The Use Of Solitary Confinement As A Form Of Punishment In Prison (Essay Sample)

Solitary Confinement
Institution- Affiliated
Course
Date
Introduction
Supermax and Maximum security prisons are grades within the prison system that offer high security in various countries across the world. Whenever an inmate or prisoner breaks some of the prison rules while still behind bars, the inmate can be isolated from any human contact as a form of punishment. This sentence may last for a few days or even decades at worst. They will only be allowed contact with few selected prison staff. The locking up of inmates in solitude is what is referred to as solitary confinement. It can be simply termed as a prison within another prison. The measure may work as a corrective measure to such inmates. However, this seclusion may have adverse psychological effects on the inmate. This is because human beings are social beings and depend on their interactions with other people. Human beings, free or imprisoned, remain social beings and the idea of using solitary confinement as a punishment should not be encouraged.
Discussion
In the United States Criminal Justice system, high profile offenders serve their sentences in maximum security prisons. While serving their sentences, some inmates might break some of the prison rules. In breaking the prison rules, this offender usually tends to hinder the correction and rehabilitation process of the prisons system. This infraction of the rules is usually punishable in some ways. The prison disciplinary proceedings differ in a big way from the normal criminal justice system in that those violating the prison laws are not given an attorney. The hearings are usually informal, and when found guilty the inmate will be punished.
Among the many forms of punishment as a form of discipline in the prison disciplinary proceedings, solitary confinement has raised a lot of issues ("Prisoners' Rights - Discipline And Punishment," 2017). The inmates are segregated from other inmates as a source of punishment and correction. In solitary confinement, different prisons have different degrees of seclusion. There are areas set aside for different parties; young offenders, those sentenced to death and even a section for repeat offenders. These inmates are usually secluded for long periods of time including up to 23 hours of seclusion from other humans in a day. Inmates with gay sexual orientation or those affected by sexual abuse can also be secluded from the rest.
Solitary confinement has its advantages and disadvantages. First and foremost, solitary confinement may act as a form of protection for the general public. High-risk and dangerous prisoners such as serial killers and dangerous gang members can be segregated from others on solitary confinement (Guenther, 2013). This segregation plays a key role in ensuring that these offenders do not harm other people in the society as the high-security protocols make them inaccessible to the rest of the world. This also reduces the chance of such prisoners trying to escape as they are confined to highly secure levels of the prison. This confinement also protects such prisoners from being attacked by other prisoners due to the high attention they attract.
Some inmates may become a threat to the security of their fellow inmates and even the prisons staff. This includes offenders such as serial killers whom the idea of letting them interact with other inmates is risky. Repeat offenders prone to breaking the prison rules are a major concern for the security and well-being of other inmates. This forces the prisons system to put such individuals in solitary confinement. Shalev, (2013) states that while in solitary confinement, it is expected that these offenders will reform. Long hours of solitude may affect this inmate to make them reconsider their actions and begin to behave in an expected way. This, therefore, acts as a correctional step.
A group of inmates that are usually signed up for solitary confinement is that of those sentenced to death. Before the prisoner is hanged, they are held for some time in the prison system. In the system, such inmates should not be allowed to interact with other inmates. They are, therefore, held in solitary confinement. Another scenario is when this inmate sentenced to death have a pending appeal to the ruling. It is better for them to be segregated from the rest of the prison community. Other systems argue that the death sentence should be scrapped off. Instead, these offenders should be held in solitary confinement for extended periods of time to act as a form of punishment (Shalev, 2013).
Imprisonment can be seen as a lesser punishment to some offenders whereas death sentence would be too hard. For such scenarios, solitary confinement can be used as a form of extra punishment. The extra punishment will act as a form of justification in the public eye, more especially for the victims of the inmate. The public will at least get extra satisfaction from the extra punishment of this offenders. However, the serious disadvantages of solitary confinement usually show up leading to the questioning of this form of punishment.
Guenther, (2013) states that human interaction plays a major role in ensuring the human senses are kept whole. In the event of prohibited human interaction, an individual may lose the ability to function properly psychologically. Solitary confinement of an inmate in a secluded cell strips them of the feeling of having control over their surroundings. Such feelings tend to develop into claustrophobia, fear, and increased anxiety. The secluded inmate may tend to develop psychiatric syndrome which can be characterized by hypersensitivity, hallucinations, disturbed thinking and panic attacks. In a bid to regain the feeling of control of their environment, some confined prisoners have resorted to self-destructive actions and behavior.
Solitary confinement can be seen as a form of torture....