I saw a
program on prison isolation wards some time ago. I think the maddening
situation could be improved greatly just by one change in terms. The prison
officials and guards could discontinue the idea of punishment and use real
reasons to explain things to prisoners. For example, instead of telling the prisoners
who react angrily by throwing urine at guards ( or whatever)that now they’ll be
punished with three more months of isolation, guards could explain it rather by
saying “We see how explosive you are, so we won’t be able to let you out
into the general population for fear of what type of trouble you might start
out there. We’re sorry you’ll have to stay here longer- for three more months.”
Carol Caffrey
