After Mass Hunger Strikes & Lawsuits, Prisoners Force California to Scale Back Solitary Confinement

"Democracy Now!" airs weekdays at 9 a.m. PT on KCET.

In a major victory for prisoners' rights, California has agreed to greatly reduce the use of solitary confinement as a part of a legal settlement that may have major implications in prisons nationwide. The decision on Tuesday came following years of litigation by a group of prisoners held in isolation for a decade or more at Pelican Bay State Prison, as well as prisoner hunger strikes. "Democracy Now!" speaks to Dolores Canales, the co-founder of California Families to Abolish Solitary Confinement, whose son, John Martinez, has been held in solitary confinement at Pelican Bay for more than 14 years. "Democracy Now!" also speaks with Jules Lobel, the lead attorney representing prisoners at Pelican Bay in the lawsuit.