...Maggie Day Mrs. Ross English 1h 15 March 2024 Title Solitary confinement should not be used as punishment toward inmates, for it creates serious psychological damage and is ineffective. Solitary confinement is placing an inmate in a small cell and not letting them out for twenty-three hours a day. This can do serious harm to the inmate, both physically and mentally. Inmate Thomas Bartlett Whitaker was held in solitary confinement for 12 years while awaiting execution on death row. Whitaker describes the impact of solitary confinement as saying it “ruins people”. Some of it makes me insane. Some, like me, are forced to go so deep that they aren’t ever able to crawl back out again” (qtd. in Casella and Ridgeway). Solitary confinement forces inmates...
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...Topic 1: Solitary confinement is the act of restraining a prisoner for up to twenty-four hours in a windowless cell without any human contact. The United States of America has implemented solitary confinement in the nineteenth century. Often, like prison inmates of the past, prisoners today had to endure inhumane conditions during their sentences. According to Duke B., an inmate of the Pelican State Bay Prison in Crescent City, California, “Inmates in CSW was reported to be limited to only one pair of socks to wear.” He also stated that they were also subjected to two pairs of undergarments that are taped to their bodies as well as ill-fitting chains on their legs leading to the loss of blood circulation. Similarly, there were other testimonies...
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...The use of solitary confinement is widely used in American is knownove internationally as a form torturement. This form of punishment is increasely common in the United States since it was introduced in the “supermax” prison system which begin in the mid-1980’s. (ICCPR Treaty Summary 2012). Prisoners are kept in a small, windowless cell for 22 to 24 hours a day, with minimal contact with family, guards, even lawyers. The number of prisoners currently in solitary confinement is estimated to be around 80,000 through the number is continuing to grow faster than the overall prison population, meaning that this is coming a normal thing for prisons. Many people will say that the first experiment of solitary confinement in the United States began...
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...Abstract This paper discussed the topic of the effects of solitary confinement mainly in regards to Supermax prisons, but prisons of different levels as well. Also, the articles used to complete this paper converse about the legal issues with solitary confinement pertaining to the effects it has on inmates, isolated in units that are used to keep someone from interacting with anything or anyone outside of the walls, otherwise known as Communication Management Units (CMUs) or Secure housing Units (SHUs). CMUs contain a high degree of surveillance of the inmates. The articles also include the introduction and reintroduction of solitary confinement within a century’s time, and cases that were brought to trial challenging violations to the...
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...On Solitary Confinement An Exploration Of An Age-Old Method of Punishment Solitary confinement is defined as the isolation of inmates and limiting their human contact in prison. From its birth in the late 1700s to its more widespread usage in recent history, solitary confinement has grown to be a considerable tool in the arsenal of the United States prison system’s methods of controlling its enormous prison population, shown by an increase in the construction of “Supermax” prisons, maximum-security prisons with units specifically designated to isolate inmates. With solitary confinement’s recent uptick in usage throughout the United States on both the federal and state level, questions have arisen about its implementation, its effects on the prison population, and its ethical implications. With it becoming apparent that solitary confinement will continue to play a large role in the United States correction system in the future, it is important to explore the answers to these questions. In this essay, we will explore these questions in order to understand solitary confinement more fully. History Defined fully as, “…confinement of a prisoner alone in a cell for all or nearly all of the day, with minimal environmental stimulation and minimal opportunity for social interaction,” (trauma of psychological torture 113) solitary confinement strives to eliminate the stimulus of senses such as sight, touch, and hearing, with the elimination of stimulus and social interaction...
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...Journal for Critical Animal Studies, Volume 10, Issue 2, 2012 (ISSN1948-352X) Beyond Dehumanization: A Post-Humanist Critique of Solitary Confinement Lisa Guenther Abstract What does it mean to be treated like a nonhuman animal? In this paper, I analyze the discourse of “dehumanization” in Madrid v Gomez, a 1995 Eighth Amendment case concerning the treatment of prisoners at California’s Pelican Bay Supermax Penitentiary. I argue that the language of dehumanization fails to describe the harm of solitary confinement because it remains complicit with a hierarchical opposition between human and nonhuman animal that rebounds against prisoners, especially those who have been racialized and/or sexualized as less than human. Humanist discourse neglects the sense in which both human and nonhuman animals are affective, corporeal beings who rely upon the support of others for their own capacity to orient themselves within a mutually-perceived world. Drawing on the testimony of inmates in solitary confinement, and situating this testimony in relation to the political and scientific history of US incarceration practices, I develop a post-humanist critique of solitary confinement. Keywords: Solitary confinement, sensory deprivation, intercorporeal Malebranche would not have beaten a stone as he beat his dog, saying that the dog didn’t suffer. Merleau-Ponty, Nature, 166 Certain carceral practices are often condemned – both by prisoners and by their legal or political advocates –...
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...narratives and informative data/research to expound on his greater persuasive purpose. Two of Gawande’s works that present a good example of his skillful use of the narrative and informative modes are “Letting Go” and “Hellhole”. Both “Letting Go” and “Hellhole”, by Atul Gawande, are complete works of literature that consist of minor topics that build up to a major hidden meaning. By using the minor topics of discussion, Gawande seems to relate and point to the more major meaning of the essay which is not as tangible as the minor topics. In “Letting Go”, Atul Gawande brings discussion to the end of life and the difficulties doctors, families, friends, and sick individuals have understanding and grasping certain death. Gawande starts of the essay...
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...Ashely Smith was only 19 years old when she hung herself in solitary confinement in Grand Valley Institution for Women in 2007. Smith was being supervised by prison guards at this time who were given orders not to intervene even though they saw Ms. Smith attempting to commit suicide. After her successful attempt, Ms. Smith was the headline of many major news stations, all of which painted Ms. Smith to be a “troubled” and “disturbed” young woman. This paper will discuss how the labelling theory causes stereotypes that are deeply rooted into our history and maintained today through mass media. I will be using this theory to show how one’s basic human rights can be stripped and justified by Canadian Law in the name of security. I will be using...
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...Prison Assignment This assignment is a research and reflection paper on some aspect of the prison system. You have some choice of what focus you would like to take. You can do one of the following options: 1. If you enjoy history you can research a historical prison. 2. You can compare the prison system in Canada with the United States, or another country. 3. Lastly you can create your own perfect prison system. With this option you would consider such things as: * how big would the cells be and what would be included in them? * what activities would the inmates be allowed to do? * what rehabilitation programs would your prison have? * would you use solitary confinement and if so under what circumstances and for how long? * what would be the key purpose of putting people in prison and for what crimes would you use prison? This paper should be approximately 2 pages double spaced and organized with an introduction, conclusion and several body paragraphs. Be sure to cite your sources using the MLA (EasyBib can be used for websites). The paper will be evaluated based on the following criteria: Content – a thorough analysis of your topic with sources referenced /20 Communication – clearly written with proper grammar and spelling /10 Total /30 Some issues you may consider including: 1. The Ashley Smith case or how to deal with mentally ill inmates who are suicidal? 2. The use of prison...
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...As my professor Dr. Randy Oberhoff (Forensic Psychology 6101, 2013) said… “It's not as if there are some founding fathers of Forensic Psychology”. My choice of specialty would be in corrections oriented toward involuntary conferment of the mentally ill; this is because I have worked in this field for the last decade; Dr. Oberhoff centres his field of interest in malingering, deception, recidivism, psychopathy, and rehab for criminals. Theorists that contribute to Dr. Oberhoff area of interests are scholars such as Robert Hare (psychopathy); Rick Rogers (Malingering/deception); and Richard Rogers etc. Our evolving world, multicultrism, poverty, and the highest incarceration rate in the globe- the field forensic psychology is still considered at its early stages. (Bartol and Bartol, 2012) My two personal favourite theorists are Dr. Roger Hare, and Dr. Lorna Rhodes. There are many reasons as to why I chose these two theorists as my favorite for their efforts and contribute in to the field forensic psychology, and correctional services. It was noted by Dr. Gibbons and Dr. Katzenbach (2011)… “What happens inside jails and prisons does not stay inside jails and prisons” (Gibbons and Katzenbach, 2011, p.36). Being surrounded by negativity, fear, anxiety, rumors, hostility, and threat of physical violence have a profound effect on both the staff and offenders in a correctional facility. Dr. Gibbons and Dr. Katzenbach(2011) further state “when people lived and worked in facilities...
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...Corrections Branch Submitted by: Joseph Smith CRJ 201: Intro to Criminal Justice Instructor: Janice Bella Submitted on: 1 June 2015 In this paper, I will review the origins of the Corrections and how it helps us today with those who choose to commit crimes. I will also cover the basis of how Constitutional given rights are upheld within the prison system itself, and how the public is involved with the goings on within the prisons. According to the article Why State Prisons by W. David Ball, state prisons in 2012 held approximately 1.3 million people which is almost twice the amount of people in county jails and more than five times the federal prison populations. This number is only estimated to go up as the years go on if left unchecked. Also according to the article, California passed policy to reform their prison and jail population problems, their state prisons now only accept violent offenders and sexual predators rather than all types of felons, with the remaining criminal elements serving their time in local jails. The state prisons began to be overpopulated due to the government taking on more and more prisoners to use as labor (road crews, ditch digging, etc;) and granted the government a flow of surplus cash as a result. That helped the economies then but...
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...clearly noted in Creswell (2009) literature review provides the ground work for a preparation of another scientific work. Creswell further notes… “ this literature review passage should summarize large groups of studies instead of individual ones”( Creswell, 2009, p.104). Rhodes, A.L. Total Confinement: Madness and Reason in the Maximum Security Prison (2004) is a book written by Dr. Lorna Rhodes. Her study explores, examines, and recognizes what life is like inside confined walls of solitary units inside prisons. Her study provides not only the image of solitary confinement- but the sense of loss and liberty of humanity when an offender is faced with long periods of extensive isolation from all; but those who feed you (correctional officers). Dr. Rhodes- explores and discusses the challenges that are faced both by the front-line-staff and offenders. Such as, psychological, emotional, and physiological changes- and provides her academic perspective with a scientific response. Rationale for Selection There are a lot of research currently available in-regards to isolation of offenders, and the biological effects on human body, mind, and perceptions. This study is valuable to my research even though the findings are not as scientific as I would have hoped; nevertheless, it provides circumstantial evidence that supports the harmful and toxic effects of segregation on offenders, health care providers, and the front-line-staff. Her portrayal and descriptive encounters with all...
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...Abstract This paper will describe the particular characteristics of the individual’s population and what particular issues they may deal with in a correctional setting: relationship s with other prisoners and staff, possible issue with authority, treatment-related concerns, and relevant research on this population and its interaction with the correctional system. Next, discuss different aspects of the correctional settings and how they could be influencing the individual or population as a forensic psychologist: treatment options available for a particular individual or population needs, include treatment options while in prison, discuss the availability and flow of treatment as the individual or population, and discuss the efficacy of treatment...
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...clearly noted in Creswell (2009) literature review provides the ground work for a preparation of another scientific work. Creswell further notes… “ this literature review passage should summarize large groups of studies instead of individual ones”( Creswell, 2009, p.104). Rhodes, A.L. Total Confinement: Madness and Reason in the Maximum Security Prison (2004) is a book written by Dr. Lorna Rhodes. Her study explores, examines, and recognizes what life is like inside confined walls of solitary units inside prisons. Her study provides not only the image of solitary confinement- but the sense of loss and liberty of humanity when an offender is faced with long periods of extensive isolation from all; but those who feed you (correctional officers). Dr. Rhodes- explores and discusses the challenges that are faced both by the front-line-staff and offenders. Such as, psychological, emotional, and physiological changes- and provides her academic perspective with a scientific response. Rationale for Selection There are a lot of research currently available in-regards to isolation of offenders, and the biological effects on human body, mind, and perceptions. This study is valuable to my research even though the findings are not as scientific as I would have hoped; nevertheless, it provides circumstantial evidence that supports the harmful and toxic effects of segregation on offenders, health care providers, and the front-line-staff. Her portrayal and descriptive encounters with all...
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...mistreated. Numerous prisoners do not receive proper psychotropic medication due to the lack of mental health services and care, further impairing their capability to function. The security mission of prisons tends to overlook mental health considerations. Prison rules and codes of demeanor teach staff about security, safety, supremacy, and power. Coordinating the needs of the mentally ill with prison regulations and goals is almost impractical. Factors of the sources and effects of the concern between prison and mental illness will be observed in this research proposal. Reforms will be provided to improve mental health requirements and defend the rights of the increasing population of mentally ill prisoners. An indication of the causes for the increase of mentally ill individuals in U.S. prisons as well as the tension between prison operations and inmates with mental illness will also be presented. The intention of this research is to take a Looking at the characteristics that address the pros and cons of...
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