In January 2016, President Obama issued a series of executive actions banning federal prisons from using solitary confinement to punish juveniles and prisoners who commit low level infractions. His orders also lowered the number of days an adult inmate could be subject to solitary confinement from 365 days to 60 days. A recent study found that prisoners who were subject to solitary confinement were 20-25% more likely to be repeat criminal offenders than prisoners who avoided it.
@ISIDEWITH8yrs8Y
Yes
@9F8M3RD7mos7MO
It is borderline torture and people end up taking their own lives because of how being in solitary confinement messes with thieir mind.
@ISIDEWITH8yrs8Y
Yes, and we should create more social programs to help prevent and rehabilitate criminals
@9FMRZZ57mos7MO
So basically, 70% of juveniles are suffering from mental illness. They should be given medication, therapy, or rehabilitation.
@ISIDEWITH8yrs8Y
@ISIDEWITH8yrs8Y
No, it is necessary for violent criminals who are a danger to themselves and other inmates
@9FFMGV8Libertarian7mos7MO
My best counter is that juveniles aren't really meant to go to prison but for actual adults in prison they should go into solitary confinement if they are a danger to themselves and others.
@9F8M3RD7mos7MO
Solitary confinement is borderline torture, as humans are not meant to be in a room the size of a queen sized matress and to be left alone for such a long time, people get Delirium and some kill themselves after getting out.
@ISIDEWITH8yrs8Y
No, but it is currently being overused
@9FMRZZ57mos7MO
Solitary Confinement is absolutely ridiculous. No child should ever have to suffer from mental illness so bad that they are spending their time alone. Especially in the dark black hole.
@8D7X8VBNew Liberty4yrs4Y
No, but I believe prisons should be reduced to the bare minimum of people that are there to protect the public. there are too many people in prisons and prisons should not be privately held nor treated like private enterprises to be grown.
@3VGBRTC3yrs3Y
In practice, solitary confinement is used to deal with problematic kids that the staff of the prisons just don't want to deal with. If we can limit its use to exceptionally violent kids or kids who are being molested, or attacked in prisons by inmates or staff, I think solitary confinement can work.
@9DM57TS 8mos8MO
Agreed. Limited use for either exceptionally violent offenders and in cases where juvenile inmates are being abused--but not to the detriment of their development, as solitary can be. I object to removal from gen pop unless absolutely necessary, and clear delineations should be made about and communicated to juvenile offenders at the outset as to what the expectations are. Uncertainty is extremely anxiety inducing, and may provoke further violence or cause them to become more vulnerable.
An advocate (separate from legal counsel) should be appointed to the minor to answer any questions upon… Read more
@3VTR8GV3yrs3Y
I think the inmates have to much rules and laws while in prison. they should hate prisons and not want to go back but if they are getting treated how they would out in the real world then it is pointless to have prisons in the first place. make the prisons a hell hole and get the individual to become a better person and not want to go back to prison
@3VTZCJC3yrs3Y
Yes, we should be investing in mental and psychological care for these young individuals and increasing policies that prevent the disadvantaged youth from entering into situations that lead to something like solitary confinement. Most humans aren't born to want to be bad in their society.
@8QKJ92Q3yrs3Y
Wow, I agree with someone from Florida :)
@3VTHCLX3yrs3Y
Having worked with juveniles who can be a danger to themselves and others, I know how violent they can become. I believe solitary confinement should be used only for situations where other interventions are not successful in preventing harm to self or others, but should not be eliminated as a last effort. There should also be greater training for staff members in interventive methods.
@3VVPFL83yrs3Y
I think that rather than define the days of solitary, we should increase the amount of work required of every prisoner. Less gym time, less TV and recreational time as well as social contact time between inmates. Prison should not become a "higher education" system for prisoners to get their masters in criminal activity.
@3VRVKKX3yrs3Y
Yes, studies have shown how detrimental solitary confinement can be, and with juveniles brains still developing, it is imperative that they are not subjected to this punishment measure.
@3VFQY4R3yrs3Y
No, if they cannot abide by the conventions of living with the prison population, they have earned solitary confinement.
@3VG994R3yrs3Y
No, those who receive solitary confinement are there due to predisposed behavior rather then solitary being the cause for the increased likelihood of becoming a repeat offender.
@3VJJS4M3yrs3Y
Youth do well with platonic/apprenticeship relationships. When you isolate them, they make their own rules. Let's create more relationship opportunities to positive roll models and less isolation.
@3VFZX433yrs3Y
This is a Catch 22 question. They say solitary confinement is not ok for juveniles, yet, if they are housed with other criminal elements, they can be attacked and would not be protected. Which is worse?
@3VQTLZR3yrs3Y
I think the major issue with children is the breakdown of the family. Children are growing up in a lawless generation. Anything goes. A drug addict can have multiple children and they are left for the public to take care of. There should be consequences.
@3VFRZ9V3yrs3Y
Yes, if you deserve it. We are all accountable for our actions. No said juvenile detention was fun.
@3VDV2S33yrs3Y
Yes, solitary confinement is cruel and unusual and should be banned for anyone.
@4YTTS7F3yrs3Y
Make prisons solitary but reformative. Have books to read. Options of writing to a random pen-pal who's not in prison. The goal being that prisoners can't socialize together, organize, and fed off of each others' criminal way of life.
@4YB3B8K3yrs3Y
Prisons should be abolished in favor of financial punishment, death, or banishment
@4Y7RYZ73yrs3Y
Yes, and we should create more Christian spiritual programs to help prevent and rehabilitate criminals.
@3VS52223yrs3Y
Solitary confinement should be banned for all humans. It is inhumane.
@9G78NC56mos6MO
No this is protected by the fifth amendment as the right to life, liberty, and property without due process
@3VSXQSR3yrs3Y
I would like to hear what psychologist have to say about its effect on the kids.
@3VF6C2P3yrs3Y
Yes, but only if the individuals show a totally a unrelenting trend toward gang activity or violent behavior. Michael Brown was a juvenile and tried to kill a law enforcement officer. Case closed!
@3VTG5LT3yrs3Y
I think all prisons should be considered solitary confinement. It should not be a learning, entertainment or social environment.
@3VKY8C23yrs3Y
Imprisonment of juveniles is a questionable activity. This whole area should be re-thought. Effective rehabilitation measures should be sought and applied instead of incarceration for juveniles.
@3VGHF6S3yrs3Y
No, but if a juvenile displays behavior warranting solitary confinement, then they should be confined but visited by adults for specific periods of time.
@3VFVDB93yrs3Y
No because if juveniles do adult-like actions then they should be charged as an adult.
@3VFKJQJ3yrs3Y
No, humans are social animals that require contact or they go mad
@3VF6R273yrs3Y
Yes solitary confinement should be banned altogether.
@3VL83ZZ3yrs3Y
Juveniles deserve every opportunity to be rehabilitated, but those held in adult facilities should be protected from the general population of said facilities.
@sponable983yrs3Y
No, prison officials should determine who needs confinement based on security concerns for guards and prisoners.
@3VDS27Z3yrs3Y
Yes, unless it is for their protection.
@927H2H82yrs2Y
Yes, it is severely psychologically damaging to young undeveloped minds. We should also create more social programs to help prevent and rehabilitate criminals
@9B7HTWK1yr1Y
Yes because this is a violation of the 8th amendment
@9DM57TS 8mos8MO
I agree in some circumstances. A Hannibal Lecter type of any age should be kept in solitary but still have means of using their minds and interacting with the world such as through reading (via electronic device) and the arts. This would apply to other offenders spending time in solitary, with varying degrees of restriction.
It all depends on the type and severity of the crime if and for how long solitary confinement should be employed.
@9C69K6811mos11MO
No, because it is necessary for violent criminals who are a danger to themselves and other inmates and we should create more social programs to help prevent and rehabilitate criminals.
@8LXQB353yrs3Y
No, but we do need more ways to teach the juveniles.
@93T2VN72yrs2Y
Yes, and ban solitary confinement for all criminals
@8M94G3YProgressive3yrs3Y
Yes, the use of solitary confinement should be banned for everyone.
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