More than 122,000 people held in solitary confinement in US, report says
At least 122,840 people are locked daily in solitary confinement in U.S. prisons and jails for 22 hours or more a day, according to a recent report.
The report entitled "Calculating Torture," was created by the watchdog group Solitary Watch and the advocacy coalition Unlock the Box.
The report is based on data from the federal Bureau of Justice Statistics "as well as by state prison systems that did not report to BJS, and data from a survey of local jails conducted by the Vera Institute of Justice," Solitary Watch said in a statement.
In February 2020, Nils Melzer, the then UN Special Rapporteur on torture, issued a statement saying that prolonged solitary confinement in the U.S. amounted to psychological torture.
Melzer stated that solitary confinement is "well documented" to result in "irreparable psychological and physical consequences" for inmates, including anxiety, depression, cognitive impairment and suicidal tendencies.
Solitary Watch said their recent report offers a more complete picture of the total number of people in solitary confinement in the United States than previous reports that largely focused on prisons.
“The widespread use of solitary confinement in our prisons and jails is a humanitarian crisis. As the United Nations has confirmed, it’s torture taking place on U.S. soil. Yet until now, we haven’t even had a comprehensive count of how many people are in solitary,” said Jean Casella, the director of Solitary Watch.
“This kind of full and accurate information is critical to creating accountability and bringing about change,” Casella said. “It should also shock the conscience of all Americans concerned about criminal justice and human rights.”
Solitary Watch claimed that their total figure of 122,840 -- which constitutes 6.08% of the total prison and jail population -- "undoubtedly undercounts" the number of people who experience solitary confinement.
This claim is due to the fact that report used self-reported data from correctional departments and that this data does not include those who are held in solitary for less than 22 hours a day, or those held in solitary within immigrant or juvenile facilities.
"Solitary confinement causes devastating harm and death, and worsens safety for everyone," said Jessica Sandoval, the director of Unlock the Box. "Locking over 122,000 people in solitary is a stain on our nation."
"Thanks to campaigns led by people directly impacted by solitary, there is growing momentum and widespread public support for policies to limit or end solitary confinement and utilize proven alternatives," Sandoval said. "But our work has just begun, and this report should add further urgency to that struggle. Now is the time for political leaders at the local, state, and federal levels—from New York to Georgia to Nevada to California to the White House and Congress—to act to stop this state-sanctioned torture."
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[1] A correctional facility in Maryland is inspected by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, to potentially serve as an alternate care site, March 25, 2020. (U.S. Army photo by Timothy Wheeler)