iNTRODUCTiON
THE EFFECTS OF iSOLATiON"The restriction of environmental stimulation and [the] social isolation associated with confinement in solitary are strikingly toxic to mental functioning, producing a stuporous condition associated with perceptual and cognitive impairment and affective disturbances. In more severe cases, inmates so confined have developed florid delirium - a confusional psychosis with intense agitation, fearfulness and disorganization. But even those inmates who are psychologically resilient inevitably suffer severe psychological pain as a result of such confinement, especially when the confinement is prolonged, and especially when the individual experiences this confinement as being the product of an arbitrary exersize of power and intimidation. Moreover, the harm caused by such confinement may result in prolonged or permanent psychiatric disability, including impairments which may seriously reduce the inmate's capacity to reintegrate into the broader community upon release from prison." Statement of Stuart Grassian, M.D., Psychiatrist, member of Harvard Medical School faculty.
"[The prisoner] was transferred to Ohio State Prison after being put in the hole for 16 days at a minimum/medium security prison. No one told him why he was put in segregation. He had no violence on his record. He was transferred ... with no conduct report, no notice, no conference and he did not know why he was at OSP. ln a letter to his family he spoke of 'no hope here' and 'no love. [His] family would like to keep the matter [of his suicide (in April of 2000)] quiet ... This was the third suicide at the OSP since the prison opened in May, 1998, the first having occurred in February 1999 and the second in July.
"A prisoner writes that 'from the day [he] arrived here, [in January], everyone in the block knew he had problems ... He was depressed "big time" about being here. And if everyone in the block (prisoners) could see it, I know damn well administration could. Whenever the chaplain or mental health, mainly anyone, would walk by his door, he would try to keep them there to talk ... as long as possible.
"'One time he asked me, I know we're only allowed two phone calls a month, but do you think the guards will let me call my wife real quick just to tell her I love her? I told him, I don't think you understand where you're at. This is super max. We're considered the worst of the worst here. The guards don't care if you talk to your family or not. ... Administration knew he shouldn't have been here and also that [the prisoner] was highly depressed. I mean I could see it, so I know mental health could also....
"'[He] was deep into religion, and had a good family by his side. He had shown me pictures of his kids and wife that he was very proud of. He also spoke highly of his mother.'
Another prisoner wrote of the dead prisoner, "'... [he] unfortunately committed suicide. ... When block officers observed [the prisoner] inside his cell, ... hanging in an unconscious state, their response was very slow and nonchalant... [T]en whole minutes elapsed before the medical team appeared ... and when they did ... [the] lieutenant demanded that [they] leave the unit! For the obvious reason that the lieutenant wanted to enter the cell with the extraction team ... [O]ther officials ... present at the time ... did not intervene. Five more minutes elapsed, Fifteen all together, may I remind you. Finally [when] the medical emergency response team was able to begin their resuscitation process, their attempts were fruitless.
"'Some of these men don't have the mental facilities to cope and deal with this stressful, groveling and dehumanizing environment ... [W]e are labeled the "worst of the worst," ... and we are treated like monsters. This is the valley of death if it exists [anywhere] ... How many have to die, when all they really need is a little help, just a little help, maybe a little push, compassion or empathy, to be recognized, respected and treated fairly with dignity.'
"'This administration continues to create an environment that drives inmates to suicide. The correctional officers ... harass the prisoners, intimidate the inmates from coming out of their cells for shower and recreation. ... and there is no meaningful redress to these problems ... '
"'lt's going to be more death here at this penitentiary if they don't start giving inmates outside recreation and human contact. When you don't give a human [being] sunlight and a little human contact you make him feel worthless and inhuman. Plus [when] you strip search him every time you take him [out of] the cell, you have taken this person's pride and dignity. Have you ever been inside a place for a long time and then when you went outside, didn't it feel good? They took that from us. Also, when you are naked and someone is looking up your butt every time you come out your cell, it makes you feel like nothing. Just be in front of a few people naked and see how you feel ... There's going to be more deaths here. We feel doomed in here. I just wanted to say those words to you in case you haven't heard about the suicide.'"
"'This place imposes so much stress, depression state, and anxiety on individuals here ... I thank the most high for giving me the strength to endure ...'"
From a memo from Alice Lynd of Staughton and Alice Lynd, Attorneys-at-Law, Niles, Ohio, to Bonnie Kerness, American Friends Service Committee, Criminal Justice Program, Newark, New Jersey, dated 5/1/00.
******************** AH, Security Management Unit (SMU), Gunnison, Utah
"Suffice [it] to say that control units are cruel, inhuman places where prisoners are grossly abused and mistreated; the [following] provides a brief but accurate description of Utah's [Maximum Facility intensive Management Control] Unit [from which the prisoner had just been transferred]:
"[The unit] houses only 12 prisoners and most of them suffer from chronic genuine mental disorders. [lt] is cold, dark, dirty, and noisy. Steel plates on hinges ... cover the cell doors and windows. The guards open and slam shut these plates throughout the night and we cannot sleep due to the deliberate noise ... The guards frequently use four point strap boards and strip cells. They never clean the unit. [it] is very unsanitary coated with old food, dirt and human waste.
"The prison's SWAT team is often used to harass prisoners. Brutality and excessive force occur a lot. Most of the prisoners really belong in a mental health unit where they can receive appropriate psychiatric treatment, ... non existent in the control unit.
Prisoners are given one hour of out-of-cell recreation, three times per week. That ... time consists of