Examining Solitary Confinement
The leading Democratic candidates for president in 2020 have at long last agreed that abolishing this atrocity is an essential part of criminal-justice reform. It is up to us to hold them to their words.
Search Results for: solitary confinement
An Activist Enters a Solitary Confinement Cell—and Struggles for Control
This riveting essay, written three years ago by a member of Amnesty International, remains among the most compulsively readable indictments of our most barbaric form of punishment. By Tessa Murphy London, 14 October 2014, 16:07 UTC Tessa Murphy is a British campaigner at Amnesty International The breathlessness was overwhelming. Standing in that small, dark cell, surrounded by … Continue reading “An Activist Enters a Solitary Confinement Cell—and Struggles for Control”
We Must Kill the Monster of Solitary Confinement
Solitary confinement is the monster that lives in our nation’s basement. We tell ourselves that we have the monster under control. That is, if we tell ourselves anything at all. Most of the time, we avoid thinking about him. Solitary confinement is just another tool, we assure ourselves. Like we assure ourselves that—oh—the AK-47 is … Continue reading “We Must Kill the Monster of Solitary Confinement”
Another Solitary Confinement Atrocity
This horrific story, originally reported by the excellent Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel and picked up by Slate a couple days ago, is yet another demonstration of my assertion in NO ONE CARES ABOUT CRAZY PEOPLE that “too many of the mentally ill in our country live under conditions of atrocity.” Terrill Thomas’s death by slow, deliberate, guard-induced … Continue reading “Another Solitary Confinement Atrocity”
DID SOMEONE MENTION “SOLITARY”?
Yes: I did. I cited this barbaric penalty in my previous blog post, which was a plea for Ashley Biden to join her father’s Administration and co-ordinate federal policy regarding mental healthcare reform. Solitary confinement in our jails is one of the scourges that most needs reforming–obliterating, actually–if we are to call ourselves civilized. Solitary works … Continue reading “DID SOMEONE MENTION “SOLITARY”?”
MSNBC TAKES A SHALLOW DIVE INTO MENTAL ILLNESS
The road to Hell is paved with good intentions. Sadly, the road to mental-illness coverage is fashioned from similar material.
The Crumbleys, Part II
The school shooting in Michigan last week has opened up new avenues for thought and action, and re-opened old ones. We must not let this awful opportunity evaporate.
Paris Hilton, Mental-Healthcare Reformer
No, seriously–and props, and godspeed to her! Her piece in the October 19 Washington Post turns a rare spotlight on one of the many under-explored areas of corrupt and viperish traps for mentally disturbed children.
Just Read This.
Teresa Pasquini’s magificent, tender, searing essay below speaks for so many of us. I’ve seldom read a more encompassing and truth-telling message from anyone in our sub-nation. I applaud the subtle and not-so-subtle political and cultural indictments in it as well. Godspeed, eloquent amiga!
ASHLEY BIDEN, WE NEED YOU!
Will you step up as the standard-bearer for the mentally ill?
