The “hole” is a commonly used term in prisons that refers to solitary confinement or administrative segregation. It involves isolating inmates in small, sparse cells for extended periods of time as punishment for violating prison rules or for protective custody purposes. The use of solitary confinement remains controversial, with debates around its psychological impacts and effectiveness as a correctional strategy. This article will examine what the hole is, why it is used, the conditions, the effects, and the arguments surrounding this practice.
What is Solitary Confinement?
Solitary confinement goes by many names in prisons, including the hole, administrative segregation, the hotbox, isolation, the pound, SHU (Security Housing Unit), and supermax. At its core, solitary confinement involves housing inmates separately from the general population with severe restrictions on privileges, movement, and access to other inmates and staff. It functions as a “prison inside the prison.”
Inmates in the hole typically spend 23 hours a day alone in small cells that range from 45 to 128 square feet. The cells usually contain a toilet, sink, bed, and sometimes a shower, with concrete or cinderblock walls and steel doors. Inmates take their meals in the cell and have restricted opportunities to leave for showers, solitary exercise, or medical visits. They have limited property, reading material, and programming compared to the general population. Communication with other inmates is restricted or prohibited.
Why is Solitary Confinement Used?
Prison officials use solitary confinement for two main purposes:
Punishment
Solitary confinement is commonly used to discipline inmates for violations of prison rules. These can include assault, fighting, possessing contraband, disobeying orders, and participating in riots or strikes. Stays in solitary for disciplinary reasons can last from days to years, depending on the offense and policies. Supporters argue it is necessary to maintain order and deter bad behavior in prisons.
Protection
Solitary is also used to separate and protect vulnerable inmates who may be targets for violence from the general population. This can include former law enforcement, informants, LGBTQ individuals, inmates that have cooperated with authorities, high profile prisoners, and sex offenders. Officials argue segregation is necessary to keep these inmates safe from attacks.
What are the Conditions Like in Solitary?
Inmates held in solitary confinement experience severe conditions and restrictions:
- Limited Space: Cells typically range from 45 to 128 square feet with a bed, toilet, sink, and sometimes a shower. They have solid steel doors with small windows and slots for food trays. Some inmates are held in “supermax” prisons where they may go years without leaving their small cell.
- Limited Property: Inmates are allowed only the most basic personal items and property, like thin mattresses, prison jumpsuits, and basic toiletries. Reading material, radios, and televisions are usually prohibited or restricted. Luxuries like pillows and extra blankets are not allowed.
- Human Interaction: Contact with staff and other prisoners is extremely limited. Visitors are restricted or not allowed. Communication between cells is typically banned. Meals are eaten alone in the cell. Even guards often have minimal direct contact.
- Activity and Programming: Solitary inmates have almost no opportunities for education, work, rehabilitation, skill-building, or physical activity. Most spend 23 hours a day in their cell. One hour of solitary exercise in a barren yard may be permitted. Showers are allowed three times per week at most. Programming is extremely limited.
- Sensory Deprivation: There is an absence of mental stimuli. Cells are kept bare and free of anything that could provide interest or distraction. Natural light and outdoor views may be nonexistent. These conditions can create a monotonous, deprived, and disorienting environment.
What are the Psychological Effects?
Research indicates that prolonged solitary confinement under these deprived conditions can produce a range of adverse psychological effects:
- Increased depression, anxiety, anger, paranoia, and psychosis
- Cognitive disturbances like memory loss, concentration difficulties, and disorientation
- Hypersensitivity to stimuli like noise and bright light
- Problems with impulse control and increased agitation
- Sleep disturbances, appetite loss, and weight loss
- Self-mutilation and increased suicide attempts
- Overall mental and physical deterioration from lack of activity and interaction
These effects appear most pronounced among inmates with preexisting mental illnesses, who account for a disproportionate number of those in solitary confinement. There is debate around whether these effects constitute cruel and unusual punishment when solitary is prolonged.
What are the National Trends?
Solitary confinement increased dramatically along with mass incarceration from the 1980s through the early 2000s. Prison overcrowding and a “tough on crime” political climate fueled increased reliance on solitary to punish infractions and maintain control. By 2005, it was estimated 80,000 inmates were held in solitary on any given day in the US.
Since then, criticism of solitary has grown. Several states have introduced caps and restrictions on its use, especially for vulnerable groups like juveniles and the mentally ill. President Obama banned juvenile solitary in federal prisons in 2016. Other reforms include limiting solitary terms, increasing minimum time out of cell, allowing visitors and programming, and requiring regular review of solitary status.
Despite reform efforts, an estimated 60,000-80,000 inmates continue to be held in solitary in the US as of 2020. Use varies widely between states. Debate continues around balancing safety, punishment, and human rights when segregating inmates from the general prison population.
What are the Arguments For and Against Solitary Confinement?
There is ongoing debate around whether solitary confinement should be used, reformed, or banned completely. Here are some key arguments:
Arguments For Solitary Confinement:
- Necessary tool for prisons to control dangerous and disruptive inmates
- Deters violence and rule violations through punishment
- Allows protection of vulnerable inmates who might be targets
- Prevents coordinated disruptive activity between prisoners
- Provides respite for staff and inmates from the most difficult prisoners
- Some segregated inmates prefer separation from the chaos of general population
Arguments Against Solitary Confinement:
- Causes severe psychological harm, especially when used prolonged
- Qualifies as cruel and unusual punishment when used punitively
- Exacerbates mental illness and produces symptoms of psychosis
- Increases risk of suicide and self-harm due to psychological impacts
- Hinders rehabilitation and reentry by depriving inmates of programming and interaction
- Used disproportionately against minorities, mentally ill, and other vulnerable inmates
- More humane alternatives exist, like separate housing units with programming
- Does not reduce overall prison violence or disciplinary infractions
Reform advocates contend solitary should be banned for vulnerable groups, used only as short-term punishment, and subjected to increased oversight and due process protections. However, complete abolition remains unlikely due to continued security concerns in prisons.
What percentage of prisoners are held in solitary confinement in the US?
It is estimated that between 3-5% of prisoners in the US are held in solitary confinement at any given time. This equates to approximately 60,000-80,000 inmates kept in segregated housing nationwide.
How long do prisoners typically spend in solitary confinement?
Time spent in solitary confinement varies widely. Disciplinary segregation for rule violations can range from days to years depending on policies and the offense. Those segregated for protective custody or security reasons can often spend months or years in isolation until their perceived threat level is reduced.
What are the different types of solitary confinement?
Some main types of solitary confinement include:
- Disciplinary segregation: Punitive isolation for prison rule violations
- Administrative segregation: Long-term, indefinite isolation for security reasons
- Protective custody: Separation of vulnerable inmates for safety
- Supermax housing: Entire facilities dedicated to solitary confinement
What are the largest supermax prisons in the US?
The largest supermax facilities in the US today include ADX Florence in Colorado, Pelican Bay State Prison in California, and Red Onion State Prison in Virginia. These impose near round-the-clock solitary confinement on all inmates for years and even decades.
How does solitary confinement affect juveniles and children?
Studies show juveniles are psychologically vulnerable to solitary confinement with increased risks of depression, anxiety, psychosis, and suicide. The UN Special Rapporteur has stated that solitary confinement of youth amounts to cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.
Do prison staff suffer any psychological effects from working in solitary units?
Studies suggest that correctional officers working in solitary units experience higher rates of depression, anxiety, burnout, and other mental health issues due to the isolated, tense environment and lack of social interaction. Many report emotional numbness and depersonalization as well.
What are some alternatives to the use of solitary confinement in prisons?
Some alternatives aim to improve conditions in segregation units. Others replace isolation with separate housing wings, incentives for good behavior, increased programming, and more interaction with staff and inmates. Restorative justice approaches emphasize rehabilitation rather than punishment.
What legal rights do prisoners have with regards to solitary confinement?
Prisoners have limited legal rights, but some key court rulings have established certain protections. Placement in segregation is not considered a due process right. Minimum standards for basic nutrition, exercise, hygiene, and health care must be maintained. Overall conditions cannot qualify as “cruel and unusual punishment.”
What are the best practices for reforming solitary confinement policies?
Many reform advocates recommend restricting solitary to short-term use only for major violations, banning it for vulnerable groups, limiting continuous terms to 15 days, providing programming and privileges, allowing visitors and phone calls, and ensuring regular review and due process in placement decisions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, solitary confinement remains a controversial correctional practice that involves isolating inmates in restrictive housing units. While proponents argue it is necessary for punishment, protection, and control, it carries demonstrated psychological risks, especially when used prolonged. Calls for reform emphasize banning solitary for juveniles and the mentally ill, setting maximum time limits, and providing increased programming and privileges to mitigate the sensory and social deprivation. Significant change remains slow, but public scrutiny of prison conditions is prompting reexamination of policies and practice. The mental health impacts and ethical issues surrounding isolating humans for 22-23 hours per day will likely continue to spur debate around reforming and restricting “the hole” in prisons for years to come.