Solitary Confinement In Prison Essay
Imagine being locked away underground, in a room with no window, no source of sunlight, neglected from any source of human contact; it is a terrifying thought, is it not? Now, imagine living in such a manner for days, months, years to decades, this is the haunting reality for numerous prison inmates that are subjected to solitary confinement. Solitary confinement is the act of isolating people in closed cells for 22-24 hours a day, restricted from human contact, for periods of time ranging from days to decades (Solitary Watch, 2012). There are beyond 80,000 men, women, and children imposed to solitary confinement in prisons throughout the United States (American friends service committee, 2010). The negative effects on prison inmates due to solitary confinement are: psychological harm, physical harm, and a greater harm on the individuals in their communities and themselves after they are released.
Firstly, one negative effect on inmates due to solitary confinement is the risk of psychological impairment. Extreme isolation, such as solitary confinement, can cause severe and permanent effects on a person’s mental and emotional health (Scientific American, 2013). When they are released from solitary confinement, several inmates continue to suffer from sleep
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“I have a sentence worse than death”, stated inmate William Blake, whom has been in isolation for twenty-six consecutive years (Solitary Watch, 2013, para. 26). The negative effects on prison inmates due to solitary confinement are: psychological harm, physical harm and a greater harm to the public’s safety in addition to themselves once the inmate is released. Human beings are built to interact with one another; we were not built to be imprisoned beneath the ground in a cell with no sunlight, no source of distraction, and no human contact. Depriving a person from such essential matters is cruel and inhumane at the
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