Solitary ConfinementSolitary Confinement

Angela SchedlerFordham University

Graduate School of Social ServiceNew York, New YorkForensic Social Work

T. Maschi

Presentation OverviewPresentation Overview Critical Analysis of Solitary

Confinement Critical Assessment Prevention and Intervention Strategies

Critical Critical AssessmentAssessment

Solitary ConfinmentSolitary Confinment 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 History of Solitary ConfinementConfinement First began in 1829 1934 Alcatraz was opened 1983 Supermax Prisons were opened 1989 Pelican Bay was built to solely

house inmates in isolation

Case Vignette Case Vignette Sarah Shourd 410 days in solitary confinement Experienced hallucinations, insomnia,

violent panic attacks Has continued to have effects even

after being released. Cannot be around people for very

long

United Nations United Nations DocumentDocument Article 5 under the Universal

Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) The Eighth Amendment protects

individuals in the United States from “cruel and unusual punishment

Federal and State Federal and State PolicyPolicy The main tools used to challenge

solitary confinement are the eighth and the fourteenth amendment of the constitution

As of 2011, no court has found that solitary confinement violates the eighth amendment.

Prevention and Prevention and Intervention Intervention StrategiesStrategies

Promising PracticePromising Practice Rehabilitation Britain has provided more resources

and opportunities for inmates that were in solitary confinement.

Levels of OppressionLevels of Oppression Britain gave the oppressed

population (inmates in solitary confinement) more power.

This has helped reduce violence and provide change within the prisons of Britain and Europe.

RecommendationsRecommendations More research needs to be done regarding

solitary confinement. More research needs to be conducted in

regards to effects of solitary confinement once released.

Although there continues to be a lot of research regarding the negative effects, more advocacy needs to be done for change.

Final Final ReflectionReflection

What Did I Learn?What Did I Learn? Solitary Confinement continues to

remain a large issue within the prison system.

Not enough has been done to promote change.

The effects of Solitary Confinement are life long.

Resources Resources

Helpful ResourcesHelpful Resources

Solitary Watch

Human Rights Watch

American Friends Service Committee

ReferencesReferences American Friends Service Committee. Solitary Confinement Facts. Retrieved May 6, 2014,

http://solitarywatch.com/facts/faq/ Gawande, A. (2009, March 30). Hellhole. The New Yorker. 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

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

Solitary Watch (2012). Solitary Watch News from a Nation in Lockdown. Retrieved from http://solitarywatch.com/facts/faq/

Sullivan, L. (2006, July 26). Timeline: Solitary Confinement in the U.S Prison. Retrieved May 2, 2014, from http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5579901

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-solitary-confinement

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/amuilr21&div=13&g_sent=1&collection=journals#90

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