Solitary confinement is a punishment used in prison systems where inmates are isolated from the general population and have little contact with others. It is used both to protect inmates and as punishment for breaking rules. However, long term solitary confinement of over 20 hours per day for years has psychological effects and is considered inhumane by some. There are two types - disciplinary for short periods as punishment and administrative for indefinite periods for high risk inmates. Administrative solitary can last months or years and has been found to cause mental and physical harm, especially for those with preexisting conditions.

1. Solitary Confinement 1
Solitary Confinement
And Its Emotional Effects
Christopher Schertzer
Lindenwood University

2. Solitary Confinement 2
Abstract

3. Solitary Confinement 3
Solitary Confinement
And Its Emotional Effects
Solitary confinement is a punishment, which exists inside the penitentiary system.
It is designed to isolate unruly inmates from the rest of the population and have little
contact with the prison staff. Many different names are known for solitary such as the
hole, isolation, control units, SHUs, maximum security, or permanent lockdown. Solitary
confinement is not only used as a way to protect one prisoner from another but also as a
way to protect prisoners from themselves. The rooms are generally smaller then the
average cell with only a toilet and bed and there are instances where there is little to no
lighting in the cell. Under these circumstances many feel this is cruel and unusual
punishment causing psychological torture. Hog-tying, restraint chairs, and forced cell
extraction are used across the United States. There has been a large debate over whether
placing a prisoner or an inmate in solitary confinement proves to be an effective way of
punishment.
Over most of the twentieth century solitary confinement was relativity a short
period served, but the last twenty years inmates have now can serve years in solitary with
very little human contact. An inmate can go up to twenty to twenty-four hours a day
without interaction with the prison staff. Prisons all across American penitentiary systems
are pushing solitary confinement in their prison systems more and more every year.
Within the United States over eighty thousand prisoners are held in solitary confinement
according to Bureau of Justice and Statistics. This leads to more and more questioning
about the morality of the situation.

4. Solitary Confinement 4
There are two different types of solitary confinement being used in today’s
penitentiary system. The first, which is called disciplinary segregation, is made for
inmates who break the rules of the penitentiary. An inmate may be placed in disciplinary
segregation if he or she fights with another inmate or gets caught stealing. The prisoner
must then stay in solitary for a specific period of time depending on their crime, maybe a
week or two.
The second type of confinement is administrative segregation. This is when a
prisoner or inmate is considered too much of a risk to the rest of the population and or the
prison staff and must be kept in isolation. This confinement can last for months or years
at a time. Administrative segregation was first establish to help deal with gang related
violence and progressively became more popular over the years. This type of
confinement has become very controversial with psychologists who claim this long
lasting isolation can cause mental and physical damage to the inmates.
When in segregation, people become anxious and or angry. They also are more
likely to hallucinate, have wild mood swings, and are unable to control themselves. The
problems are even worse in inmates who already have mental illnesses. This confinement
can make an irreversible life lasting impression on the prisoners mind.
http://www.apa.org/monitor/2012/05/solitary.aspx

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