Hellhole

[lafinjack]

The United States holds tens of thousands of inmates in long-term solitary confinement. Is this torture?Human beings are social creatures. We are social not just in the trivial sense that we like company, and not just in the obvious sense that we each depend on others. We are social in a more elemental way: simply to exist as a normal human being

Comments

[c_yo_yus]

+1

[haruhiko]

[nyychick23513]

Damn, you beat me to it. I was gonna say, this article only needed one word to answer the question it poses.

[iluvhistory]

Socialization is absolutely vital. If people refuse to acknowledge the Harlow correlation, all they need to do is look to what hikikomori's are like.
NewStart's site in English

[kawaiimamimi]

Is it torture? Maybe. One could define it as torture, I suppose, in that it causes someone psychological harm eventually. But then, prison itself could also be considered torture in that case.

But there are some criminals I think this should happen to. Honestly, I wouldn't mind the death penalty being outlawed if one was put into solitary confinement for the rest of his life instead. Some crimes are so horrific with such vile intent, I feel this would be a just punishment.

[supermouse]

It causes actual physical brain damage, similar to the brain damage associated with physical head injuries. It doesn't take many months for people in solitary confinement to go clinically insane. Once out, prisoners kept in solitary for long periods never fully recover.

Think about that for a minute. Please.

[kawaiimamimi]

Your condescension is not necessary. I have thought about it.

[stevie_jane]

She's okay with the only two options being a) put to death or b) brain damage.

It's horrificly shitty but true.

[brewsternorth]

Old article is comparatively old (timecode says March 30th 2009), but there's definitely new relevance w/r/t Manning.

Also, it does beg some broader questions about how we treat those who break the law - under the UCMJ and civilian law alike it seems.

[lafinjack]

Yep, I reposted it because of Manning.

[castalianspring]

I don't understand why this concept is so difficult for some people to accept. We see this sort of thing in so many animals, from fish to penguins to invertebrates. Isolation isn't natural and I'd certainly classify it as torture.

[thelilyqueen]

Just to play devil's advocate a little, there are some inmates who are a proven threat to the staff and other inmates who do not respond to things like rewards for good behavior or therapy. How do we balance their rights with the right of those in their vicinity to a (reasonably) safe environment?

[castalianspring]

The full article discuss that a bit more, including some examples of how Britain deals with such prisoners.

[thelilyqueen]

Thanks - it really is too bad the U.S. is so stubborn about these things.