Campaign for the Abolition of Solitary Confinement – It is time to put an end to this cruel practice. (original) (raw)

Time to end this regressive practice

As Canadians, we pride ourselves on being defenders of human rights, a multicultural society that models diversity and tolerance for the global community. Collectively, we agree on the importance of eliminating racism and providing equal social and economic opportunities for everyone. Canadians advocate for the rights of lesbian, gay & non-binary individuals, for disabled persons, children, immigrants & refugees, and the protection of the animals, the environment and wilderness spaces. But, somehow the basic human rights of incarcerated individuals rarely make it onto this list. I can buy cosmetics guaranteed to have not harmed an animal in testing, and that is a good thing. But, it seems to me we have exerted more resources establishing, maintaining, and investigating the rights and protections of animals than we have for those individuals living in the corrections system.

Referred to, disingenuously, as segregation, solitary confinement is a form of state sanctioned mental torture that humiliates and damages inmates and, I would argue, corrections staff alike. It is not possible to perform and monitor acts of cruelty, such as lengthy periods of solitary confinement, without those acts also demeaning the individuals who impose and supervise them. We need to end the shameful practice of solitary, which too often ends in attempted suicide. At the same time, we need to support corrections staff with adequate training and resources inside these institutions.

It is hard to imagine today, but in the 1800s, hangings were public events in Canada that attracted citizen spectators. Thankfully, we have evolved, eliminated the death penalty, and become a more enlightened society. Since then, decades of social science research has proved that punishment does not change human behavior for the better.

In the current era of pampered pets, some dogs and cats enjoy extra-thick mattresses, expensive treats, and even anxiety medication for post-traumatic stress diagnoses. If we care about animal welfare that much, then surely we can end a practice that denigrates human beings, exacerbates mental illness, and provides no benefits.

Solitary confinement is a primitive form of punishment that degrades us all, and it is time to end this regressive practice.