Pros And Cons Of Solitary Confinement

I can definitively see how solitary confinement can lead to a lot of problems. Even though it provides safety and control within the prison system it can cause issues as well. Unfortunately many criminals with mental illnesses are thrown into solitary confinement . Because these inmates are mentally ill being left completely alone in a barren room for long periods of time can lead to acts of violence to themselves, inmate-on-inmate violence and even suicide. Even though I do believe solitary confinement can help with sane criminals such as those who want to cause riots or gang leaders it does not help those with a mental disorder. This is why we need to start placing alternative programs where criminals with mental illnesses can be placed

There is a loss of privacy for the prisoner, even though they are all alone in the cell, guards are constantly watching them. They are there watching every move they make. It is often argued that solitary confinement creates a loss of freedom because the prisoner is already taken away from society, but then also isolated again in prison. The idea of being surrounded by four walls for 23 hours of the day is frightening. Therefore, many prisoners develop suicidal thoughts, personality disorders, and mental illnesses such depression, anxiety, paranoia, bipolar, schizophrenia, and claustrophobia (ConnectUS, 2015). It can also be stated that the purpose of solitary confinement is often not effective because instead of having someone there to help them process what they did, they are isolated. Prisoners in confinement simply end up just waiting for time to pass by instead of thinking about their

"Supermax" is short for "super-maximum security." It is a place designed to house violent prisoners or prisoners who might threaten the security of the guards or other prisoners. Some prisons that are not designed as supermax prisons have "control units" in which conditions are similar. The theory is that solitary confinement and sensory deprivation will bring about behavior modifications.

In article 5 of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights, it states that, “[n]o one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.” It states this, yet there are humans kept in cells smaller than the average size of a queen bed (Chan). How is this not considered an inhuman or degrading punishment? While the wellbeing of prisoners can be easily overlooked, that does not mean it is not an important issue. It is unhealthy for prisoners to be kept in solitary confinement for a prolonged period of time because it is bad for their mental health, discriminates against certain groups, and it is expensive.

Throughout the mental health professional’s solitary confinement used on the mentally ill inmate increase the chances of them

Finally, when prisoners leave solitary and re-enter the general prison population, their symptoms might decrease but they are usually unable to adjust. “It destroys one’s capacity to relate socially, to work, to play, to hold a job or enjoy life,” Terry Kupers, a psychiatrist, said. Solitary confinement can have long-lasting effects on an individual’s state of mind and physical body, which is

Moreover, maximum security prisons that use solitary confinement as a primary means of prison discipline are more likely to target inmates that are suffering from mental health illnesses. According to a study produced by the American Friends Service Committee, the researchers found that 26% of inmates in Arizona’s supermax prisons were suffering from mental illness, which only compared to 16.8% of Arizona’s general prison population (AFSC, 2012). Supermax prisons holds larger numbers of mentally ill inmates then that of the general prisons. Therefore, it is very likely for inmates suffering from mental health issues to become the most primary victims of solitary confinement.

According to Vera Institute of Justice, studies have shown that the effects of long term solitary confinement have led to an inmate’s mental and physical distress. Moreover, the individual has no positive impact in returning to their respected communities. To remedy the issues of solitary confinement in our justice system, Vera Institute of Justice established a program, Safe Alternatives to Segregation (SAS) initiative of its Center on Sentencing and Corrections (CSC). SAS provides technical support to state and local correctional facilities, including help with data analysis, policies, and practices. Vera has worked alongside and supports the efforts of the correctional facilities in Massachusetts, Virginia and Colorado for implementing programs

But the true problems comes when it comes to mental instability for humans are social animals and a lack of can lead to bad things . For instance “Prisoners subject to solitary confinement became violently insane; others committed suicide.” said the US Supreme court in 1890. Solitary confinement had been ruining people's minds for a long time for example in solitary confinement people tend to fall in depression, see many hallucination and forget how to tell time properly. But solitary confinement does protect the prisoners as stated before.

Many researchers have found that long periods of time in solitary confinement can have negative mental effects on inmates. This is due to long-term confinement because it consists of not only prolonged deprivation of social interaction but also sensory deprivation (Haney, 2003). Medical ethics are also in question about the effects of long term confinement. Medical professionals have to handle a particularly difficult situation because they are required to provide medical assistance to these inmates that may be facing psychological issues. This is a problem because medical professionals are aware that solitary confinement has negative effects on the well-being and mental state of these individuals (Shalev, 2011).

Over the last couple of decades, prison systems have adopted the use of solitary confinement as a means of punishment and have progressively depended on it to help maintain obedience and discipline inside the prison structure. Solitary confinement is a form of incarceration in which a prisoner is isolated in a cell for multiple hours, days, or weeks with limited to no human contact. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, the United States represents only 5% of the world's population yet houses 20% of the world’s prisoners (ACLU). Two of the biggest problems with our modern day criminal justice system is the overwhelming number of people that are incarcerated in the United States and the overwhelming number of convicts who return

While solitary confinement is one of the most effective ways of keeping todays prisoners from conflict and communication, it is also the most detrimental to their health. According to NPR the reason for most solitary confinement units in America “is to control the prison gangs (NPR, 2011).” But that is not always the case. Sometimes putting a gang member in solitary reduces the shock and awe effect that it is supposed to have, when they start losing their minds. The prisoners kept in solitary confinement show more psychotic symptoms than that of a normal prisoner, including a higher suicide rate. Once a prisoner’s mental capacity to understand why he is in prison and why he is being punished is gone, there is no reason to keep said

A teenage boy named Kalief Browder was blamed for stealing a backpack, began awaiting trial at a prison, and was placed in and out of solitary confinement for two years. Four years later, while completing college, Browder killed himself (Obama). The majority of people believe that solitary confinement has harmful effects, such as suicide in Kalief Browder’s case. The controversy of solitary confinement used as a form of punishment has been around long before Browder’s events. Opponents use negative reactions and studies for their position, while supporters say that there are positives to solitary confinement, including keeping the public safe, and an improvement in the mental state of those put inside.

Solitary Confinement can actually cause mental health issues. People can literally go insane because of no interaction with people and being in isolation all the time. Some people get so bad that they have to be take and put in a straight jacket in a padded room. For 23 hours a day inmates are kept in a room a little smaller than a horse stable, and the only time they have to get out is when it’s time for them to be outside. Some prisons don’t even do that. All they do is give them food through a little whole in the door. (Front

There are four goals when sending a criminal to prison or gets putting them on parole; they are retribution, incapacitation, deterrence, and rehabilitation. These goals are set in place to deprive a criminal of their freedom so that the criminal pays a debt to society. To remove a criminal from society so he or she can no longer do harm. To prevent the criminal and others people from any future crime or crimes. The last and most important goal is to attempt to help change the criminal into becoming a law abiding citizens. Two ways that are used to achieve these goals is solitary confinement and parole. Solitary confinement and parole have been very controversial today as it was in the past, and most likely this will continue to be controversial going into the future of corrections. Budgetary and managerial will also have an impact will also have an impact when dealing with solitary confinement and probation.