Lil Durk spent more than four months in solitary confinement at MDC in Los Angeles, locked in a small cell for 23 hours a day, as his legal team demands answers over what they say is a lack of due process over alleged Apple Watch violations.
According to AllHipHop.com, the rapper has been confined to a segregated housing unit (SHU) since August 29, 2025.
His attorneys filed a motion asking for a status hearing, saying he was being held “without process” in violation of federal regulations and possibly the Eighth Amendment, which prohibits cruel and unusual punishment.
Durk’s attorney, Christy O’Connor, said he has been at the SHU for 131 consecutive days without access to the commissary, one phone call per month, or in-person visits.
“[Lil Durk] “Prison cells are extremely small, barely big enough for a single bed, a toilet and a sink. The harmful effects of prolonged solitary confinement on prisoners’ mental health are well documented,” O’Connor said.
Despite the strict restrictions, Lil Durk has not yet undergone a disciplinary review required by federal prison rules, which state that inmates must be reviewed by a unit disciplinary board within five working days and may be entitled to a hearing before a disciplinary hearing officer.
His attorneys argued that the Bureau of Prisons and the Los Angeles MDC provided conflicting reasons for his prolonged isolation.
In October, an MDC attorney reportedly said Durk’s celebrity status had nothing to do with his placement at the SHU. But in December, prison wardens allegedly told defense attorneys that the rap star posed a danger to the public because of the high-profile nature of his case and possible rule violations.
Defense attorneys also claimed that Lil Durk had no behavioral issues during the 11 months he spent in the general population before being transferred to the SHU.
The government’s stance on the Apple Watch allegations has also been described as inconsistent.
Officials said the SHU placement was not related to the FBI investigation or any charging decision, but they also claimed the Bureau of Prisons was waiting for a charging decision to be made before beginning disciplinary proceedings.
Lil Duke’s attorneys cited research on the psychological damage caused by long-term solitary confinement, including depression, anxiety, social withdrawal and sensory issues.
The government took “no position” on the defense’s request for a status hearing.
Lil Durk is in federal custody as prosecutors charge him with murder-for-hire in connection with the 2022 Los Angeles shooting that killed Saviay’a “Lul Pab” Robinson, the cousin of rival rapper Quando Rondo. Authorities claim Durk helped plan and finance the attack as retaliation for the 2020 killing of King Von.
He was arrested in Florida in October 2024 and extradited to California.
The judge refused bail, citing the seriousness of the charges and concerns about the risk of flight. Durk has pleaded not guilty and remains in jail while awaiting trial.
