Allegations Only · No Settlement Yet
This article describes a class action complaint. The statements below are unproven allegations. The Oregon Department of Corrections has not been found liable, there is no certified class, and there is nothing to claim at this time. This page is informational and is not legal advice.
What Is This About?
Five people incarcerated in Oregon prisons have filed a proposed class action accusing the Oregon Department of Corrections (ODOC) of running a solitary confinement program they allege is unconstitutional and discriminatory. The complaint, captioned Jenkins-Millage et al. v. Oregon Department of Corrections, was filed June 11, 2026 in Marion County Circuit Court, an Oregon state court.The named plaintiffs allege that ODOC subjects people in solitary confinement to conditions of isolation and sensory deprivation that have caused new and worsening physical and mental illness, and that the department denies reasonable accommodations to people in solitary who have disabilities. They ask the court to declare the practices unlawful and to order changes to how ODOC uses solitary confinement. ODOC has not responded to the allegations in court, and none of the claims have been proven.
What the Complaint Alleges
According to the complaint, people held in ODOC's solitary confinement units — including disciplinary segregation, intensive management and administrative segregation — are confined for roughly 23 hours a day under conditions the plaintiffs describe as marked by isolation, idleness and sensory deprivation. The plaintiffs allege they are uniformly subjected to severe restrictions on out-of-cell time, exercise and recreation, meaningful human contact, mental stimulation and basic hygiene.The plaintiffs say those conditions have caused or worsened serious health problems. The complaint alleges that one plaintiff, who had no prior history of mental illness, began developing symptoms consistent with depression or a mood disorder while in solitary, and that others experienced their existing conditions becoming overwhelming. The complaint frames these conditions as a violation of the Oregon Constitution, which the plaintiffs say prohibits the harsh, degrading or dehumanizing treatment of prisoners. These remain allegations the department has not been found liable for.
The Disability-Discrimination Claims
A central part of the lawsuit is the allegation that ODOC's solitary confinement program discriminates against people with disabilities. According to the complaint, people with physical disabilities are placed in inaccessible cells and denied basic accommodations. The plaintiffs allege that one named plaintiff who uses a wheelchair was placed in an inaccessible cell, limiting her access to adaptive sleeping arrangements, hygiene and necessary medical treatment.The plaintiffs also allege ODOC failed to accommodate mental-health disabilities, arguing that placing people with conditions such as ADHD or OCD in prolonged isolation made their symptoms significantly worse. The complaint contends that denying these accommodations violates disability-rights protections. As with the rest of the case, these are unproven allegations.
Who Would Be in the Proposed Class?
The five named plaintiffs seek to represent all people in ODOC custody who are now, or will in the future be, subjected to the department's solitary confinement policies. Because the case seeks injunctive relief rather than money damages, no class member would file a claim for a payout; any relief would come in the form of changes to ODOC's practices statewide. The precise class definition would be decided by the court if it certifies the case.What the Lawsuit Seeks
The proposed class action asks the court to declare ODOC's solitary confinement practices unconstitutional and discriminatory, and to issue an injunction limiting or changing those practices. The plaintiffs also ask for an order requiring effective monitoring and reporting by ODOC. The complaint notes that ODOC has already converted at least one former solitary unit into a behavioral-health unit with more out-of-cell time and programming, which the plaintiffs point to as evidence that alternatives are workable. Whether any of the requested relief is ordered would be decided by the court.Who Is Representing the Plaintiffs?
The plaintiffs are represented by the Prison Law Office, the Oregon Justice Resource Center, the Roderick & Solange MacArthur Justice Center, and the law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP. The case is part of a broader national push by advocacy organizations to limit the use of prolonged solitary confinement in state prison systems.What Happens Next?
As a newly filed complaint, the case is at an early stage. ODOC will have an opportunity to respond, and the court will eventually decide whether to certify a class. There is no settlement, no approved class, and no claim form — so there is nothing for anyone to submit. We will update this page if the case is certified, dismissed, settled, or otherwise resolved.Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an Oregon solitary confinement settlement yet?
No. Jenkins-Millage v. Oregon DOC is a newly filed class action lawsuit. There is no settlement, no fund, and no claim form. The lawsuit seeks court orders changing solitary confinement practices, not money payments. ODOC has not been found liable, and the allegations are unproven.
What does the lawsuit allege?
The complaint alleges ODOC holds people in solitary confinement under conditions of isolation and sensory deprivation that violate the Oregon Constitution, and that it denies reasonable accommodations to people in solitary who have disabilities. These are unproven allegations.
What court is the case in?
The case was filed June 11, 2026 in Marion County Circuit Court, an Oregon state court. Because it is a state-court matter, it does not appear on the federal court system or CourtListener.
Who would be in the proposed class?
The five named plaintiffs seek to represent all people in ODOC custody who are now, or will in the future be, subjected to the department's solitary confinement policies. Because the case seeks court-ordered changes rather than money, no class member would file a claim for a payout.
Do I need to do anything right now?
No. Because this is a lawsuit and not a settlement, there is nothing to claim and no deadline to act. If the case results in a court order or future relief, that would be announced separately.
Sources
- OPB — Oregon faces class-action lawsuit to end solitary confinement in prisons
- Roderick & Solange MacArthur Justice Center — Jenkins-Millage et al. v. ODOC
- Oregon Justice Resource Center — Solitary Confinement
- Solitary Watch — Class-Action Lawsuit Challenges Oregon's Use of Solitary
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