SOLITARY CONFINEMENT IN THE CORRECTIONAL SETTING - GOALS, PROBLEMS, AND SUGGESTIONS (FROM BASIC READINGS IN CORRECTIVE AND SOCIAL PSYCHIARTY, 1976 BY CLYDE V MARTIN - SEE NCJ-37513)

• NCJ Number: 37514
• Author(s): P SUEDFELD
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: Martin Psychiatric Research Foundation, Inc
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS ESSAY PRESENTS AN ANALYSIS OF THE PRACTICALITY, ETHICALITY, AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE USES OF SOLITUDE IN THE PRISON SETTING.

Abstract

EVALUATED ARE THE USE OF ISOLATION AND SENSORY DEPRIVATION AS A MEANS OF MAKING THE PRISONER MORE AMENABLE TO INTERROGATION, FOR THE PURPOSES OF QUARANTINE, AS A PUNITIVE TECHNIQUE, AND AS PART OF A REHABILITATION TECHNIQUE. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF ISOLATION, PROPERLY USED, SHOULD NOT BE PERMITTED TO CAMOUFLAGE THE HORRORS OF ITS MISUSE, NOR, AS IS MORE COMMON, VICE VERSA. HOWEVER, GIVEN CERTAIN SAFEGUARDS ON ITS USE, ISOLATION CAN LOSE ITS AURA OF PUNISHMENT AND CAN SERVE AS A TIME-OUT, AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO THINK AND REFLECT, AND AS AN ADJUNCT TO RELAXATION TRAINING, TO PSYCHOTHERAPY, OR TO THE PRESENTATION OF NEW AND HELPFUL INFORMATION. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED.