Lil Durk has been behind bars since 2024, after being arrested for allegedly orchestrating a murder-for-hire plot. Now, his legal team is challenging the conditions of his confinement, claiming he has been punished excessively for allegedly possessing an Apple Watch while in jail.
In a court filing on Tuesday, Durk’s lawyer, Christy O’Connor, said the rapper has spent the past four months in solitary confinement. According to the motion, he is locked in a small cell—just enough space for a bed, toilet, and sink—for 23 hours a day, with limited phone access, no commissary, and only one phone call per month. In-person visits are entirely prohibited.
The filing argues that this treatment violates Durk’s constitutional rights, citing research from the American Public Health Association on the harmful psychological effects of prolonged isolation. These include “clinically significant symptoms of depression, anxiety, or guilt,” higher rates of serious mental illness and self-harming behavior, and severe social isolation. The motion suggests that Durk’s situation could amount to “cruel and unusual punishment,” which the Eighth Amendment forbids.
Durk also voiced his frustration on Instagram, writing, “Crazy how you gotta wait until it’s dark out to see who really with you,” hinting at the isolation and disconnection he’s experiencing while incarcerated.
The rapper was arrested in 2024 on charges of conspiracy, murder-for-hire, and illegal firearm use in a violent crime. He has pleaded not guilty, and his trial is scheduled to begin in May, after a recent continuance granted by a California judge.
Durk’s legal team says they are seeking relief from the extreme conditions, emphasizing the toll solitary confinement is taking on his mental health while he awaits trial.
