Solitary Watch

While the costs borne by individuals forced into solitary confinement are immeasurable, the practice is also far more expensive than other forms of incarceration, as well as alternatives to incarceration. Beginning with construction and extending through operation and reentry, the costs of solitary confinement substantially outpace those of typical incarceration. Estimates suggest that housing an individual in solitary confinement can cost up to three times more than incarceration in the general prison population. Additionally, there are many indirect, or hidden, costs of solitary confinement, including medical care and re-incarceration.