Mica Jhoana A.

Oriola
Bs Criminology II
D020 CA3

I. INTRODUCTION

The article, If The Steel Walls Could Talk: The Abuse of Human Rights Through The

Use Of Solitary Confinement, by The University of Alabama at Birmingham UAB

Institute for Human Rights Blog is an excellent story because the author is very

informative and insightful in the context of human rights and the solitary confinement.

The film investigates how slavery and the widespread imprisonment of Black people in

America are related. While I viewed Broder's experience through the prism of racial

injustice, there was another aspect to this depressing tale.

II. SHORT SUMMARY OF THE WORK

I began learning more about this topic and considering it from the perspective of human

rights after realizing the connection between solitary confinement and mental illness.

The link arises from the disconnection between prisoners' rights and human rights.

Solitary confinement and human rights go hand in hand, and excessive use of it

breaches inmates' human rights. Torture, mental abuse, and a lack of resources like

sunshine and social contact are some of these transgressions. "All inmates will be

treated with respect due to their inherent dignity and value as human beings," read one

of the most poignant sentences. Although the human rights community has

acknowledged that prisoners have rights, many of those rights are frequently violated

owing to the underlying assumption that possibly prisoners are not even considered to
be persons and do not require their rights to be safeguarded. Their rights wouldn't be

violated if the state upheld them and their humanity.

III. YOUR ARGUMENT

They often have very little or no access to educational and recreational activities or

other sources of mental stimulation. Lastly, they are usually handcuffed, shackled, and

escorted by correctional officers every time they leave their cells. This also goes into

them not having any access to sunlight or adequate housing that is fit for the shelter of

any human being. The practice of placing mentally ill prisoners in solitary confinement is

another problem with this. According to ACLU statistics, most experts believe that

between 10 and 20 percent of all inmates in American jails have a mental condition. The

problem with solitary confinement is the potentially negative psychological

consequences it might have on a person. By restricting social engagement, the jail robs

inmates of social interaction that is essential for psychological development and that, if

disrupted, might have a negative impact on the person. Even after being freed from

prison, persons who spend time in solitary confinement may suffer psychological

effects.

IV.CONCLUSION

You must read this article because these long-term consequences of solitary

confinement damage these individuals' humanity and constitute the greatest possible

violation of their human rights. This is an eye opener to others that even though they
have committed crimes, these people are still human beings and their rights deserve to

be protected.