Solitary Confinement Angela Schedler Fordham University Graduate School

Solitary Confinement Angela Schedler Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service New York, New York Forensic Social Work T. Maschi

Presentation Overview p Critical Analysis of Solitary Confinement n Critical Assessment n Prevention and Intervention Strategies

Critical Assessment

Solitary Confinment p Does solitary confinement do more harm than good? What is solitary confinement’s ultimate purpose and is it actually being used correctly within the prison system?

History of Solitary Confinement p First began in 1829 p 1934 Alcatraz was opened p 1983 Supermax Prisons were opened p 1989 Pelican Bay was built to solely house inmates in isolation

Case Vignette p Sarah p 410 Shourd days in solitary confinement p Experienced hallucinations, insomnia, violent panic attacks p Has continued to have effects even after being released. p Cannot long be around people for very

United Nations Document p Article 5 under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) p The Eighth Amendment protects individuals in the United States from “cruel and unusual punishment

Federal and State Policy p The main tools used to challenge solitary confinement are the eighth and the fourteenth amendment of the constitution p As of 2011, no court has found that solitary confinement violates the eighth amendment.

Prevention and Intervention Strategies

Promising Practice p Rehabilitation p Britain has provided more resources and opportunities for inmates that were in solitary confinement.

Levels of Oppression p Britain gave the oppressed population (inmates in solitary confinement) more power. p This has helped reduce violence and provide change within the prisons of Britain and Europe.

Recommendations p More research needs to be done regarding solitary confinement. p More research needs to be conducted in regards to effects of solitary confinement once released. p Although there continues to be a lot of research regarding the negative effects, more advocacy needs to be done for change.

Final Reflection

What Did I Learn? p Solitary Confinement continues to remain a large issue within the prison system. p Not enough has been done to promote change. p The effects of Solitary Confinement are life long.

Resources

Helpful Resources p Solitary Watch p Human Rights Watch p American Friends Service Committee

References p American Friends Service Committee. Solitary Confinement Facts. Retrieved May 6, 2014, http: //solitarywatch. com/facts/faq/ p Gawande, A. (2009, March 30). Hellhole. The New Yorker. p Shourd, S. (2013, July 17). Solitary Confinement. . Retrieved May 2, 2014, from https: //www. aclu. org/blog/prisoners-rights/iranian-government-locked-me-solitary-confinement 410 -days-today-my-thoughts p Smith, P. S. (2006). The effects of solitary confinement on prison inmates: A brief history and review of the literature. Crime and Justice, 34(1), 441 -528. doi: 10. 1086/500626 p Solitary Watch (2012). Solitary Watch News from a Nation in Lockdown. Retrieved from http: //solitarywatch. com/facts/faq/ p Sullivan, L. (2006, July 26). Timeline: Solitary Confinement in the U. S Prison. Retrieved May 2, 2014, from http: //www. npr. org/templates/story. php? story. Id=5579901 p US: Look Critically at Widespread Use of Solitary Confinement. (2012, June 18). Retrieved May 2, 2014, from http: //www. hrw. org/news/2012/06/18/us-look-critically-widespread-use-solitaryconfinement p Vasiliades, E. Solitary Confinement and International Human Rights: Why the U. S Prison System Fails Global Standards. Law Journal Library, 21, 77 -78. Retrieved May 2, 2014, from http: //heinonline. org/HOL/Page? handle=hein. journals/amuilr 21&div=13&g_sent=1&collection=journ als#90 p Weir, K. Alone in 'the hole'. American Psychological Association, 43, 54. Retrieved May 2, 2014, from https: //www. apa. org/monitor/2012/05/solitary. aspx