New this week from Solitary Watch:

Victoria Law, a freelance journalist and Solitary Watch contributor, explores how the COVID-19 pandemic intensified the cruelties of incarceration in her latest book Corridors of Contagion. Featuring testimonies from five people incarcerated across the United States, the book combines storytelling with cutting-edge analysis of the structural failures of the U.S. carceral system: failures that made prisons uniquely vulnerable to COVID-19 outbreaks. The excerpt reprinted on Solitary Watch shows how prison and jail administrators turned to solitary as their primary means of prevention, resulting in a five-fold increase in the use of this punitive practice. Despite (or in part, because of) such measures, the rates of deaths due to COVID-19 was estimated to be six times higher in prisons and jails than in the U.S. population at large. Solitary Watch

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This week’s pick of news and commentary about solitary confinement:

As part of a broader effort to reform its prison system, Washington State sent 100 prison officials to Norway to learn humane practices, particularly regarding solitary confinement. Norway’s prison model focuses on treating incarcerated individuals with dignity and respect, emphasizing rehabilitation over punishment. This approach has led to significant reductions in violence, recidivism, and staff burnout within the country. The program is the brainchild of Amend at UCSF, an organization dedicated to transforming correctional culture. The Seattle Times

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Incarcerated individuals in Texas state prisons are being subjected to extreme heat, exacerbated by climate change. Lack of air conditioning and inadequate safeguards have led to increased deaths from heatstroke. Kwaneta Harris and Xandan Gully, recipients of our Ridgeway Reporting Project grants, are among four incarcerated individuals who share their stories of suffering through unbearable conditions while in solitary. Prism

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Larry Eugene Price Jr. died in 2021 from starvation and dehydration in Sebastian County Jail in Arkansas after spending over a year in solitary confinement. Despite his active psychosis, no medical or mental health check-ups were conducted during his time in segregation. After Price was moved to general population, no action was taken in response to his refusal to take his antipsychotic medications and his dramatic weight loss. “In a very real sense, he was ignored to death,” said Catherine A. Fontenot, a corrections expert hired to support the family’s civil suit, which ended with a $6 million settlement last week. Sebastian County and the jail’s medical provider, Turn Key Health Clinics, did not admit any wrongdoing and do not plan to make significant changes to their protocols. Newsweek

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A new report from the Disabilities Law Program of Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. (CLASI) calls for Delaware to end solitary confinement and ensure humane treatment for incarcerated individuals with mental illness. Key proposed reforms include eliminating “backdoor” methods that keep individuals in restrictive settings without officially labeling it solitary confinement, ending the use of punitive isolation for those on suicide watch, and improving transparency by regularly releasing documentation to the public about prison conditions. ACLU-Delware

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In an opinion piece, advocate and solitary confinement survivor Kevin McCarthy writes about the continued resistance faced in advancing the Mandela Act, which seeks to limit solitary confinement to 15 days and ban its use for vulnerable groups, including pregnant individuals and the elderly. Initially introduced in 2022, the bill was vetoed by Governor Gavin Newsom, who cited concerns over safety and enforcement challenges. In 2023, Assembly Member Chris Holden (D-Pasadena) reintroduced a revised version to address these concerns. Despite increased support and calls for further negotiations, the governor’s office has shown little willingness to engage with advocates on the issue. San Francisco Chronicle 

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Action Alerts for this week: 

This year’s Prison Banned Books Week (September 15 – September 21, 2024), focuses on highlighting and addressing the censorship of books within the prison system. For people in solitary confinement, the effects of book bans and restricted access to reading materials are particularly severe. The lack of access to reading materials exacerbates feelings of isolation and restricts resources that can aid in mental health, personal development, and emotional support. To advocate for the removal of restrictions on books within prisons and jails, you can take action online here. 

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Empowerment Avenue and Berkeley Art Center are co-presenting Painting Ourselves into Society, an exhibition is co-curated by Orlando Smith Aka “O. Smith” from inside San Quentin Prison and Rahsaan “New York” Thomas, who has returned to society after 22 years inside. The exhibit will open on Saturday, September 21st with an Opening Reception from 2:00pm-5:00pm at Berkeley Art Center,1275 Walnut Street, Berkeley.  It features the works of eight currently and formerly incarcerated artists nationwide exploring what it means for incarcerated people to stay connected to the larger community and to challenge the idea of what healing looks like together. 

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