Julio Ricardo Cruz: Prisoner who spent 24 years in solitary confinement wins \$24 million settlement

Cruz was convicted of murder in 1993 and spent 24 years in solitary confinement before his conviction was overturned in 2018

He was awarded \$24 million in a settlement with the state of California

Julio Ricardo Cruz, a man who spent 24 years in solitary confinement in California, has won a \$24 million settlement with the state.

Cruz was convicted of murder in 1993 and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Cruz spent 24 years in solitary confinement at Pelican Bay State Prison before his conviction was overturned in 2018 due to prosecutorial misconduct.

Cruz is now 63 years old - He was 39 when he entered solitary confinement, and he emerged with post-traumatic stress disorder and other serious health problems, said his lawyer, Michael Bien.

The settlement is one of the largest ever for a solitary confinement case. Cruz's attorneys said the settlement is a "significant victory" for those who have been subjected to solitary confinement.

"This is a historic settlement that sends a clear message that solitary confinement is cruel and inhumane," Bien said in a statement.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said in a statement that it is "committed to the humane treatment of all inmates" and that it is "reviewing the settlement agreement."

Cruz's case is one of many that have raised concerns about the use of solitary confinement in the United States.

A report by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on torture found that solitary confinement can cause "severe mental and physical suffering" and that it should only be used as a last resort.