Solitary confinement

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Solitary confinement, colloquially referred to in American English as "the hole", lockdown, M2030D, "the SHU" (pronounced 'shoe') or "the pound" (or in British English "the block"), is a punishment or special form of imprisonment in which a prisoner is denied contact with any other persons, excluding members of prison staff. Usually cited as an additional measure of protection (of society) from the criminal, it has also been called a form of torture. In some cases it is also used as a form of protective custody.

Compare: Solitude

For lessons on the related topic of Isolation, follow this link.

Usage and criticism

Those who accept the practice consider it necessary for prisoners who are considered dangerous to other people ('the most predatory' prisoners), those who might be capable of leading crime groups even from within, or those who are kept 'incommunicado' for purported reasons of national security. Finally, it may be used for prisoners who are at high risk of being attacked by other inmates, such as pedophiles or witnesses who are in prison themselves. This latter form of solitary confinement is sometimes referred to as protective custody.

In the US Federal Prison system, solitary confinement is known as the Special Housing Unit (SHU), [1] California's prison system also uses the abbreviation SHU, but it stands for Security Housing Units. [2]. In other states, it is known as the Special Management Unit (SMU) pronounced [smü].

Opponents of solitary confinement claim that it is a form of "cruel and unusual punishmentTrend toward solitary confinement worries experts because the lack of human contact (and the sensory deprivation that often go with solitary confinement) can have a severe negative impact on a prisoner's mental state[3] that may lead to certain mental illnesses such as depression or an existential crisis. [4]Psychopathological effects of solitary confinement

References

  1. https://www.eastandard.net/archives/august/wed25082004/executives/upfront/upfront02.htm
  2. https://www.scienceofloneliness.com/ John T. & William Patrick (2008) Loneliness: Human Nature and the Need for Social Connection, W.W. Norton & Co., New York. ISBN 978-0-393-06170-3
  3. Maltsberger, J.T., M. Pompili and R. Tatarelli (2006). "Sandro Morselli: Schizophrenic Solitude, Suicide, and Psychotherapy". Suicide & Life Threatening Behavior '36' (5): 591–600. doi:10.1521/suli.2006.36.5.591. PMID 17087638.

External links

  • Solitude vs. Loneliness [5]
  • The Call of Solitude [6]