Although conditions vary from state to state and in different institutions, typical conditions and practices used in isolation and segregation include:
- Confinement behind a solid steel door for 23 hours a day
- Limited contact with other human beings
- Infrequent phone calls and rare non-contact family visits
- Extremely limited access to rehabilitative or educational programming
- Often extremely limited medical and mental health treatment
- Restricted reading material and personal property
- Use of hog-tying, restraint chairs, and forced cell extraction
- Sensory deprivation, permanent bright lighting, extreme temperatures, and forced insomnia
- Sexual intimidation and violence