By definition, solitary confinement is the isolation of a prisoner in a separate cell as a form of punishment. This technique has been practiced in the United States since the early 1800’s and arguments on whether or not it should be practiced followed very soon after its institution. Arguments surrounding solitary confinement are slightly diverse, ranging from full support to views denouncing it. The arguments are more complex than just pro versus con; however, some reside in the middle of the argument, acknowledging its flaws and expecting reform, but also acknowledge the base purpose of the institution.
It’s Just Punishment One of the first arguments supporting solitary confinement is the idea of punishment. When prisoners misbehave while serving their sentence, they may be put into solitary confinement so as to be punished for this misbehavior. This activity may include fighting, gang violence, or even drug affiliation. Many believe that this solitary confinement will aid in the reformation of the prisoner’s character, by allowing them time to reflect on their actions, or moreover, it is the best option available when no other form of punishment is successful. “Another justifiable aim of the criminal justice system is rehabilitation or reformation of character…’It was believed that once left alone with their conscience and the Bible, prisoners would engage in inner reflection, see the error of their ways and be reformed into law abiding citizens’ ”(“13 Most”).
Inmates should be allowed to fight their stay in solitary confinement. Even throughout the prison system inmates still hold their Rights to be heard. A well-presented case against a stay in solitary confinement should be heard and it should also determine whether the inmate needs to continue being in solitary or not. Solitary confinement is effective but cruel at the same time, this can cause many problems such as lawsuits, possible deaths or mental illnesses from the prisoners who have stayed in solitary. The inmates who have stayed in solitary confinement have a right to appeal, just the same way these individuals have a right to appeal their conviction they can also appeal and fight against their stay in solitary confinement.
The documentary, “Kids Locked in Solitary Confinement” depicts the toll that solitary confinement can have on the juvenile population. Approximately, 27% of adolescents in Riskers Island are in solitary confinement. The majority of which have not yet been convicted of a crime. However, these juveniles are in jail because they cannot afford to post bail. Supporters of solitary confinement believe that the segregation juveniles experience is not equivalent to the segregation in the federal system.
The article is mostly fact and it does provide references for quotations and dat. The author of this source is Kevin Johnson, and this source was originally published by USA Today Information Network. The article does not give the author credentials. Owning the fact that the author is trying to inform the ready that solitary confinement is an effective punishment, the article is mostly free of bias. In this source, I learned that once you are released from solitary confinement it is hard for someone to adjust to the real of the world.
Graves recalled that he remembers hearing loud piercing screams from inmates losing their minds and the feeling of isolation can dehumanize themselves. A person will eventually completely lose their emotions and become a shell of a person they once was. Graves noted, that there should be a reform on how solitary confinement should addressed when there is a need to separate a dangerous prisoner from the general population. He believes that there should be a system of policies and regulations that should be carried out in court before putting an inmate into solitary confinement. He claims that the majority of inmates in solitary confinement observes their lives is hopeless and
The film “Solitary Nation” by Dan Edge had an impact on me as I was watching the film of the inmates’ lives in solitary while a new warden is trying to make a change for them. Although it was similar to other prison documentaries, it had more of a closer view to solitary than the normal prisons. It provided evidence of how torturing it could be after a certain time, and how the world is constantly full of that nature no matter what measures are taken. It depicted the causes of solitary on the inmates’ behavior, and how contradictory it is to have solitary confinement. Should solitary still be used as a way of punishment?
Solitary is still used today in prisons but as a punishment, and the prisoners aren’t keep for long periods of time because of the dangers it could cause to their mental
The world will always have criminals, some of whom continue to be defiant towards humanity-these people will have to be punished, however, it is unambiguous that solitary confinement is an inhumane way of dealing with a difficult person. Now, what Hard Rock went through was horrid and the good news is nobody has to be tortured the way he was. The bad news is that people are continuing to be tortured with solitary confinement. The fact that solitary confinement is still legal is baffling.
If we ever hope to come together and promote equality as a society, how must we do so if we suppress the needs of those with suppressed rights? To amend the issues that we have created, there must be stricter regulations around solitary confinement as it is a cause of unnecessary suicides, robs citizens of their basic rights, and brings down our intersectionality as a collective society here in Canada. Lately, the number of solitary confinement prompted suicides have skyrocketed, and have been on a steep incline for nine years, with no plans for amendment. A study at Cambridge University has determined that 63% of suicides in federal prisons take place while the inmate is in solitary confinement. "Shalev, Sharon, A Sourcebook on Solitary Confinement (2008)."
First you hate them, then you get used to them. Enough time passes, you get so you depend on them. That 's institutionalized.’ A prison should aim at retribution, incapacitation, deterrence and rehabilitation. I am very well convinced that prison has served its first three purposes by depriving offenders’ freedom, but the
The use of religion in aiding those stuck in a life of crime is very effective, however there needs to be more attempts to develop more organizations that focus on rehabilitation for inmates. If we instill moral and ethical codes as a treatment for the inmates a reduction in crime and violence can be seen. Once groups get passed their individual disagreement and focus on the real problem at hand is when the presence of deviant behavior can be eradicated. However, the steps currently being made gives hope for the future. It gives hope to the youth and inmates who are to be receiving this treatment to help them achieve a better life.
Some might argue that solitary confinement is actually effective and has its benefits, however this is not the case since this punishment only seems to make criminals much more dangerous when they leave prison than they were before and research shows that inmates who left solitary confinement experience increased anger and end up committing the kind of criminality that society is looking to prevent by using this method of punishment. Thus, solitary confinement ultimately fails as a rehabilitative measure, and as a way to "settle down" problematic
Research has proven that the use of solitary confinement is having a major impact on the mind of inmates. To test the validity if solitary confinement and its true affect the mind of inmates at the University of Wisconsin psychologist named Harry Harlow conducted an experiment of rhesus monkeys. These monkeys were placed in solitary chamber that they nicknamed “the pit of despair.” Within these chambers the walls were slippery on every side, which made it impossible to climb or climb out. After two days in solitary it was noticed that the subjects started showing signs of "hopelessness, profoundly disturbed, given to staring blankly and rocking in place for long periods, circling their cages repetitively, and mutilating themselves” (Breslow
In Atul Gawande “ HellHole” essay they talked about the experiences and effects of people who were previously in solitary confinement. Solitary confinement can be best explained as the process of removing an individual and isolating them from their environment and socialization. Atul Gawande is specifically talking about prisoners of war and incarcerated people and how their experience was and that process. The essay talked about how people are put in isolation which caused them to act out of their character. Goffman would argue that effects of solitary confinement are exactly what total institutions can do to a person's.
It also provides support for those who believe solitary confinement should not be a punishment in jail. It has
Solitary Confinement is an isolated room for prisoners usually as a method of punishment. They are locked up in a small cell for about 22-23 hours a day with little to no contact. They are also fed through