There are two different concerns that must be addressed when examining the effects of enforced isolation on prison inmates. The first concern is the effect it has on mentally sound, healthy inmates and the second concern is the effect it has on inmates already dealing with some form of mental or physical illness. The manifestation of adverse reactions to isolation for a healthy inmate depend on factors such as the length of confinement, the individual, and the conditions of their confinement. Some of the reactions linked back to solitary inmates are paranoia, anxiety, anger, depression, obsessive thoughts, cognitive disturbances, perceptual distortions, and psychosis. Psychiatrists have linked a syndrome called Reduced Environmental Stimuli
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Mentally ill inmates placed in segregation are more likely to stay for extended timeframes as it is not unusual for them to continue to misbehave and act out as a result of their illness. The stressful conditions of isolation, deprivation of meaningful stimuli, and enforced idleness only serve to aggravate the psychological symptoms associated with mentally ill inmates and can lead to severe repercussions and relapses. Another issue with placing mentally ill inmates in solitary confinement is that mental health professionals, therapies, and rehabilitative programs are often unavailable to them once they are there which only further contributes to a breakdown of an inmate’s behavior and mental health (Steinbuch, 2014). More severe symptoms of mental breakdowns in solitary confinement can include self-mutilation, cutting, and even suicide or suicide attempts. Often, prison staff is not trained to handle or recognize the behaviors displayed by mentally ill inmates and, as a result, they react by punishing behaviors instead of seeking treatment and therapy for them which only exacerbates their issues (Gordon, …show more content…
If so, how do prisons reform their use of solitary confinement to perform it’s intended purpose? The answer to the first question is that solitary confinement can remain in practice as long as it is applied in a different, more effective manner. The second question has several different answers. Schlanger and Fettig identified eight principles for reforming solitary confinement. The first principle is that extended solitary confinement should only be used when absolutely necessary for the safety of other inmates and correctional staff. Inmates shouldn’t be placed in solitary for minor offenses as there are more effective, proportionate punishments that could be used, such as revocation of privileges. They also should not be placed in isolation if they are in danger in the general population, as it can discourage them from speaking up if they know their alternative is solitary. The next principle is that solitary confinement should be used for the shortest amount of time possible. The average stay in solitary in the state of Texas is four years and in Massachusetts, inmates can be kept for up to ten years, which is much too long for the mental well-being of the inmates. Washington state has developed a program of social and self-control training that helps inmates transition back to general population and Germany’s prisons only use solitary
Mentally ill inmates placed in segregation are more likely to stay for extended timeframes as it is not unusual for them to continue to misbehave and act out as a result of their illness. The stressful conditions of isolation, deprivation of meaningful stimuli, and enforced idleness only serve to aggravate the psychological symptoms associated with mentally ill inmates and can lead to severe repercussions and relapses. Another issue with placing mentally ill inmates in solitary confinement is that mental health professionals, therapies, and rehabilitative programs are often unavailable to them once they are there which only further contributes to a breakdown of an inmate’s behavior and mental health (Steinbuch, 2014). More severe symptoms of mental breakdowns in solitary confinement can include self-mutilation, cutting, and even suicide or suicide attempts. Often, prison staff is not trained to handle or recognize the behaviors displayed by mentally ill inmates and, as a result, they react by punishing behaviors instead of seeking treatment and therapy for them which only exacerbates their issues (Gordon, …show more content…
If so, how do prisons reform their use of solitary confinement to perform it’s intended purpose? The answer to the first question is that solitary confinement can remain in practice as long as it is applied in a different, more effective manner. The second question has several different answers. Schlanger and Fettig identified eight principles for reforming solitary confinement. The first principle is that extended solitary confinement should only be used when absolutely necessary for the safety of other inmates and correctional staff. Inmates shouldn’t be placed in solitary for minor offenses as there are more effective, proportionate punishments that could be used, such as revocation of privileges. They also should not be placed in isolation if they are in danger in the general population, as it can discourage them from speaking up if they know their alternative is solitary. The next principle is that solitary confinement should be used for the shortest amount of time possible. The average stay in solitary in the state of Texas is four years and in Massachusetts, inmates can be kept for up to ten years, which is much too long for the mental well-being of the inmates. Washington state has developed a program of social and self-control training that helps inmates transition back to general population and Germany’s prisons only use solitary