Solitary Confinement/ Punitive Segregation

Solitary Confinement/ Punitive Segregation

Should solitary confinement be eliminated within jails and prisons? What are the pros and cons
of solitary confinement? The discussion should include, but not be limited to, security concerns,
short and long-term effects on inmate’s physical and mental health, case studies, empirical data
and safety issues for inmates and staff. You are to conduct independent research. Your research
may include comparisons with other agencies nationwide and worldwide. What if anything could
be implemented to replace solitary confinement? What are the effects of solitary confinement on
inmates with special needs, ie, elderly inmates, pregnant women, inmates with disabilities,
teenagers, mentally ill or physically ill, et al. Can you effectively keep staff and inmates safe
without solitary confinement? Does solitary confinement violate the 8th Amendment which
prohibits “cruel and unusual” punishment? You must cite relevant Supreme Court Case Law.
Must be 2500 words (10 pages) double spaced utilizing a 12-point Times New Roman font,
submitted to “Turn It In. Grammatical errors will lower your grade, proofread your writing. You are
to use Peer Reviewed Journals, case law, news articles, and similar publications as the basis of
your response. Do not cite Wikipedia. Citations should be documented in the American
Psychological Association (APA) format.