Sonoma State University Solitary Confinement Susana CCJS 201 Sonoma State University Dr. Garth-James

History In the 1820s the penitentiary system used isolation as rehabilitation Auburn system permitted inmates to work together but under total silence Pennsylvania model institutions spend almost all of their time in cells where they worked and slept They were suppose to turn their thoughts inward to meet god to repent of their crimes 1860s it became apparent that serious health problems had arisen in prison

What is Solitary Confinement? 80,000 prisoners in the United States Some inmates in solitary have mental illnesses, are violent, dangerous, have broken the rules, or are there for their own safety Locked up to 22-24 hours per day The cell that there in is usually eight by ten with a toilet, sink, and bed. The only human contact that they have is when their being fed or given their medications or taken outside

Pros and Cons a lot of physiological effects both short term and long term Unfortunately a lot of the prisoners placed in solitary confinement are those who already have a history of mental illness Over 80,000 inmates According to Haney “Convicts may resort to acting-out behavior as a means of testing their environment, or they may retreat into fantasy’” (p.268) Some of the effects are: long-term, impulse-control disorder, suicidal behavior, anxiety and panic disorder to name a few Keeps officers and other inmates safe For some they learn their lesson and behave

“Solitary Confinement: No Way Out of the Monster Factory” Final thoughts Overall solitary confinement has long been part of our prison systems there was early evidence that such solidarity had a negative effect in inmates, but yet there is over 80,000 thousand prisoners in solitary confinement here in the United States. It is unfortunate that we as a society have not discovers a new way or system to keep both the correction officers safe while at the same time not harming the inmates Inhumane “Solitary Confinement: No Way Out of the Monster Factory” Nightline abcNews http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lVqIe_RoIQ

References Arrigo, Bruce A., and Jennifer Leslie Bullock. 2008. “The Psychological Effects of Solitary Confinement on Prisoners in Supermax Units: Reviewing What We Know and Recommending What Should Change.” International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology 52(6): 622-40. Haney, Craig. 2008. “Mental Health Issues in Long-Term Solitary and “Supermax” Confinement.” Crime & Delinquency 49(1): 124-156 Heiden, Zachary. 2013. “Change is Possible: A Case Study of Solitary Confinement Reform In Maine.” American Civil Liberties Union of Main Smith, Peter Scharff. 2008. ““Degenerate Criminals”: Mental Health and Psychiatric Studies of Danish Prisoners in Solitary Confinement, 1870—1920.” Criminal Justice and Behavior 35(8): 1048-64 “Solitary Confinement: No Way Out of the Monster Factory” September 2012 Nightline abcNews (104) Solitary Watch. (2013, October, 25). News from a Nation in Lockdown. Retrieved from http://solitarywatch.com/facts/faq/