Solitary confinement: 29 years in a box
By Elizabeth Landau for CNN
http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/23/health/solitary-confinement-psychology/index.html?hpt=hp_c2
Robert King, a prisoner held in solitary confinement was forced to spend 23 hours per day in a cell that had the dimensions of 6x9x12 feet. He has been free since 2001 but after spending 29 years in these conditions, he still has problems with geographical orientation. His sight also suffers because he is used to only having to see a few feet in front of him. Along with physical health issues he also suffers from mental health issues, which is why he joined the American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in Chicago this month. He serves as an advocate for the over 80,000 people still stuck in solitary confinement and represented them in the discussion about the mental and physical effect solitary has on people. "The widespread consensus among mental health professionals is that solitary confinement, for the overall majority of mentally ill prisoners, places them at severe risk of additional harm," said Craig Haney. So why do we still do it? Many prisons believe that by closing off prisoners after they act out will solve the problem. Most prisons had limited use of this "punishment" tactic in the 19th century because they knew it was doing more harm than good, however it has become a more popular idea since the overcrowding of prisons starting in the 70's. Due to overcrowding in prisons more prisoners become stifled due to the influx of prisoners, thus, acting out. As of recently, prisons have learned that overcrowding is only increasing, solitary confinement is just making problems worse, plus, it is expensive to prisons. Because of this, many prisons have started reforms that will limit isolation to no one under the age of 18, and no pregnant women. (It's not much, but it's a start).
After no physical contact for over 20 years, most people shut down. This causes depression, need for self-harm, multiple-personality disorder (the brain creates other people in prisoners' minds because of the need to interact with someone), shrinking of the hippocampus of the brain (because they are deprived of the brains fuel, become chronically depressed, become stressed, etc It's a constant cycle), etc. The worse part is, many prisoners are released straight from solitary into the real world. Often receiving no help along the way.
This is completely and utterly terrifying. 13 years after his release, he is still struggle with recovery. I, personally, think that there must be better ways to deal with criminals, because, to an extent and depending on the crime, they are still humans with somewhat similar emotions and feelings as others.
ReplyDeleteI cannot imagine spending so long with no human contact. This doesn't help rehabilitate the prisoners nor correct their behavior. It only diminishes and dehumanizes them.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that he has joined this organization in an effort to aid others who have gone through the horrible things that he went did. It's also nice to hear that he is standing up to help those stuck in these terrible conditions now.
ReplyDeleteNo one should have to suffer under those conditions. True that there are people who act out and must receive a punishment but this is going to extremes if they are kept like that for so long. There needs to be a better alternative than this.
ReplyDeleteThe debate between whether the motive for putting someone in prison should be to punish them, which will help them learn from their wrong, or help them learn from their crime by helping and nurturing them. There are multiple countries in Europe that have them mentality of nurturing and guiding their prisoners to committing to a better life (Sweden). However, there are some people in the world that are almost impossible to help, because they lack a conscious or have a psychological disorder. Still, there is no reason for them to be punished this harshly and permanently.
ReplyDeleteThis is not acceptable. It just seems like sometimes we don't acknowledge the 8th Amendment. IT"S THERE FOR A REASON!!!
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