About the Campaign

The STOPMAX Campaign, sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), works to eliminate the use of isolation and segregation in U.S. prisons.

Our Strategies
Our strategies include research, grassroots organizing, public education and policy advocacy to abolish solitary confinement and / or reduce its use. 

Phase One
The first phase of the STOPMAX campaign is focused on determining the extent of the use of isolation in a cross-section of correctional facilities:  various state Departments of Corrections, the state Departments of Juvenile Corrections, and immigration detention centers.  In selected states, we are surveying how many people are living in isolation conditions, who those people are, what conditions they are living in, how they came to be placed there, and whether and how it is possible to exit those units. This reserach process will result in publication of regional reports.  Phase I of the campaign will culminate with a national organizing Conference on May 30-June 1, 2008 at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. More>

Phase Two
By compiling an accurate assessment of the current practices and conditions, we will have the basis for Phase II:  crafting a solid strategy for statewide organizing to shut these units down.  What we learn through this research will help us determine which system or unit has the most egregious abuses, which is the most likely to reform, and what approach (legislative reform, grassroots organizing, litigation) is most appropriate for the campaign.  A STOPMAX National report will be also be published. This Phase II organizing period will be an ongoing, three year process.