Destruction of Man - Isolation

8. April 2009 by Rev Young.

IF YOU DO NOT READ ANOTHER THING THIS WEEK, I URGE YOU TO READ THE ARTICLE FROM THE NEW YORKER CONCERNING SOLITARY CONFINEMENT THAT IS LINKED IN THIS BLOG!

I received a plea from Julie Hamos of Illinois to sign a petition in support of her TAMM bill.  This calls for changes at the Illinois supermax that houses men in solitary confinement for years at a time.  The practice of Supermax prisons and isolation is widespread in America.  We believe the reports from corrections officials that state these facilities are necessary to promote safety for inmates and guards alike. 
I have found that inmates can be sent to a supermax facility for very minor infractions.  Not only have I heard this from other inmates but I have experienced it with my own son.  Prison authorities have the right to send an inmate anywhere they want….including into solitary confinement.  My son was sent to the “hole” for almost 2 weeks before he was brought before the facility board and given the reason why.  Within weeks he was sent to solitary confinement while he was contesting the allegations against him.  I have even heard of instances of inmates being sent to supermax facilities as retribution for complaining against prison infractions. 

The effects of isolation for long periods of time are extremely damaging.  I tried my best to write often, talk to my son twice a week on the phone and visit him as often as I was permitted so that the effects of solitary confinement would be minimal.  Even with my efforts and his determination to do this time without effect, we saw the change in is ability to communicate, his social responses and his anger.  When he was released and sent back to general population, he had to be always cognisant of his behavior and work to regain his humanity. 

Human Rights Watch, SuperMaxed and many other organizations are lobbying against the use of supermax facilities.  However, in Colorado we are about to open another supermax facility….against the wishes and votes of the taxpayers. 

I have copied Julies letter below which includes the link to her petition.  It also includes the link to the article on the impact of solitary confinement on animals, orphans, POW’s and finally inmates.  Please read and then sign the petition.

Thank you!

Dear Rev Bonnie, On Monday, Human Rights Watch, the international human rights organization, released a letter calling for passage of HB2633, my Tamms Supermax Prison reform legislation. The letter, written by David C. Fathi, Human Rights Watch’s Director of the U.S. Program, points out a number of deficiencies in Tamms, including its treatment of mentally ill prisoners. “There is an abundant body of evidence that isolated confinement of the kind that exists at Tamms can have catastrophic effects on the seriously mentally ill, leading to exacerbation of their illness and sometimes to self-mutilation and suicide.” Human Rights Watch is one more voice of a growing chorus calling for change at Tamms. The prison system cannot explain why they need to administer extreme punishment by keeping prisoners in isolation for as long as 11 years. We need HB2633 to set Tamms back on track with basic American values. And that’s not all, two weeks ago The New Yorker magazine highlighted Tamms as an example of solitary confinement management gone wrong.  Many of the issues cited by Human Rights Watch are detailed in that story. Support for HB2633 is growing.  Over 1,300 people across Illinois have signed our online petition in support of passage.  But we still need more grassroots support.  If you have not already, please sign our petition: www.juliehamos.org/tamms And we need your help spreading the word.  Please spread the word about our petition to your friends and colleagues.  The more public support there is for our petition, the more likely it is to pass. Tell A Friend About The Tamms Petition Thank you for your continued involvement in this crucial issue. Sincerely,

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