Solitary confinement varies from state to state in the
correctional facilities, systematice policies and conditions
include Confinement behind a steel door, sometimes with no
lighting or limited lighting. Offenders have reported their
confinement was a decade. Limited contact with others, rarely
or no phone calls to families.
Most confinement cells are about the size of a mall parking
space. They sleep, meditate, exercise, and eat not far from the
toilet.
Solitary confinement can take a toll on an offender’s mental
health. Advocates are asking Congress to pass a bill to end
solitary confinement at the federal level. Personally, Congress
should pass this bill nationwide on all levels, thousands of
offenders are in confinement in federal and state prisons.
Former and current offenders have shared that solitary
confinement has caused major trauma in their lives emotionally
and mentally.
A recent study by the US Department of Justice Watchdog
reported that nearly 200 offenders died by suicide within the
federal prison from 2014 to 2021. Forty-six percent were
offenders were living in restrictive solitary confinement.
Some prisons states, they only uses solitary confinement when
the offender has pose a threat to staff, committed a serious
violation, such as fighting, stabbing, threating other offenders,
drugs. Attempted murder, Threat to themselves, and A security
risk of the prison.
Is solitary confinement needed? Some of us believe it is
neccessay and Some of us believe solitary confinement is
inhumane. Mental Health plays a big role is most of their lives.
A lot of offenders have been shoved into the criminal justice
system without being diagnosed correctly.
A young lady, I knew personally was given a five-year sentence
at the Missouri Department of Correction. However, she served
over twenty years due to her mental illness. Having fights with
staff and other offenders. Most of her prison years were in
solitary confinement. Justice is not kind to the misdiagnosed!
A task force should be created state by state to assess mental
health and to improve suicide prevention in every prison.
Solitary confinement not only affects the offenders, but It is
also a burden on the families as well. Remember, we don’t
know what battles we may face in this world called society.
Most incarcerated offenders are not bad people. We all have
made mistakes, and some of our offenders are in prison for a
crime they did not commit. However, they are still serving time.
Thanks so much for taking the time to read this column. If you
have any questions, suggestions and comments. Please contact
me at [email protected] Let’s Keep Our Heads
Up, and Remember There Is Light Always At The End Of The
Tunnel
Blessings Always,
Barbara Courtney, Columnist
Cascade Media Group LLC
