Solitary confinement is exactly what it sounds like.
A prisoner is kept in a small cell – usually 6 feet by 10 – alone, for 23 hours a day.
For one hour a day, he or she may be taken into a small cage outside, with the opportunity to walk in circles before being taken back in. Even the outdoor cage can usually be opened and closed remotely.
The idea is to keep the prisoner from having any human interaction. Those who’ve been through it call it a “living death.” The United Nations calls it torture.
The practice is widespread in the United States. And until recently, it was applied even to juveniles in the federal prison.
Continue reading “John Kiriakou: Let’s End Torture in US Prisons”