I just read a very disturbing article on the Prisoners' HIV/AIDS Support Action Network on solitary confinement and what it essentially does to a person.
Solitary confinement is often used by prison authorities to punish prisoners who break rules or demonstrate violent behaviour. In a single day, close to 1000 inmates were in solitary confinement in prisons throughout Canada. A report was written by Correctional Investigator, Howard Sapers:
"Psychiatric studies have repeatedly found that inmates become increasingly unhinged under conditions of isolation. They have trouble concentrating and frequently experience hallucinations, distorted perception and panic...The article said that inmates feel a sense of intolerable frustration, anger and rage, which may lead to fantasies involving violent revenge against their jailors. 'Psychosis, suicidal behaviour and selfmutilation are commonly seen among prisoners in
long-term solitary confinement'."
I understand that the situation in Canadian prisons can be quite desperate, especially when there are overcrowding issues and the sharing of space of people with varying degrees of criminal behaviour from not so serious to very serious crimes. However, severe punishment only perpetuates violence and does nothing to heal these men and women.
When are we going to learn that this form of justice only creates more of the criminal mindset? Our communities will never be safe as long as we continue to support a system that causes even more pain and suffering, and does nothing to provide support and assistance to those prisoners who have survived their stay in prison, and who have come out to be part of society. What lessons will they have learned from their experience in the Canadian Federal Prison system? What are the chances of these men and women repeat offending? The chances are pretty high...
We are constantly looking for the answers outside ourselves when really things can only change if we start to change our attitudes and show more compassion to all of humankind. The more compassion we have in our communities, the less people will resort to desperate measures to get what they need and want.
Of course, there will always be people who fall into a life of crime...but again, it's not JUST their fault. It is also the fault of the society they were raised in and what society's response was to them when they were in need of support and assistance.
We're not islands. There's a reason why people are messed up and it's not because they're anomalies, it's because we were all a part of making them that way.
Totally agree.
ReplyDeletePeople don't think of it that way...that the system does more damage than good, continues the cycle of violence. How are people supposed to heal if they're punished? Society failed them in the first place, society should take responsibility for this, and put an end to the cycle of violence. Society will be way better for it in the end. European countries have proved this.
North Americans don't think of it that way...that the system does more damage than good, continues the cycle of violence.
ReplyDeleteEuropeans have proven that rehabilitation stops the cycle of violence. In countries that have followed this policy, the crime rate has dropped dramatically.
It may seem like it would take a lot of effort to show compassion and love to those who society failed in the first place, but in the long run, it saves money, and lives.