Locked away from the world, with no outside contact, imprisoned people face a silent struggle within the harsh confines of their cells. Bryan Stevenson's Just Mercy sheds light on a truth that is often overlooked, the impact of prison conditions on mental health. Stevenson's book, tells his own story of being a public defender fighting for marginalized communities, it narrates his journey of trying to prove Walter Mcmillian innocent. McMillian is a black man from Monroe County who was wrongly convicted of the murder of Ronda Morrison. Throughout Stevenson's telling of the case, he incorporates stories about other incarcerated individuals he had fought for, such as Trina Garnett and Ian Manuel. Stevenson uses imagery and individual stories to
…show more content…
Stevenson uses the imagery throughout Trina Garnett’s story to demonstrate the damaging impacts of confinement on minors like Trina, who suffered from abuse and sexual assault during her time while incarcerated. When Trina Garnett was 14 years old, she snuck into a boys house with her friend. While doing so, she used a match to light her way and the house lit on fire and the two boys inside passed away. After the death of the boys, Trina was traumatized, she was practically nonfunctional. As a result, Trina was convicted of second degree murder without the possibility of parole, condemned to die in prison. Trina was placed in an adult correctional institute, and at 16 a male officer raped her and Trina became pregnant. Trina remained in prison and gave birth to her son while shackled to a bed. Trina was devastated and her mental health deteriorated further. Over the years, she became less functional and more mentally disabled. Her body began to spasm and quiver uncontrollably, until she required a cane and then a wheelchair. By …show more content…
When Ian Manuel was 13, he attempted to rob a woman with two older boys and shot her in the jaw. She survives, but Ian gets a life sentence and is placed in solitary confinement. Despite later writing letters back and forth with the woman he shot, and her pleading the court to lighten his sentence, this does not happen. While Ian was in solitary he “became a self described "cutter"; he would take anything sharp on his food tray to hurt himself. His mental health unraveled, and he attempted suicide several times. Each time he hurt himself or acted out, his time in isolation was extended."(129). Ian's story shows the extreme lengths some prisoners go to, to cope with their sentences. It also demonstrates how there is a severe lack of support in the prison system. In the quote it mentions that ”Each time he hurt himself or acted out, his time in isolation was extended." This statement shows that rather than giving Ian the support and rehabilitation he desperately needs, the system only worsens his suffering, which only hurts his mental health. Through Manuel's story, Stevenson communicates the message that the conditions of incarceration play a key role in shaping the well-being of prisoners. By describing the consequences of harsh environments,
Stevenson uses the imagery throughout Trina Garnett’s story to demonstrate the damaging impacts of confinement on minors like Trina, who suffered from abuse and sexual assault during her time while incarcerated. When Trina Garnett was 14 years old, she snuck into a boys house with her friend. While doing so, she used a match to light her way and the house lit on fire and the two boys inside passed away. After the death of the boys, Trina was traumatized, she was practically nonfunctional. As a result, Trina was convicted of second degree murder without the possibility of parole, condemned to die in prison. Trina was placed in an adult correctional institute, and at 16 a male officer raped her and Trina became pregnant. Trina remained in prison and gave birth to her son while shackled to a bed. Trina was devastated and her mental health deteriorated further. Over the years, she became less functional and more mentally disabled. Her body began to spasm and quiver uncontrollably, until she required a cane and then a wheelchair. By …show more content…
When Ian Manuel was 13, he attempted to rob a woman with two older boys and shot her in the jaw. She survives, but Ian gets a life sentence and is placed in solitary confinement. Despite later writing letters back and forth with the woman he shot, and her pleading the court to lighten his sentence, this does not happen. While Ian was in solitary he “became a self described "cutter"; he would take anything sharp on his food tray to hurt himself. His mental health unraveled, and he attempted suicide several times. Each time he hurt himself or acted out, his time in isolation was extended."(129). Ian's story shows the extreme lengths some prisoners go to, to cope with their sentences. It also demonstrates how there is a severe lack of support in the prison system. In the quote it mentions that ”Each time he hurt himself or acted out, his time in isolation was extended." This statement shows that rather than giving Ian the support and rehabilitation he desperately needs, the system only worsens his suffering, which only hurts his mental health. Through Manuel's story, Stevenson communicates the message that the conditions of incarceration play a key role in shaping the well-being of prisoners. By describing the consequences of harsh environments,