In the spring of 2010, Kalief Browder, age 16, was arrested for a robbery he did not commit. Kalief spent three years on Rikers Island. During that time, he endured about two years in solitary confinement, where he attempted to end his life several times. For two years straight, Kalief was not allowed any human contact as he was locked up in a small room with nothing, but a window, and a toilet. In 2013, Kalief Browder was finally released but the mental scars that solitary confinement left him remained and continued to haunt him in the outside world. When this young man entered Rikers island, he was 100% mentally stable. Mr. Browder came out of this facility with major depression, manic bipolar disorder, associative personality disorder, and …show more content…
Medical experts have been calling on government to abolish this practice on youth. Solitary confinement should not be practiced in group homes/ juvenile detention facilities. With that being said, some people may argue that certain delinquents deserve isolation and confinement. Some people strongly believe that this isolation can be used as a "reflection time" on wrongful actions/ behavior that certain delinquents have shown. Others simply believe that some hard core juveniles just deserve to spend time in solitary confinement as a brutal punishment and "wake up call". I can agree that certain delinquents need a wake- up call, however solitary confinement is definitely not the answer because it is inhumane. Solitary confinement is literally locking up an individual in a cage, which is wrong enough when done to animals in a zoo, let alone human beings. It is physically inhumane and not a stable living condition for anyone to be in, no matter the age or health of a person. Not only is it physically inhumane, but solitary confinement is also mentally