The Pros And Cons Of Solitary Confinement

Some individuals find solace in being alone; however, imagine being alone in a concrete cell for months or even years? Isolated from the entire world into a small box seems intimidating, but this tactic is used throughout the US prison system. Solitary confinement is as a disciplinary action on the prisoners to ensure their safety and serve as punishment. This issue has raised both ethical and practical questions on its usage through US prisons because of its benefits and drawbacks. Isolated and cramped, for the next months or years, in a small area where the prisoner would sleep and eat is implemented into the prison systems. Solitary confinement varies through the states based on their procedures, but it’s essentially the isolation of a

Advocates for solitary confinement state that is beneficial in protecting prisoners from violence. Solitary confinement gives guards the option to separate violent prisoners from the rest of the population to ensure protection for themselves and the rest of the prisoners. This is the official’s duty to ensure that the prisoners are not in risk of harm and if they are they can be subject to liability. Furthermore, limiting or monitoring violent prisoner’s interaction with other prisoners limits the chance of violence occurring. The purpose of administrative segregation is to ensure the safe of other prisoners and the guards. This creates a method of moderation for the prison to allow them to manage their prisoners, safely. On the other side, it may be viewed as counterproductive as reducing the use of administrative segregation, it shows that it has reduced the violence among inmates. Also with the use of isolation, rates of recidivism seem to be increasing once those prisoners have been released compared to other prisoner from the general population. The opposite views outlines the debate of solitary confinement and its questionable continuation throughout US prison