In the American justice system, prisoners are placed into solitary confinement for two primary reasons: for disciplinary purposes or for protection. These two different forms of being in “solitary” have two very different outcomes. Administrative solitary confinement has reduced privileges, but prisoners are allowed to have certain items in their room, which may include a radio or TV depending on the prison. Disciplinary solitary confinement involves a room, a sink, a toilet, and a bed.
Is solitary confinement a good policy to have? Or is it something that could be considered cruel and inhumane?
The Pros of Solitary Confinement
It provides prisoners with some protection from the general population.
There are high risk offenders, such as child molesters and murderers, as well as ex-gang members or dangerous prisoners that can be kept segregated with solitary confinement. Because security protocols are much higher in solitary, it becomes much more difficult to harm someone.
It gives prison guards some tools to use.
Without some sort of consequence for negative behavior, it would be nearly impossible for guards to maintain order within the walls of a prison. No one likes the idea of being locked up on their own without any human contact for weeks on end, so a delicate balancing act is enforced.
It still allows a prisoner to serve their sentence.
Some might say that a death in prison is justice serving itself, but the laws of the US and other developed nations do not support vigilantism. Solitary confinement allows for the court sentence to be more accurately imposed in a morally correct fashion.
The Cons of Solitary Confinement
People develop personality disorders when left alone.
When prisoners are placed into solitary confinement without meaningful human touch for extended periods of time, their behavior begins to change. Paranoia is common amongst this niche prison population. They can talk with their families or guards, but there is always a barrier in the way.
It may not meet all of their needs.
Most solitary confinement policies require 22-23 hours of confinement in a small cell every day. The 1-2 hours of recreation that prisoners are allowed typically involve being locked into another cage outside with nothing to do except stand around and wait for the time outside to be over.
It provides no real purpose of rehabilitation.
The whole point of the prison system is to offer prisoners the chance to rehabilitate themselves into something greater than they thought they could be, but that purpose is often forgotten about in solitary confinement. In solitary confinement, the goal is often to just let time pass by as quickly as possible.
Some see solitary confinement as one of the most difficult ways to do time. Others seek out solitary confinement so they can feel safe while in prison. Is it an ethical practice? By weighing the pros and cons of it, each person can decide on their own which side of the debate they support.
