Solitary Confinement and Effects on Prisoners

  • Heighley Hernandez SFSU
Keywords: solitary confinement, effects on prisoners, inmates, incarceration, psychological effects

Abstract

This paper discusses the effects that solitary confinement has on prisoners. The use of solitary confinement is one of the most controversial steps correctional facilities take in the current world. The common justifications for confining inmates in solitude are that some are unmanageable in normal environments, being used for discipline, protecting the individual inmate, and administrative purposes. Nonetheless, there are various negative consequences of confining prisoners. These include psychological distortion, which causes perceptual changes, distortions, disturbed affection, disrupted thought contents, and impulse control challenges. The paper establishes a position that solitary confinement should be abolished. To facilitate this, society should use artificial intelligence (AI), increase mental health resources, seek legal and legislative reforms, and collaborate with other professional organizations. Future research is recommended to investigate why the use of solitary cells increased in the 1860s after its earlier decline and the possible positive effects of this method on individuals and the correction facilities at large. 



Published
2023-08-26
Section
Incarceration