1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Maintaining dignity and Eliminating unnecessary Restrictive Confinement of Youths Act of 2017 or the MERCY Act . 2. Juvenile solitary confinement (a) In general Chapter 403 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 5043. Juvenile solitary confinement (a) Definitions In this section— (1) the term covered juvenile means— (A) a juvenile who— (i) is being proceeded against under this chapter for an alleged act of juvenile delinquency; or (ii) has been adjudicated delinquent under this chapter; or (B) a juvenile who is being proceeded against as an adult in a district court of the United States for an alleged criminal offense; (2) the term juvenile facility means any facility where covered juveniles are— (A) committed pursuant to an adjudication of delinquency under this chapter; or (B) detained prior to disposition or conviction; and (3) the term room confinement means the involuntary placement of a covered juvenile alone in a cell, room, or other area for any reason. (b) Prohibition on room confinement in juvenile facilities (1) In general The use of room confinement at a juvenile facility for discipline, punishment, retaliation, or any reason other than as a temporary response to a covered juvenile's behavior that poses a serious and immediate risk of physical harm to any individual, including the covered juvenile, is prohibited. (2) Juveniles posing risk of harm (A) Requirement to use least restrictive techniques (i) In general Before a staff member of a juvenile facility places a covered juvenile in room confinement, the staff member shall attempt to use less restrictive techniques, including— (I) talking with the covered juvenile in an attempt to de-escalate the situation