Solitary Confinement Papers

Words: 1001
Pages: 5
Open Document
Solitary confinement can lead to serious and long-lasting mental health problems.

APA Rough draft Alexis McClure La Junta High School ENGLISH 122 Kerri Robinson April, 18th, 2024.

Abstract Solitary confinement is not a suitable punishment because it can lead to mental illnesses, make it hard for prisoners to adjust to life after release, and cause serious injury. The sources cited in the bibliography highlight the detrimental effects of solitary confinement on inmates' mental and physical health, including heightened psychological stress, depression, anxiety, paranoia, aggression, and cognitive impairment. Evidence shows that prolonged isolation can cause severe mental illnesses and can be fatal, both during and after incarceration. …show more content…
Extended periods of solitary confinement, particularly in correctional facilities, can result in severe and long-lasting mental health issues for individuals. Lack of social interaction and meaningful engagement can lead to depression, anxiety, hallucinations, and suicidal thoughts. Additionally, the isolation can exacerbate pre-existing mental health conditions and make it difficult for individuals to reintegrate back into society after their release. Institutions need to reconsider the use of solitary confinement as punishment and instead focus on alternative methods of discipline and rehabilitation that prioritize the mental well-being of individuals. Solitary confinement can lead to serious and long-lasting mental health problems. Effects While in Confinement Solitary confinement, also known as isolation, is a controversial prison practice where inmates are placed in small cells for 22 to 24 hours a day with little or no human contact. The cells are typically windowless and soundproof, making it difficult for inmates to communicate with others. According to conversation.com, “Solitary confinement was extremely dehumanizing and will forever stay with me” (Hattery and Smith, 2020 October, 14). This practice has been proven to cause severe psychological harm, such as anxiety, depression, hallucinations, and paranoia. It can lead to long-term negative effects on the mental health of prisoners. Lack of stimulation and social interaction can also have physical effects, such as weakened immune systems and disrupted sleep patterns. Effects after Release Studies have shown that prolonged isolation can lead to increased risk of suicide and self-harm among inmates. According to the Association of a History of Incarceration and Solitary Confinement With Suicide-Related Outcomes in a General Population Sample From Two U.S. Cities, 2023) “A total of 1221 inmates were analyzed. Those who
Show More

Related Documents: Solitary Confinement Papers

Solitary Confinement Research Paper

help analyze and hopefully help understand solitary confinement as it relates to mental illness in male inmates. The discussions, observations, and findings from peer reviews within the topic of solitary confinement possibly leading to mental illness will be introduced. This information will consist of elements of the criminal justice system, prisons, mental illness, behavior observations and evidence found within these reviews on how solitary confinement may relate to mental illness. The purpose…

Words 1289 - Pages 6

Solitary Confinement Research Paper

prison are suicides in solitary confinement. Solitary confinement is when an inmate is kept alone in a tiny cell for days and even up to months. Private prisons are prisons run by private companies and are allowed to have a different rule set than normal federal prisons. These statistics show that prisons are not as safe as they should be and that they do not reform as many inmates as they should. Prisons need to be reformed because of their lack of safety,…

Words 1095 - Pages 5

Solitary Confinement Research Paper

Solitary confinement is proven to have more negative outcomes than positive, so it must be terminated. A panel of scientists that previously spoke at the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s annual meeting mentioned, “Research tells us that solitary is both ineffective as a rehabilitation technique and indelibly harmful to the mental health of those detained” (Stromberg). Although solitary confinement is a tremendously rare and extreme practice, many people are sentenced to indefinite…

Words 232 - Pages 1

Solitary Confinement Research Paper

Have you ever been intensely lonely, scared, and hopeless? People put in solitary confinement will often have negative mental health effects that can lead to physical problems. Solitary confinement can be recognized as cruel and unjust. It can have long lasting effects and many risks to the person being confined by deteriorating their health, stripping them of their liberties, and leaving inmates socially disabled.In the article “Surgeon General: We Have Become a Lonely Nation. It’s Time to Fix That…

Words 444 - Pages 2

Solitary Confinement Research Paper

Prolonged solitary confinement is an issue that is repeatedly brought up within the criminal justice system and causes many health and psychological problems for inmates. Solitary confinement is the act of isolating an inmate in a cell for extended periods, which can range from hours to days. Generally, inmates who are kept in solitary confinement spend 22-24 hours a day locked in a cell by themselves. The conditions of solitary confinement vary based on prisons, systems, countries, and areas. In…

Words 669 - Pages 3

Solitary Confinement Research Paper

Solitary confinement is a cruel and unjust act of punishment for any person. Studies have found that there are many psychological effects after this intense isolation. Upon observing these inmates, "a majority of those surveyed experienced symptoms such as dizziness, heart palpitations, chronic depression, while 41 percent reported hallucinations, and 27 percent had suicidal thoughts—all levels significantly higher than those of the overall prison population' (Stromberg). The aftermath of solitary…

Words 247 - Pages 1

Solitary Confinement Research Paper

Chase Hyatt March 15, 2024 Mrs Nelson ELA Solitary Confinement. During my time in solitary confinement, I’ve slowly been going crazy. Having nobody to talk to and think to myself has been driving me in circles. I get trays of food three times a day for my meals and after that it’s nothing. I’ve been stuck in a small room for almost 6 weeks. I've lost count of the days. I have nothing to do and have to sit with myself and think all day long. I tried to mark the wall with a fork that I kept from lunch…

Words 578 - Pages 3

Solitary Confinement Research Paper

In the late eighteenth century, solitary confinement was invented. Since then, we have seen various opinions on solitary confinement. In 2009, 42 states would either restrict or eliminate solitary confinement as a whole. There is no doubt about the effects solitary confinement has on a person, and it should never be an option, at least not for long periods. The effects of solitary confinement have been proven to be detrimental. The effects of solitary confinement can vary from anxiety to hallucinations…

Words 258 - Pages 2

Solitary Confinement Research Paper

How effective is Solitary Confinement ? For those of us who have siblings, or children, think about how it would feel to know that your loved one is placed in a 60 or 70 square foot room. They remain in their cells for approximately twenty hours out of the twenty-four hours in a day. The purpose of that is to supposedly serve as a punishment for the juveniles. However, instead of serving as a punishment it is damaging these youngsters both emotionally and psychologically. The Juvenile Detention…

Words 1208 - Pages 5

Solitary Confinement Research Paper

Prolonged solitary confinement has been proven to lead to mental issues of prisoners, however, that does not mean it should be a banned form of punishment. Some people strongly believe that the increase in psychiatric problems is reason enough to stop using solitary confinement. Melanie Sue is graduate with a bachelor’s in communication & media studies with a minor in sociology and gender studies. She strongly believes that solitary confinement is unethical, and is an expensive torture that is…

Words 463 - Pages 2