Obama visiting a federal prison in July 2015

President Obama has banned solitary confinement for juveniles in federal prison.

The ban is one of many reforms he announced on Monday, six months after he asked Attorney General Loretta Lynch and the Department of Justice to look at the use of solitary confinement in prisons across the nation. In an op-ed published in the Washington Post, President Obama outlined the problems with solitary.

Solitary confinement has the potential to lead to devastating, lasting psychological consequences. It has been linked to depression, alienation, withdrawal, a reduced ability to interact with others and the potential for violent behavior. Some studies indicate that it can worsen existing mental illnesses and even trigger new ones. Prisoners in solitary are more likely to commit suicide, especially juveniles and people with mental illnesses.

Obama began his op-ed with the story of Khalief Browder, who was accused of stealing a backpack in 2010 at the age of 16. Khalief was sent to Rikers where "he reportedly endured unspeakable violence at the hands of inmates and guards — and spent nearly two years in solitary confinement." He never actually even stood trial. In 2013 he was released, but adjusting to the outside was tough for him after spending formative years in solitary. At 22, Khalief killed himself.

The obstacles that Browder faced after being released are not unusual for those who have spent time in solitary. As President Obama stated: