Solitary Confinement is Torture No one, not even complete introverts, want to be completely alone and as humans, we are not meant to be alone; but that is what happens in solitary confinement. Solitary confinement is a form of imprisonment where an inmate is locked in a small cell with close to nothing except a bed, toilet and sink for twenty two hours with one to two hours in a cage just outside their cell for them to walk around. The prisoners receive no social interaction besides the limited contact they have with the prison guards and are given nothing to occupy themselves. Solitary confinement is used as a punishment or to keep other inmates safe when a prisoner has dangerous tendencies. Although solitary confinement can be considered
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Loyola University of Chicago confirms the matter on mental illnesses with their article, Solitary confinement has mental and physical consequences, where they write, “many inmates held in solitary confinement suffer from mental illness, but even more will suffer from mental, physical, and psychological disorders when they leave these conditions.” Some mental problems that often arise include anxiety, depression, hallucinations, paranoia, and post traumatic stress disorder. Many of these disorders stay with the prisoner after they are let out and even for the rest of their lives. This makes it difficult for them to adjust to the outside world and to be able to hold employment. The disorders also make it challenging for those kept in solitary confinement to socialize after they are released. Spending even a short amount of time in solitary can lead to these lasting issues. A senate panel had called for the ban of solitary use on the mentally ill, juveniles, and pregnant women back in February of 2014. Having the senate ban the use of this punishment for a certain group of people, clearly shows that this punishment is not right. The issue with this restriction is that it is not acceptable for anyone at all, not just for the more “sensitive.” It should be equal in all aspects where no one is penalized through complete isolation. Since solitary confinement causes mental illnesses and the senate called for the use of this discipline on the mentally ill to be banned, then solitary confinement should be suspended in all
Loyola University of Chicago confirms the matter on mental illnesses with their article, Solitary confinement has mental and physical consequences, where they write, “many inmates held in solitary confinement suffer from mental illness, but even more will suffer from mental, physical, and psychological disorders when they leave these conditions.” Some mental problems that often arise include anxiety, depression, hallucinations, paranoia, and post traumatic stress disorder. Many of these disorders stay with the prisoner after they are let out and even for the rest of their lives. This makes it difficult for them to adjust to the outside world and to be able to hold employment. The disorders also make it challenging for those kept in solitary confinement to socialize after they are released. Spending even a short amount of time in solitary can lead to these lasting issues. A senate panel had called for the ban of solitary use on the mentally ill, juveniles, and pregnant women back in February of 2014. Having the senate ban the use of this punishment for a certain group of people, clearly shows that this punishment is not right. The issue with this restriction is that it is not acceptable for anyone at all, not just for the more “sensitive.” It should be equal in all aspects where no one is penalized through complete isolation. Since solitary confinement causes mental illnesses and the senate called for the use of this discipline on the mentally ill to be banned, then solitary confinement should be suspended in all