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Courtney Dupre

Dr. Cassel

ENG 1201-501

2 August 2020

Solitary Confinement: Modern Day Torture

People are aware of the prison system and forms of isolation, such as solitary confinement,

the institutions may implement. There is often a stigma amongst prisoners regarding the fact they

deserve the consequences of the situation because they committed crimes; however, they often

do not choose to be placed in solitary confinement. Although citizens know and have become

aware of this type of imprisonment, most do not know the effects that solitary confinement

creates when these inmates have this as their habitat. It has been said that when these inmates are

within the scopes of confinement, they often “break.” Meaning that their soul, spirit, and mind

break because of isolation, which causes dehumanization (Lueders). Solitary confinement is a

violation of human rights that causes psychological problems and insanity due to

dehumanization, little to no human interaction, and prisons not creating reformation measures to

help the inmates. “Solitary confinement breaks people. It breaks their spirit and breaks their

mind. It does so predictably, and by design. It dehumanizes them” (Lueders).

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For those who are unaware of what solitary confinement actually is, this is a measure of

isolation. Correctional facilities have claimed this to be a type of punishment that is imperative in

order to abolish bad behavior within the prisons (Solitary Confinement). Another reason that

solitary confinement is used within prisons is if the specific inmate was decided to represent a

threat to the security, other inmates, or anyone else involved (Skibba). Each of these reasons can

be deemed adequate to place a person in this type of environment and the time length of their

stay often depends on

their actions and what the

prison institution thinks

(Skibba). Solitary

confinement is when an

inmate is confined to a

small cell away from the

general prison population Figure 1 Solitary Confinement Cell at the Virginia Department of Corrections
(Agraharkar)
for 23 hours a day, or in

some cases, all day (Solitary Confinement). The cells are usually the size of parking spaces

(Cherian). However, the issue is what happens to these prisoners while they are subjected to this

type of isolation.
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The inmates tend to have little to no human interaction, which slowly causes them to go

insane (Cherian). While in solitary confinement, scientific proof showed prisoners often develop

psychological impairments because of their living conditions. Most people are unaware of the

issues and problems that the prisoners face while incarcerated because this should be considered

a type of torture. Within the article of “Horrors of Solitary Confinement,” Amnesty International

used the term "a breach of international law" when they were describing the way the United

States uses solitary confinement. A United Nations official has said the use of solitary for more

than fifteen days may constitute torture, causing "harmful psychological effects [that] can

become irreversible." It was stated that the United Nations commission approved this banning of

prolonged solitary confinement but still has to face the General Assembly before actually

becoming effective (Lueders).

The overall concern and issue others have with solitary confinement is the psychological

damage that can happen. Some of the damage that could ensue are as simple as depression and

hopelessness (Skibba). “Solitary Confinement is Torture- and Morally Wrong” talks about a

nationally-wide recognized psychologist, Dr. Craig Haney, who studied prisoners that were held

in isolation at a supermax prison. His studies found that four out of five of the inmates he

interviewed and evaluated suffered from feelings of anxiety and nervousness, headaches, trouble

sleeping, and tiredness (Rice). However, the severity of psychological damage can range all the

way from memory loss, hallucinations, and even absolute insanity (Solitary Confinement). The

studies from Dr. Haney also concluded that over half of the interviewed prisoners talked about

nightmares, complained of heart palpitations, and all said they were fearful of future nervous

breakdowns (Rice). Another part of the same study claimed that half of the inmates reported

hallucinations and perceptual distortions (Rice). A different article stated some of the same
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issues but included some others that could develop and have been reported within inmates; they

included auditory and visual hallucinations, delirium, self-mutilation, insomnia, paranoia,

uncontrollable feelings of rage and fear, post-traumatic stress disorder and an increased risk of

suicide (A Solitary Scandal). Going off of the increased risk of suicide, this was validated in Dr.

Haney’s study when a quarter of the inmates stated that they had suicidal thoughts (Rice).

According to “A Solitary Scandal,” most of prison suicides happen when the inmate is in solitary

confinement. This cannot be much of a surprise considering all of the psychological risks this

type of imprisonment and isolation imposes.

A story was told from a former inmate, Anthony Graves. He spent 18 years on death row,

and 10 of those years were in solitary confinement all for a murder that he did not do

(Dingfelder). Graves was exonerated 10 years ago and says that he still has effects from being in

isolation for so long (Dingfelder). He said that he has not had a good night sleep since he was

released from prison and often experiences extreme mood swings that spiral into emotional

breakdowns (Dingfelder). Dr. Haney stated that this is quite common amongst prisoners once

they are released; “one of the very serious psychological consequences of solitary confinement is

that it renders many people of living anywhere else.” Dr. Haney claims “They [inmates when

released] actually get to the point where they become frightened of other human beings.”

While it is clear that the inmates face issues outside of prison if/when they are released,

there have been instances of insane and absurd behavior while they are actually incarcerated.

Previously, Anthony Graves was mentioned regarding his experience in prison. Graves stated "I

would watch guys come to prison totally sane, and in three years they don't live in the real world

anymore," In another situation, he said another inmate, "would go out into the recreation yard,

get naked, lie down and urinate all over himself. He would take his feces and smear it all over his
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face." This was all due to the pure psychological damages that effected these inmates that were

held within isolation (Dingfelder). These inmates are locked in tiny cells and have slashed and

bit their own flesh due to the issues that solitary confinement imposes (Lueder). Instances of

smearing feces on walls and suicide attempts with items that a free person would not think of

using (Lueder).

Within the time that solitary confinement has been in effect, there is no evidence that this

type of segregation has reduced or diminished gang activity within correctional institutions

(Skibba). If anything, Skibba states, in his opinion, it worsens the problem because they have

nothing to do and become more committed to their gang (Skibba). With this being said, instead

of using isolation tactics, prisons need to provide work opportunities, education, and readily

available medical/health treatments (A Solitary Scandal). In “Eight Principles for Reforming

Solitary Confinement,” they state that the reformation solitary confinement is a long-term project

and gave several ways to help reform the system. The first step in this process would be to make

sure prisoners are not subjected to long-term isolation when it is not an absolute necessity for the

health, safety, or security of the prisoner or others (Schlanger). Second step of this reform would

be to only use this type of isolation for the least amount of time possible (Schlanger). All

evidence presented from multiple sources explained and showed what this tactic will do to

people in these conditions. It is clear that complete isolation will cause psychological damage, so

if this type of punishment will be used, use it in minimal amounts. Third step would be to not

confine individuals who are susceptible to mental or medical health injuries unless it is an

absolute need for protection (Schlanger). Steps four and five would be to make sure prisoners get

time outside of their cells and not include complete social isolation (Schlanger). Next step in the

system would be to make sure the inmates are closely monitored to assure their health followed
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by allowing incentives and support to the inmates (Schlanger). These things would show genuine

support and could even allow more of a connection with inmates to the prison staff. The last step

in this reformation process would be to make sure that the prison officials do not always revert to

isolation measures because it is an abuse of power in their hands along with belittling the inmates

(Schlanger).

In the article “A Solitary Scandal,” they talk about shifting the focus from punishment to

prevention and how Great Britain did this in the 1980’s. They dramatically reduced using

solitary confinement and allowed the inmates to work, access education, and mental health

treatment (A Solitary Scandal). Western countries have started reformation as well by using

solitary confinement in a lessened amount and creating more comfortable cells; they allow

sunlight from windows and more comfortable beds (Solitary Confinement). In 2016, President

Obama issued an executive order within federal prisons to ban the use of solitary confinement in

juvenile offenders. He explained, “How can we subject prisoners to unnecessary solitary

confinement, knowing its effects and then expect them to return to our communities as whole

people?” Because of this and the time after, some states, including the following: Colorado, New

Mexico, and North Carolina, enacted policies against the long-term use of solitary confinement

(Finding Alternatives).

Within “Solitary Confinement Is Torture—and Morally Wrong,” the article states the

following; “In an 1890 opinion, U.S. Supreme Court justice Samuel Freeman Miller made the

following observation about prisoners held in solitary confinement: A considerable number of

the prisoners fell, after even a short confinement, into a semi-fatuous condition, from which it

was next to impossible to arouse them, and others became violently insane; others still,

committed suicide; while those who stood the ordeal better were not generally reformed, and in
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most cases did not recover sufficient mental activity to be of any subsequent service to the

community.” (Rice) Case closed. The U.S. Supreme Court found this in an opinion in 1890. Why

is solitary confinement still being used? There has been mental issues clearly proven from

solitary confinement, taking away the only rights these prisoners have left.

Prisoners are deprived of rights that are fundamental to liberty and freedom, but often

lose their sense of human dignity after being stripped of the only rights they have left. Humans

require human contact in order to maintain their development over time. Human beings are

social beings and require these things for psychological health (Skibba). There are studies that

show isolation for long periods of time can legitimately change how a person’s brain works; this

is the psychological damage (Skibba). The Eighth Amendment is the prohibition against cruel

and unusual punishment; however, solitary confinement should be held within this classification

(Cherian). The U.N. Convention Against Torture defines torture as "any act by which severe pain

or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person" by a public

official in order to obtain information, punish, coerce or discriminate against the person (A

Solitary Scandal). This is solitary confinement and this isolation tactic is torture. This practice

needs to be abolished. Schlanger says “changing a system that is hidden from view is particularly

challenging. Intelligent reform requires the systematic collection and analysis of data about who

is sent to solitary, why, and for how long, and what happens while they are there and afterward.”

Something that everyone should be aware of is that these criminals may be sentenced to

prison time, but they are not sentenced to isolation. This form of preventative measure is used to

control the safety of everyone within the prison along with being a form of punishment for bad

behavior (Solitary Confinement). The inmates who are placed in these situations clearly deserve
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to be here, when they do something completely outrageous, is the cause of the living situation

(Dobbs). Most citizens see being incarcerated as the consequences of breaking the law; however,

if someone has already broken the law, what more can be done to punish them? That is where

Greg Dobb’s theory comes into play. He states that some kind of punishment needs to be there

for those who have already been incarcerated and still continue to disobey; which is completely

understandable. An inmate who murdered another inside the prison compound mentioned the

beds were uncomfortable; it was clear the inmate had no right to say anything along these lines

after committing this horrific crime (Dobbs). However, even those these horrific crimes were

completed, this should not mean a person should get psychological damage because of being in

solitude.

As all United States citizens should know, there is a U.S. Constitution. The Constitution

is the law of the land and includes the Bill of Rights. Within the Bill of Rights, the Eighth

Amendment states the prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment; as well as torture. This

term is defined as any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is

intentionally inflicted on a person. How is the practice of solitary confinement allowed when this

practice is a clear violation of human rights? Solitary confinement causes psychological

problems and possible insanity due to dehumanization and creating little to no human interaction.

In order to address this issue, prison systems must act now and form better opportunities for

these inmates rather than isolation. Other than corporal punishment, solitary confinement can be

argued to be the most dangerous correctional tactic within sovereign nations (Lobel, Smith).

“Solitary confinement breaks people. It breaks their spirit and breaks their mind. It does so

predictably, and by design. It dehumanizes them” (Lueders).

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Works Cited

"The Abuse of Solitary Confinement." New York Times, 16 Mar. 2012, p. A26(L). Gale In

Context: Opposing Viewpoints, https://link-gale-com.sinclair.ohionet.org/apps/doc/

A283112975.OVIC?u=dayt30401&sid=OVIC&xid=68c248a3. Accessed 6 July 2020.

ACLU of Colorado. “Out of Sight, Out of Mind - The Story of Sam Mandez.” Out of Sight, Out

of Mind- The Story of Sam Mandez, Vimeo, 25 June 2020, vimeo.com/78840078. Accessed

6 July 2020.

Agraharkar, Vishal. “The Use of Solitary Confinement in Virginia is Inhumane and Unlawful.”

American Civil Liberties Union, American Civil Liberties Union, 7 May 2019,

www.aclu.org/blog/prisoners-rights/solitary-confinement/use-solitary-confinement-

virginia-inhumane-and-unlawful. Accessed 6 July 2020.

Blanco-Suarez, Elena. “The Effects of Solitary Confinement on the Brain.” Psychology Today,

Sussex Publishers, 27 Feb. 2019, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/brain-

chemistry/201902/the-effects-solitary-confinement-the-brain. Accessed 28 June 2020.

Casella, Jean and Ridgeway, James. “Five Unforgettable Stories From Inside Solitary

Confinement.” Solitary Watch, Solitary Watch, 12 Nov. 2018,

solitarywatch.org/2017/11/27/five-unforgettable-stories-from-inside-solitary-confinement/.

Accessed 28 June 2020.

Cherian, Merin. "Cruel, Unusual, and Unconstitutional: An Originalist Argument for Ending

Long-Term Solitary Confinement." American Criminal Law Review, vol. 56, no. 4, Fall
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2019, p. 1759+. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, https://link-gale-

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Dingfelder, Sadie. “Psychologist Testifies on the Risks of Solitary Confinement.” Monitor on

Psychology, American Psychological Association, Oct. 2012,

www.apa.org/monitor/2012/10/solitary. Accessed 6 July 2020.

Dobbs, Greg. "Yes, Some Inmates Still Deserve Solitary Confinement." America's Prisons,

Greenhaven Press, 2016. Opposing Viewpoints. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints,

https://link-gale- com.sinclair.ohionet.org/apps/doc/EJ3010108445/OVIC?

u=dayt30401&sid=OVIC&xid= d1b1de33. Originally published in Denver Post, 14 Mar.

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"Finding Alternatives to Solitary Confinement." Christian Science Monitor, 20 Dec. 2016. Gale

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xid=60cfee55. Accessed 23 June 2020. Originally published in International Business

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Schlanger, Margo, and Amy Fettig. "Eight Principles for Reforming Solitary Confinement." The

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Accessed 28 June 2020.

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