TED Talks Daily What happens to people in solitary confinement | Laura Rovner
Nov 5, 2019
Civil rights lawyer Laura Rovner, known for her advocacy on prisoners' constitutional rights, sheds light on the harrowing realities of solitary confinement in U.S. prisons, particularly at ADX supermax. She discusses the severe psychological impacts, including loss of identity and mental health deterioration. Rovner makes a compelling case against solitary confinement, emphasizing its status as a human rights violation. She argues for the need to reassess prison ethics, as these harsh conditions reflect on our society’s values and responsibilities.
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Tommy Silverstein's Story
- Tommy Silverstein has been in solitary confinement for 35 years, since 1983, after killing a corrections officer.
- He copes by creating art to express his experiences in ADX.
Social Death
- Solitary confinement is psychologically damaging as human identity is socially constructed.
- Long-term isolation leads to social withdrawal and a sense of social death.
Coping Mechanisms in Solitary
- Some prisoners in solitary confinement engage in self-harm to feel connected to reality.
- Others adjust without outward signs, but the adjustment itself is harmful.