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U.N. asked to investigate solitary confinement as torture

jamesrage

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Many lawyers out there are truly scum.I think if these lawyers spent some time in those prisons then they would support segregating these inmates.


U.N. asked to investigate solitary confinement as torture - latimes.com
Calling solitary confinement "torture," California prisoners and advocates are asking the United Nations to investigate the segregated housing of gang members at prisons throughout the state.

"We have California treating several thousand prisoners in much the same way the U.S. government treats enemy combatants held in Guantanamo," said Peter Schey, an attorney representing hundreds of inmates.

Schey, who announced the petition at a news conference in Los Angeles on Tuesday alongside prisoners' relatives, said solitary confinement was devastating to the physical and mental health of prisoners and was likely to increase their risk of committing more crimes upon release.

The petition was filed on behalf of about 400 prisoners, including Walter J. Coto at Corcoran State Prison.

"Every single moment I've spent in these torture chambers has chipped away my humanity," Coto wrote.

Schey said he was also considering litigation and a direct petition to Gov. Jerry Brown to end the policy.

About 4,000 inmates are held in the state's "segregated housing units," or SHU. The majority are kept there because they are gang members or suspected gang members. Others have committed violent crimes in prison.
 
Many lawyers out there are truly scum.I think if these lawyers spent some time in those prisons then they would support segregating these inmates.

U.N. asked to investigate solitary confinement as torture - latimes.com
Calling solitary confinement "torture," California prisoners and advocates are asking the United Nations to investigate the segregated housing of gang members at prisons throughout the state.

"We have California treating several thousand prisoners in much the same way the U.S. government treats enemy combatants held in Guantanamo," said Peter Schey, an attorney representing hundreds of inmates.
Schey, who announced the petition at a news conference in Los Angeles on Tuesday alongside prisoners' relatives, said solitary confinement was devastating to the physical and mental health of prisoners and was likely to increase their risk of committing more crimes upon release.

The petition was filed on behalf of about 400 prisoners, including Walter J. Coto at Corcoran State Prison.

"Every single moment I've spent in these torture chambers has chipped away my humanity," Coto wrote.

Schey said he was also considering litigation and a direct petition to Gov. Jerry Brown to end the policy.

About 4,000 inmates are held in the state's "segregated housing units," or SHU. The majority are kept there because they are gang members or suspected gang members. Others have committed violent crimes in prison.

Some prisoners are kept in isolation for their own protection. Some prisoners are kept in isolation for the protection of other inmates. I agree it's harsh punishment. Hopefully there are guidelines for when solitary confinement is appropriate and when it's not. Assuming there are, and they're reasonable, I have no problem with it.

But just because someone is in prison doesn't mean they can be treated harshly for no reason.
 
They should be given TV. Oh wait. Can we go back to the old days where we just send them to an island?
 
To anyone who opposes solitary confinement as a means of punishment inside of a prison:

What alternative do you propose?

We could always have a block dedicated to the housing of inmates who are not necessarily a danger to others but who are in danger. In the case where it's members that are a danger to others, keep them there. It's justified.
 
We could always have a block dedicated to the housing of inmates who are not necessarily a danger to others but who are in danger. In the case where it's members that are a danger to others, keep them there. It's justified.

Protective custody wing....most, if not all, prisons have that.
 
We could always have a block dedicated to the housing of inmates who are not necessarily a danger to others but who are in danger. In the case where it's members that are a danger to others, keep them there. It's justified.

They will get to them, especially in a larger population.

I would find a guy who I could protect that was in protective custody, and then I would have him kill the guy who was my problem in protective custody. Just a thought.
 
Generally I am against solitary confinement.

But of course there are special cases which are exceptions. For example, what if everytime you let an inmate get near any other person they immediately go bezerk and get violent? Besides solitary confinement, how can you deal with a case like that without putting both the prison staff and the other inmates at risk?
 
Generally I am against solitary confinement.

But of course there are special cases which are exceptions. For example, what if everytime you let an inmate get near any other person they immediately go bezerk and get violent? Besides solitary confinement, how can you deal with a case like that without putting both the prison staff and the other inmates at risk?

Aside from violence, how would punish other offenses? Concealing weapons or drugs in prison? What is someone pissed on the floor? Breaking items in the prison? There has to be a punishment inside of prison as well. I cannot think of any other way.
 
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