A teenager was jailed for three years on suspicion of stealing a backpack and spent 700 days in solitary

A teenager was jailed for three years on suspicion of stealing a backpack and spent 700 days in solitary. He later took his own life after release.

Kalief Browder’s case became one of the most tragic indictments of the American justice system in the 21st century. 

Arrested at 16 in 2010 for allegedly stealing a backpack, Browder was sent to Rikers Island, one of the nation’s most notorious jails.


 Unable to afford bail and never formally convicted, he spent three years behind bars, nearly two of them in solitary confinement.


Upon his release, Browder spoke out about the psychological toll of isolation and the systemic failures that allowed minors to be held without trial. His 2015 death drew national attention and ignited widespread calls for criminal justice reform.

Added Fact: Browder’s death led to several policy changes in New York City, including the eventual decision to close Rikers Island and to end solitary confinement for juveniles. His story was later chronicled in the Jay-Z–produced documentary Time: The Kalief Browder Story (2017).

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