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Is Solitary Confinement Torture?

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    Religious community on campaign to end solitary confinement in U.S. prisons

  • Duration 4:15
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We don't like torture.

But -- know that it's still going on in the world it'll be interesting be here with you actually now released what the last five years for him were actually -- but what is -- organization.

Working on to see the trend of torture turned around.

Or working on four different areas including and in -- sponsored torture forever so that this country never engages in torture again.

But we're also working on our concern about it ending the practice of prolonged.

Solitary confinement in US prisons.

And -- we're particularly concerned about.

And very supportive of a report that one Mendez.

Who is a UN special.

-- -- on torture will be giving to the -- -- Of the UN today.

And in that report He calls for an -- true prolonged solitary confinement.

And our organization has been working on that issue for the last couple of years.

You are you optimistic that you can make the changes you want.

All but we are optimistic that we can make the changes.

Solitary.

Confinement.

Has had a long history in this country.

And really a very sad history.

-- began as early as 1829.

When they built a prison outside of Philadelphia.

That just -- solitary confinement cells.

And they did it out of really compassionate reasons I mean they thought that.

This would really be an -- an opportunity.

For people in prison to think about what they did wrong.

And to make sure that they never do it again.

-- it doesn't always work though reverend and you know it doesn't we afternoon the alternative to keeping people incarcerated.

Solitary confinement are not.

We all want to be safe.

And so sometimes.

Do we not have to trust the experts in law enforcement are who investigate certain crimes in the escalation of terrorism in our nation.

And have a little leeway about what is the most effective way to treat.

These broads right and and the experts know Lou the psychologists -- the psychiatrist.

And now even our commissioner of corrections in the state of Maine.

Are saying that solitary confinement does not work it's too expensive.

And it's morally wrong.

So you -- for the protection of a prisoner I think one that's not how they really protect prisoners -- -- -- prisoner needs protection.

That -- put a man and and how large unit.

Where there in general population is not that there all by themselves.

On talking about when people are put into their own so.

Usually sixers -- seven feet long and that's where they are.

And in many cases they never see another human being including -- guard.

So guard over whomever it is your message for those who help you obsolete for five years in a dungeon where He didn't see light according to the reports.

It's wrong to keep people in solitary confinement and the state and Maine is changing -- by the way.

There was a lot of concern expressed by the religious community and others in the state of Maine last year.

And the brand new -- commissioner.

Has reduced.

The prison population those people who are in solitary confinement by 50%.

And he's saying there's much better ways -- cheaper ways to two.

Make sure that people are not harmful to each other -- one of the other concerns that we have is that often people are released from solitary confinement.

I'll look into -- general population.

And there is no question that solitary confinement.

Hurts people's emotional health and can make them insane and we've known that since 1829.

And Charles dickens' in the 1840s when He came here so all of that.

That's what what's happening that people would being driven to be insane and even to use the word torture to describe it that solitary confinement.

I think there's probably strong feelings on both sides of this issue while reverend thank you very much for joining us today.

Thank you.

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