How Prison Solitary Confinement Harms People with Physical Disabilities
Topic: Disability Information
Author: American Civil Liberties Union
Published: 2017/01/13 - Updated: 2024/05/09
Publication Type: Findings
Contents: Summary - Introduction - Main Item - Related Topics
Synopsis: National report on how solitary confinement harms people with physical disabilities - Wheelchairs, braille materials, hearing aids, and other vital devices often denied in solitary. These deprivations violate the Americans with Disabilities Act as well as the Eighth Amendment's prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment. Whether people with physical disabilities are in solitary for protection or for punishment, the horrific conditions are the same...
Introduction
The American Civil Liberties Union published the first-ever nationwide report documenting the special dangers of solitary confinement for people who are blind or deaf, can't walk without assistance, or have other physical disabilities.
Main Item
Drawn from interviews and research on jail and prison practices, "Caged In: The Devastating Harms of Solitary Confinement on People with Physical Disabilities" shows how correctional facilities can require prisoners in solitary to go without the devices, services, and treatment they need to perform basic human functions and remain healthy.
These deprivations violate the Americans with Disabilities Act as well as the Eighth Amendment's prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment.
"For people with physical disabilities, solitary's punishing conditions come with extra pain and suffering," said Jamelia Morgan, Arthur Liman fellow with the ACLU's National Prison Project.
"Prisoners who are deaf might not have an interpreter for weeks, if ever. Prisoners who use wheelchairs can be left on the floor, unable to use the toilet. These conditions are dangerous and unconscionable."
In many jails and prisons, people with physical disabilities are placed in solitary because they have a disability and need protection from other prisoners, not because they have broken a rule.
Dean Westwood, who has quadriplegia and uses a wheelchair, was put in solitary in an Oregon jail.
"When I asked why I was being isolated and held in seclusion, I was told that they would put me wherever they want whenever they want... Simply because I had a physical disability, I was made to endure isolation and abuse at an indescribable level."
Morgan continued;
"Whether people with physical disabilities are in solitary for protection or for punishment, the horrific conditions are the same, with the same risk of permanent psychological and physical damage. Our jails and prisons must end the cruel and inhumane practice of solitary for people with physical disabilities. Instead, they should focus resources on providing equal and meaningful access to critical services, such as medical and mental health treatment, as well as greater opportunities for education and job training."
"Caged In" recommends reforms in jail and prison practices to meet the needs of people with physical disabilities, change solitary conditions, and ensure that these prisoners receive equal access to programs and services.
Similar Topics of Interest
- U.S. Jails Hold More Mentally Ill Persons Than Hospitals: U.S. states such as Texas, Nevada and Arizona have far greater numbers of mentally ill persons housed in state prisons than in hospitals.
- Mentally Ill: Who Goes to Prison? Who Goes to Psych Institutions?: Difference between people with mental illness incarcerated for crime and those declared not criminally responsible and hospitalized at psychiatric institution.
- People with Intellectual Disabilities and the Prison System: Article examines persons with cognitive disabilities as victims or offenders of crime occurring more often than people who do not experience forms of disabilities.
- America, Land of the... Prosecuted: U.S. prisons have filled with more than murderers rapists and violent gang members.
- Majority of NYC Run Psychiatric Hospitals Deny Patients Any Outdoor Access: An investigation revealed patients deprived of all outdoor access at majority of New York City (NYC) run psychiatric hospitals.
- Lack of Mental Health Care in Prisons: Research shows state and federal prisoners are not receiving treatment for mental health conditions.
- The Americans with Disabilities Act and Prison Conditions: Facilities covered by Title II of the ADA including detention and correction facilities are required to make services and programs or activities accessible to people with disabilities.
- Outlining Need for Accommodations for Prisoners with Disabilities: AVID releases Making Hard Time Harder: Programmatic Accommodations for Inmates with Disabilities Under the Americans with Disabilities Act outlining lack of accommodations for inmates with disabilities.
- Prisons Or Education? Where Should Tax Dollars Be Spent?: United States continues to spend money locking up its citizens while at the same time cutting funding for higher education.
- Childhood Trauma and Women's Health in Prison: Strong likelihood that link between childhood trauma and adult physical and mental health issues greatly more pronounced among female offenders.
- Overcriminalization of People with Disabilities Must Be Addressed in Criminal Justice Reform: Report puts disability issues in perspective within criminal justice reform, highlighting steps to combat inappropriate and unjust incarceration and criminalization of people with disabilities, and ensure appropriate and humane treatment of people with disabilities throughout the justice system.
- Accommodations for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Prisoners: Class action lawsuit in response to systemic discrimination by Illinois Department of Corrections and its failure to provide accommodations to deaf and hard of hearing prisoners.
- 33% of Prisoners Reported a Disability in 2011 - 2012: Estimates of disabilities include six specific classifications: hearing, vision, cognitive, ambulatory, self-care and independent living.
Attribution/Source(s):
This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World due to its significant relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by American Civil Liberties Union, and published on 2017/01/13 (Edit Update: 2024/05/09), the content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity. For further details or clarifications, American Civil Liberties Union can be contacted at aclu.org. NOTE: Disabled World does not provide any warranties or endorsements related to this article.
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Cite This Page (APA): American Civil Liberties Union. (2017, January 13 - Last revised: 2024, May 9). How Prison Solitary Confinement Harms People with Physical Disabilities. Disabled World. Retrieved October 9, 2024 from www.disabled-world.com/disability/solitary.php
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