Opening Arguments Solitary Confinement Is Inhumane, Traumatizing, and Unnecessary. So Why Are We Still Doing It To People?
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Dec 15, 2025 In this insightful conversation, Christopher Blackwell, an incarcerated journalist and activist, shares his compelling journey through the brutal realities of solitary confinement. He describes his first harrowing experience at just twelve and its lasting psychological impact. Christopher argues that solitary is used as a control mechanism rather than for rehabilitation, revealing its dehumanizing effects. He discusses his organization, Look2Justice, advocating for change and healing through trauma-informed programs, while emphasizing society's tragic neglect of prison abuses.
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Early Solitary At Age Twelve
- Christopher Blackwell describes being first jailed at 11 and sent to solitary at 12 after a car theft conviction.
- He recounts being strip-searched, hogtied, and deeply traumatized by that early exposure to the system.
Sensory Deprivation Defines Solitary
- Solitary is a tiny concrete cell with constant light, no clock, and minimal stimulation.
- Blackwell emphasizes sensory deprivation and lack of time perception as central harms of solitary.
Solitary As A Control Tool
- Solitary expanded as a managerial tool during mass incarceration to control overcrowded prisons.
- Blackwell argues it functions as a stick for administrators, not as rehabilitation or genuine protection.
