrific things to experience."

Critics of the legislation, including Mayor Adams, argue that a complete ban on solitary confinement is not well-thought-out. They believe that dangerous individuals cannot be left in the general inmate population without adequate measures in place.

If the bill successfully passes the full council vote and overcomes any potential mayoral veto, New York City would join a growing number of municipalities across the United States in restricting the use of solitary confinement as a correctional measure.

The outcome of the council vote is eagerly anticipated, as it could have significant implications for the treatment of incarcerated individuals within New York City jails.