Maria Valencia

ENG1010
Professor Beatty
May 4, 2016
Cruel and Unusual
Solitary confinement is a form of punishment used excessively across the United States
in prisons. The United States has no limitations to the age in which someone can be placed in
solitary confinement. A dark, small, and cement cell with no communication to the outside world
and at times no windows or form of entertainment. According to a report from the American
Civil Liberties Union (ACLU, 2012), inmates spend 22 hours or more in confinement. Many
teens and young childrens brains are still developing, it's the most crucial time for development
as a matter of fact. When an adolescent is punished with not being able to see the outside world,
it stunts their development in their brain. Many topics in the news are often about the death
penalty and not often is it seen that young children are facing and dealing with cruel and unusual
punishments. Although solitary confinement may seem like the only option to keep other inmates
safe, confinement of adolescents is cruel and unusual, negatively effects a developing brain and
is the easy way out of dealing with troubled teens. There are other options and forms of
punishment that are not cruel and unusual like solitary confinement.
Often times inmates can cause a ruckus and put others in danger with violent acts. When
an incident puts others at risk it is up to the officers in charge to take all safety precautions. This
in the justice systems definition means secluding them from hurting or putting any other inmates
at risk. Delinquents are put into a small cell with thick cement walls, an extreme version of time

out. This allows them the opportunity to reevaluate what they did wrong, why they did it and
gives them the chance to cool down. When used seldom solitary confinement allows a heated
inmate to calm down and pull themselves together. Once a person has been removed from a
situation and enters back in with other inmates, they often learn their lesson and would rather
socialize than be in a cell. However, if used for excessive hours on end, solitary confinement
becomes a form of cruel and unusual punishment.
Cruel and unusual punishment describes perfectly what our justice system is putting
adolescents through. The 8th amendment which prohibits the use of cruel and unusual
punishment is in violation when using solitary confinement (Lisa, 2015). A developing brain will
have a bigger impact on being confined than an adult brain. That being said although solitary
confinement should be banned for both adults and children, it more negatively affects children.
Sitting in time out may not seem cruel until time out turns into 16+ hours, seven days a week.
Often times juveniles are not given anything besides the ceiling to look at it. A book, a pencil and
paper or any other distraction keeps a person from going insane. When boredom strikes in a tiny
cell inmates will use their nails to scratch designs into the cement, or scream so loud that others
can hear them and they can communicate in a distorted way (Figueroa, 2015). Although inmates
have difficulty dealing with being bored and anxious, the hardest part for many of them is not
being able to have visitation rights with anyone, let alone be able to hug their parents (ACLU,
2012). Excluding juveniles from what matters most to them is cruel and gives them no hope for
ever getting out, thus repeating the prison cycle. An adolescents developing brain requires a
stimulating environment to flourish, solitary confinement does not allow a brain to develop
normally.

The crucial time for a developing brain is during adolescents, the brain is most affected
by negative and positive choices during this time development. Speech, cognition and physical
development mostly happens during the ages of 9-18. Through modern technology scientist have
discovered that the brain physically changes the most through adolescents as stated by McGrawHill Text Book- Essentials of Lifespan Development. We are considered an adult at 18 years old
in the United States however science shows that our brains are still developing further on. In
order for a brain to be healthy and flourish it needs a stimulating environment, now although
they are incarcerated for a specific reason it does not mean they should be restricted contact with
others, especially at such a young age. Mental disorders start to develop when a brain is not
growing properly, and difficulties in working with others also occur. It is a continuous cycle for
these teens, they are not able to work with others. Then when faced with situations where team
work or group work is involved they lack that skill and end up in the same place; prison. These
teens are incarcerated for a reason, and shouldnt be rewarded for negative behavior, however
shouldn't be put in a situation that harms the development of their well being.
Other forms of dealing with a situation where an inmate would normally be incarcerated
are available as well. Many kid prisons are coming around to the idea of alternatives such as
class work and chores as a form of punishment and to separate an inmate from harming others as
well as themselves. Giving them a form of engaging their brain in other activities is a safer and
more effective way at separating them from a harming situation. Many kid prisons are also using
education in inmates (Figueroa, 2015). Free time to help develop their brains is a much more
efficient form of separating troubled adolescents from other inmates. This is crucial in their
development of cognitive skills. Its also gives a positive outlook on the situation and inspires

them to go to school or college. In the documentary Prison Kids when juveniles where given
opportunities to explore education, it gave them motivation for a life beyond the streets. Prisons
that are making these changes have seen significant change in peoples lives and their families
as well. Fewer kids are going back into the same prison cycle, and are given opportunities that
they never imagined.
Many prisons choose to use solitary confinement because it is easy, cheap and effective in
which they prefer. However, taking the easy way out of situations doesnt always have a happy
ending and for these teens especially. When solitary confinement does not work in calming an
inmate down, they turn to medically restraining. Since physically restraining is against the law,
medically restraining is the next option, which is additional to solitary confinement. Teens are
doped up with psychotic drugs and then put in a small cell for 16 hours on end. They are given
these drugs without even being diagnosed with a mental disorder. This method is cheap and
effective for prisons. The medicine leaves long term damage on brains, especially a developing
adolescent brain. The cheaper option may work for the short term but the damage it leaves is
permeant.
Solitary confinement is cruel and unusual for both adolescents and adults. Focusing more
on the effects of solitary confinement in a developing brain, studies show permeant damage.
Once a brain is damage it is not the same. Although the solitary confinement is a cheap and fast
form of punishment, it is damaging the brains of our future generation. Solitary confinement
causes damage severe enough to triple mental disorders. Our future generation is in your hands,
possible future doctors, lawyers and dentist that have not been given the opportunity to break
from the continues cycle of prison due to a lazy inconsiderate justice system. Break a plate on the

floor, glue the pieces together and ask yourself if the plate is still the same. Solitary confinement
should be banned nationwide.

Lisa C.C, (2015). No Child Left Alone: Why Iowa Should Ban Juvenile Solitary Confinement

American Civil Liberties Union, (October 2012), Growing Up Locked Down: Youth In Solitary
Confinement In Jails And Prisons Across The United States, http://www.aclu.org/report/
growing-locked-down-youth-solitary-confinement-jails-and-prisons-across-United-States

Figueroa, Fusion, (October 2, 2015), Prison Kids: Juvenile Justice in America, retrieved from
URL
Santrock, J. W. (2013). Essentials of life-span development (3rd ed.). McGraw-Hill Higher
Education.