Why Solitary Confinement Is The Worst Kind Of Psychological Torture

[morningfog]

There may be as many as 80,000 American prisoners currently locked-up in a SHU, or segregated housing unit. Solitary confinement in a SHU can cause irreversible psychological effects in as little as 15 days. Here's what social isolation does to your brain, and why it should be considered torture.

There's no universal definition for solitary confinement, but the United Nations describes it as any regime where an inmate is held in isolation from others, except guards, for at least 22 hours a day. Some jurisdictions allow prisoners out of their cells for one hour of solitary exercise each day. But meaningful contact with others is typically reduced to a bare minimum. Prisoners are also intentionally deprived of stimulus; available stimuli and the fleetingly rare social contacts are rarely chosen by the prisoners, and are are typically monotonous and inconsiderate of their needs.

As for the jail cell itself, it typically measures 6' x 10'. Nearly all scenarios for human contact, such as a guard, or medical and family visits, are done through a metal mesh, behind glass partitions, or in hand- and leg-cuffs.

* * *

Prisoners in low and medium security jails are often thrown in the SHU for "just" a few days. But in maximum security prisons, individuals in solitary are held on average for five years, and there are thousands of cases of prisoners who have been held in solitary confinement for decades. Some countries, including the United States, employ the use of Super Maximum Security Prisons, or "Supermax Prisons," in which solitary confinement is framed as a normal, rather than exceptional, practice for inmates.

Exact statistics are not known, but a 2011 study suggested that 20,000 to 25,000 prisoners in the United States are held in this way. Keim claims that that California holds some 4,500 inmates in solitary confinement, and that there are as many as 80,000 prisoners held in solitary across the United States — more than any other democratic nation.

http://io9.com/why-solitary-confinement-is-the-worst-kind-of-psycholog-1598543595

Yet another of our many national shames.

[libodem]

1. Kick

[Uncle Joe]

2. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, morningfog.

[NJCher]

3. shocking

but true.


Cher

[ZombieHorde]

4. Interesting.

I have wondered how I would do in solitary confinement. I know I would love the first day, but I wonder about day 15 and beyond.

[brer cat]

5. Interesting and disturbing.

I wish the article had suggested some solutions: what to do with prisoners who are a real threat to others or who need to be segregated in some way for their own protection.