Solitary confinement in prisons is cruel and unusual. Texas is a leader in the use of prolonged solitary confinement. An NYT 2-15-2022 article titled “27 Years in Solitary, and a Plea for Help” related that more than 500 prisoners have served more than 10 years, and 138 have served more than 20. Dennis Hope served 27 years in Texas solitary. He suffered from depression and paranoia, fearing he was going insane. Former Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy said, “It drives men mad.” He elaborated, “Years on end of near-total isolation exact a terrible price.” Justice Sonia Sotomayor said it “comes perilously close to a penal tomb.” The United Nations special rapporteur on torture has called for a global ban on solitary confinement longer than 15 days. Common side effects of solitary include panic, hallucinations, self-mutilation, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. This is a very depressing and sadistic way to treat our fellow human beings.
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice should take action to reform and reduce solitary to a maximum of 15 days. The Texas legislature should take up Rep. Terry Meza’s House Bill 1409 which calls for no more than 3 consecutive days in solitary or 10 days if there was a violent episode.
Contact person: Jimmy Dunne iPhone 281-250-0096