New this week from Solitary Watch:

In our latest piece from the Ridgeway Reporting Project, Abraham Santiago, a former incarcerated caregiver and now an ICU clinical technician, shares a harrowing firsthand account of working in Connecticut’s prison medical unit during the COVID-19 pandemic. While incarcerated at MacDougall-Walker, Santiago provided care to gravely ill people at the height of the crisis, as a certified nursing assistant. He details the grim reality of watching men die alone, the ethical struggles of caring for those deemed irredeemable by society, and the lasting emotional toll of his work. His story sheds light on the often-overlooked role of incarcerated medical workers and the systemic failures that led to a public health catastrophe behind bars. Solitary Watch

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

Jeremy Busby, an incarcerated journalist in Texas, has faced brutal retaliation for exposing the realities of prison life. In 2023, after being attacked by a cellmate, Busby was placed in solitary confinement and transferred to another facility. His attacker was never charged. At the time, he had been preparing for an interview about the rise in violence and drug use in Texas prisons. Since then, he has endured repeated transfers, destruction of personal property, and denial of basic necessities. His story highlights the systemic efforts to silence incarcerated journalists who report on abuses behind bars. Columbia Journalism Review. | Solitary Watch Contributing Writer Kwaneta Harris has also used journalism to expose the harsh realities of the prison system. A former nurse from Detroit, Harris is  incarcerated at the Lane Murray Unit in Texas and has spent over eight years in solitary confinement. Through her writing, Harris has revealed the injustices faced by incarcerated women and how prison authorities punish those who speak out. Vanguard News Group

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Socorro County, New Mexico, has agreed to a $2 million settlement in a lawsuit filed by Jessie Chavez alleging he faced severe civil and constitutional rights violations while incarcerated at the county’s jail. Chavez, who has a history of mental illness, was placed in solitary confinement without medical care, denied food and water for extended periods, and subjected to unsanitary living conditions. Over the course of his incarceration, Chavez lost 20 pounds and required intensive psychiatric treatment after his release. Advocates argue that his case underscores the broader issue of inadequate mental health care in correctional facilities. El Defensor Chieftain

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A group of criminal justice reform advocates gathered at the Wisconsin State Capitol to raise awareness about the harsh conditions of solitary confinement. Leon Irby, who spent over 40 years in solitary confinement, shared his personal experience and advocated for change. His call for reform comes as Governor Tony Evers proposed significant changes to Wisconsin’s prison system, including closing the Green Bay Correctional Institution and overhauling the Waupun Correctional Facility, where extended lockdowns have imposed solitary confinement on everyone held there. Advocates aim to make the system more humane and effective by pushing for alternatives to solitary confinement, better mental health support, and improved reintegration of incarcerated people into society. WMTV15

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Leonel Rivas Gonzalez, who was detained by ICE at the Otero County Processing Center after entering the U.S. in December 2023, shares the trauma and inhumane conditions he endured. Rivas Gonzalez was placed in solitary confinement for 45 days after participating in a hunger strike to protest his detention and the facility’s conditions. He struggled with feelings of hopelessness and suicidal thoughts, but found strength in thoughts of his partner and daughter. His story sheds light on the harmful impact of the U.S. immigration detention system and calls for legislative change.. ACLU New Mexico

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The strike by New York corrections officers highlights the debate over the Humane Alternatives to Long Term Solitary Confinement (HALT) Act, which places a 15-day limit on the use of solitary confinement in the state. While some officers argue that solitary confinement is necessary for safety, the larger issue is a dysfunctional prison system marked by violence, inadequate resources, and inhuman conditions. In a new commentary, Pace University law professor Michael Mushlin argues for a reimagined approach to incarceration, focused on rehabilitation and human dignity, which could eliminate the need for solitary confinement and foster safer, more humane prisons. Bloomberg Law

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Florida Senate Bill 1758 and House Bill 1061 aim to address the United Nations Committee Against Torture’s concerns about the United States’ use of solitary confinement and lack of data on the practice. These bills would mandate the collection of data on restrictive housing in Florida’s correctional system, including details on frequency, duration, demographics, mental health, and conditions. This data would help assess the impact of solitary confinement and ensure compliance with international human rights obligations. Florida State University law student Nicholas Lower asserts that supporting these bills promotes transparency, accountability, and potential future reforms, encouraging Florida to lead in upholding human rights standards. Tallahassee Democrat  

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Action Alerts for the week:

On Wednesday April 9th, the Nation Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT) will host “How to Become a Lifelife,” a webinar on supporting individuals in solitary confinement. The event will feature Lifelines to Solitary, a national pen pal program developed by Solitary Watch that connects people in isolation with correspondents on the outside. Project Coordinator Marlies Talay will join panelists with firsthand experience as pen pals to discuss the impact of receiving letters and how religious communities and individuals can get involved. Register here: NRCAT on Zoom

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