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DainaWilde
EnglishComp.IV
Mr.Rudebusch
10March2016
TheHarshRealityofSolitaryConfinement
Imaginesittingina6x9footconcretebox,withacold,steeltoiletboltedtothewall,rightnextto
yourconcretebedwiththeremainingbloodstainsfromthelastinmatesplatteredontheside.Youdont
haveasinglewindowtoletinsomelight,andnoonetotalktobutyourself.Nowimaginelivinginthere
fordecades,onlytogetonehouradaytoleavethatcell.Thatstrangerwalkingrightnexttoyoucouldbe
convictedandputinprisonthenextdayandyouwouldntevenknow.Thatsamepersoncouldalsobe
punishedandmistreatedinprison.Theycouldbethrownintosolitaryformonthsorevenyearsandthen
released.Oncetheyrereleasedbackintosocietytheycommitmorecrimesandendupkillinginnocent
individuals,andthenallofthesuddenyourememberwhothatstrangerwalkingnexttoyouonthe
sidewalkwas.InAugust2010,StevenBassettwasreleasedfromtheColoradoStatePenitentiaryafter
bengconvictedofillegaldrugsandserving8yearsinsolitaryconfinement.Aftertwomonthsofbeing
released,theparanoiaandangercaughtuptohimandBassettluredanAuroramantoamotelwherehe
beathimmercilessly,tiedhimup,andlefthimfordead.Situationslikethesegiveprooftothefactthat
solitaryconfinementisinhumaneandpsychologicallydestructive.Althoughthispracticeofpunishment
hasbeenusedfordecades,manyquestionsaimatwhetherthisshouldbethefutureofcriminaljusticein
America.Itmaybeatoughdecisionbecauseofthefactthatithasbeenusedforsuchalongperiodof
time,butifwelookintosolitaryanditseffects,theremaybeevidenceshowingitwasneveragood
punishmentinthefirstplace.
Whileaninmateisinsolitaryconfinementtheyhavenointeractionwiththeotherprisonersor
guards.Theyreceivenofamilyvisits,anddontgettoshoweruntilguardsdecide.Prisonersaresentto

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solitaryforreasonsthatrangefromharmtotheguardsandotherinmatestobeingisolatedfortheirown
protection.(Vazquez)Whenaninmateisputintosegregation(seg.)forprotectionitsusuallybecause
theindividualistransgender,homosexual,orhavebeen/areatriskofrapebyotherinmates.Prisoners
causingharmordangertoothersshouldreceivepunishmentbut,thereisnoreasontoputtheminreachof
permanentpsychologicaldamage.Peopledontunderstandhowcrucialhumaninteractionisuntilthey
havenone.Certainprisonersmissedhumancontactthemost,believingitwassomethingthattoldthem
theywerestilllovedandabletolove.Ananonymoushandwillslidetheirfoodunderaslotinthedoor
andtheyeatonthefloororintheirbed.Thisistheonlycontactaprisonermayreceiveinweeksin
solitary.Theydonotreceivephonecalls,orrehabilitative/educationalprogrammingeither.Theyarealso
heldbackfrommedicalandmentalhealthtreatments,anddontgetreadingmaterialorpersonalproperty
insolitary.Ifaprisonerisgoingtobeseparatedfromtherest,theyshouldstillreceivementalandmedical
treatment,aswellassomeformofinteraction.
Conditionsinsolitaryconfinementareoftenextremelyunfitforsustainedhumanresidency.The
bedsinseg.arethinplasticmattressesonasteelplatformandinthecornerisasteeltoiletboltedtothe
wall,generallysmellingofmoldandurineandfecesandfilth(Sternbenz).Theseconditionscancause
prisonerstogetverysickfromexposuretomold.Thisviolatesthe8thAmendmentintheconstitution,
whichprohibitsthefederalgovernmentfromimposingexcessivebail,fines,orcruelandunusual
punishment.

Atnighttimeitsverydifficultfortheprisonerstogettosleepbecausetheotherinmates
screamandbangonthewalls.Recreationfortheinmatesconsistsofbeingtakentoanothersolitarycellin
shacklesandhandcuffswhereprisonerswalkaroundorsitinforanhourbeforetheyreturntothehole.
Solitaryconfinementhasandalwayswillbeusedasatoolofrestraint.Thousandsofinmatesinprison
aroundtheworldaredetainedinthecramped,cold,concretecells.Numerousstudieshaveshownthe
negativeeffectsofsolitaryconfinementonprisonersphysicalandemotionalstates.

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Solitarydestroysapersonsabilitytointeractwithothers,work,play,holdajob,andenjoylife.
Individualsareatahighriskofanxiety,depression,andpsychosis.Onceprisonsstartedtoexperiment
withsolitaryconfinement,inmateswereplacedinsegregationandeitherwentinsaneorkilled
themselves.Thepracticewasslowlyabandonedforafewdecadesbutthencamebacktostayforgood.
Thepracticehasgrownwithlittlethoughtabouthowisolationaffectsprisoners,butovertime,new
researchisprovidingevidenceshowinghowsolitarycreatesmoreviolencewithintheprisonwalls,as
wellasontheoutside.Inspiteofthefactthatitisbeingseenashelp,suchisolationanddeprivationof
interactionandsocietycancausepermanentdamagetoindividuals.Researchershaverealizedthrough
studiesthatsoonafterbeingplacedinthehole,aprisonerbecomesisolatedandwithdrawn.This
behaviorcausesthembecomehypersensitivetosoundsandsights,becomeparanoid,andproneto
violence.Itmayevenreachlevelsofhallucinations.CraigHaney,aprofessorofpsychologyatthe
UniversityofCalifornia,documentedseveralcasesofindividualsthathadbeenplacedinsolitary
confinement.Theyhadnopreviousrecordofmentalillnessandafterleavingsolitaryhaddeveloped
paranoidpsychosis.AccordingtoHaneysstudies,thiskindofmentalillnessrequiresmedicaltreatment
andoftentimesisapermanentchange.Effectsofsegregationaredocumentedbysocialscientists,which
revealslongperiodsoftimeinsegregationcausesprisonersgreatmentaldestructionandputsthematrisk
ofdevastatingpsychologicalharminthefuture.Alistofeffectsfromsegregationincludeanxiety,
nervousness,headaches,insomnia,lethargy,nightmares,heartpalpitations,fearofnervousbreakdowns,
hypertension,andearlymorbidity(BerthaJusticeInstitute).Inmatesmayalsohaveviolentfantasies,
emotionalflatness,chronicdepression,feelingofdeterioration,andsuicidalideation(BerthaJustice
Institute).Solitaryconfinementisnotonlyharmfultotheinmateswhohavetoexperienceit,butitsalso
counterproductive.Insteadofrehabilitatingtheirinmatestobefitforsociety,itcreatesmonstersand
deterioratestheirmindssotheywilloftenstrugglegreatlywhentryingtoreturntosociety.

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Nowlet'sdigintotheeffectsithadonadolescents.Adolescentsbrainsarestillintheirfinalstages
ofdevelopmentandthosewhoarealreadystrugglingwithmentalillnesshavedifficultygraspingonto
reality.Severaladolescentsendupincarceratedorinsomesortoftroublewiththelaw.Whenthey
becomeincarceratedorcommitaseriousenoughcrimetheycanspendtimeinprison.Ifanadolescentis
placedinthehole,theeffectsaremuchmoreapparentandmorelikelytobecomepermanent.Teensare
alsounabletoreceivecertainservicesentailingmentalhealthservices,programs,andtoolsadolescents
needinorderforhealthymentalandeducationaldevelopment.In1990,UnitedNationsapproveda
resolutionstatingjuvenilesshouldnotbeplacedinadarkcell,closedorsolitaryconfinementorany
otherpunishmentthatmaycompromisethephysicalormentalhealthofthejuvenileconcerned.As
progressreducessegregationforjuveniles,reductionofsolitarycompletelymustapplyinallprisons.
KaliefBrowdergraduatedfromBronxCommunityCollegewithaGPAof3.55.Hewasa
successfulstudentleadingstudygroups,andtutoringsessions.But,whenhewas16hewasarrestedona
burglarychargethateventuallywasdismissed.BrowdersatintheNewYorkCitysRikersIslandJailfor
threeyears.Heexperiencedextremeviolencefromtheguardsandhisfellowinmates,andalsospenta
whoppingtwoyearsinsolitaryconfinement.Browderlaterwrotearesearchpaperonsolitary
confinementstating,Insteadofsolitaryconfinementrehabilitatinginmatesthereisevidenceofitactually
causingseverementalproblemsforinmatesandinthelongrunleavingthementaldisorderfortheir
familytodealwith.AfterhewasreleasedfromRikershestruggledheavilyinadjustingtosocietyagain.
Hesuffereddeepboutsofdepression,becameincreasinglyparanoid,spenttimeinapsychiatrichospital,
andmademultipleattemptstoendhisownlife.OnJune5th,KaliefBrowdercommittedsuicidedueto
thepsychologicaleffectsofsolitary.Accordingtohisfamily,itwasthedemonsBrowderdevelopedwhile
insolitaryconfinementthatleadtohissuicide.Browdersstoryandpaperimposedaseriesofreformsto
RikersIslandJail.Thesereformsinvolvedendingtheuseofsolitaryconfinementfor16and17yearold

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inmatesatRikersandaprogramknownasJusticeReboot.Thiswasaprogramtoclearbacklogsinthe
cityscourtsinhopesofpreventingpeoplefromstayinginRikersfortoolongwithoutatrial.
PhilipZimbardo,apsychologistandprofessoratStanfordUniversity,isknownforhis1971
StanfordPrisonExperiment,andthevariouspsychologybookshehaswritten.In1971PhilipZimbardo
decidedtoconductanexperimenttounderstandthepsychologicaleffectsprisonhasonmenandwomen,
andhowitturnsgoodmenevil.TheStanfordUniversitypsychologydepartmentcreatedasimulated
jailandusedstudentsasprisonersandguards.Individualswhoagreedtoparticipatewentthroughseveral
diagnosticandpersonalityteststomakesuretheyhadnopsychologicalproblems,medicaldisabilities,or
historyofcrime/drugabusethatwouldharmthemortheexperimentresults.Theythensplitthe24
candidatesupbetweenguardsandprisoners.EachendofacorridorintheStanfordPsychology
Departmentbasementwasboardedupandthatwasconsideredtheyardfortheprisoners.Therewasa
toiletattheendofthehallaswell,buttheywouldwalkdowntothatblindfoldedsoastonotknowthe
wayoutoftheprison.Laboratoryroomdoorswerereplacedwithspecializeddoorswithsteelbarsand
cellnumbers.Asmallclosetwasconsideredthehole,whichwastwofeetwide,andtwofeetdeep.
Eachprisonerwasgivenanumberinsteadoftheirnameandthecellsweresmallenoughforthreecots
andlittleroomforanythingelse.
Thesuspectswerepickedupattheirhomesasiftheyhadcommittedacrimeworthbeing
arrested,handcuffed,blindfolded,andputinthebackofcopcars.ThentheyweretransportedtothePalo
AltoPoliceDepartmentuntilallofthesuspectsarrived.Theywerefingerprinted,booked,andleftin
cellstothinkofwhattheyhaddonetobetakentojail.ThentheyweretransferredtoStanfordUniversity
psychologydepartmentbasementwherethemockprisonwassetup.UponarrivingattheStanford
Universityjail,eachprisonerwasstripped,searched,givenagown,rubbershoesandachainontheir
rightanklestowearatalltimes.Theseconveyedfeelingsofhumiliation,andoppressiveness,and
emasculatedanddeemedanonymousbytheirIDnumbers.Theyweretryingintheirbestabilitiesto

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createafunctionalstimulationofaprisonbutnotaliteralprison.Shavingtheirheads,orinthiscase,
wearingastockingcapfromnylon,minimizedeachpersonsindividuality.Pushupswereusedasaform
ofphysicalpunishmentduetoincorrectbehaviorsandattitudes.Guardswereabletodowhateverthey
deemednecessarytomaintainlawandorder.Theyworeidenticaluniformsofkhaki,andsunglassesto
preventtheprisonersfromreadingtheiremotions.
Thirtysixhoursintotheexperiment,inmate#8612begantobecomeaffectedbyemotional
disturbance,disorganizedthinking,uncontrollablycrying,andrage.Whilethenextcountoccurred,#8612
spokeoutandstatedtotheotherinmatesthattheycantquitorleave.Hethenbegantoactinsane,
cursing,screaming,andraging.Theyhadtoreleasehimlateron,sothatnofurtherharmwouldbedoneto
himorhismentalstate.Thenextdaytheyheldvisitinghoursfortheinmatesparentsandfriends.
Familiesregisteredandwaitedhalfanhourfortenminutesofvisitationtime.Parentscomplainedabout
thearbitraryrules,butcomplied.Somebecameupsetwhentheysawthestateinwhichtheirsonswerein
fromtheexperiment.Buttheywererequiredtoreactwithinthesystemtoappealprivatelytothe
SuperIntendenttomakeconditionsbetterfortheirboy.Amajorobstacletheyfacedwasarumored
escapeplot.Unabletofigureoutwhattheyshoulddoinreactionoftheescape.Theydismantledthejail
afterthevisitorsleft,calledinmoreguards,chainedtheprisonerstogether,andtookthemtoastorage
roomuntilaftertheanticipatedescapeplotwassupposedtooccur.Therumorendedupbeingjustthat,a
rumor.Onelastrebellionwascarriedoutbyinmate#416.Hewentonahungerstrikeinordertobe
released.Afterunsuccessfulattemptstogethimtoeat,hewasthrownintosolitary.Hewasleftin
solitaryuntilZimbardohadtointerveneandreturnhimtohiscell.
Onthesixthday,Zimbardorealizedheneededtocuttheexperimentshortfortworeasons.One,
theguardswereampinguptheabusetowardstheinmatesinthemiddleofthenightthinkingresearchers
werentwatching.Boredomoftheguardsturnedintopornographicanddegradingabuseofprisoners.
Two,aStanfordPh.D.broughtintoconductinterviewsstronglyobjectedwhenshesawthetreatmentof

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prisonersbytheguards.Thisshortexperimentrevealedpsychologicaleffectsthatastimulatedjailhadon
adolescentboys.Theybegantolosetheiridentity,andtheirminds.Theynolongerhadcontroloftheir
emotionsandbegantofeellostandhopeless.Injustamatterofsixdaysthisaffectedtheinmatesmore
thanpeoplewouldhaveimagined.
NowifwelookbackonZimbardosexperimentandcompareittosolitaryconfinementstories
andcases,theyseemveryalike.Theybothrevealpsychologicalimpactsthatprisonandsolitaryhason
adolescents,women,andgrownmen.Whendowestartturningtoapitchblackroom,andno
socializationforpunishment?Whatmadementhink,afterseeingthepreviouseffectswhenthepractice
firstcameabout,thatthisformofpunishmentwouldeverbesuccessful?Granted,ifinmatesareleftinfor
onlyaveryshortperiodoftime,itmaycauseasmallimpactforbetterbehavior,butitmaynotlasttoo
long.Ibelieveresearchersshouldlookintopossiblealternativesandpossibilitiesforpunishmentand
solitary.Insteadofchoosingapunishmentthatwillpermanentlyaffecttheinmates,weshouldtryto
positivelychangethem.Weshouldntmakeprisoneasier,weshouldmakeitmoreethical.Weshould
lookforwaysofpunishmentthatwillbenefittheprisonersinthelongrun,bychangingtheirattitudes
towardsofficials,otherinmates,andthepublic.Afterall,thefirstgoalofprisonsaretoprotectthe
communityandthepeopleinit,sowhydontwestartmakingachangeforinmates.

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