LEARN MORE ABOUT
TORTURE 
SOLITARY

Solitary Cell by Carnell Hunnicutt, Sr., Northern Correctional Institution, Connecticut, 2014 (solitary survivor)

WHY IS SOLITARY CONSIDERED TORTURE?

Solitary Confinement by anonymous solitary survivor.  From Drawing Alone: Making Art in Solitary Confinement and Art and Art Therapy with the Imprisoned: Recreating Identity

Play Video

PBS Frontline tells the history of the United States’ criminal justice system and how the U.S. became a world leader in solitary confinement and mass incarceration. 

History of Solitary Confinement in the United States

The United States began using solitary confinement in the late 1700s. Early in its use, solitary confinement proved harmful and could even lead to death. Until the late twentieth century, the use of solitary confinement was rare. But, beginning in the 1970s, solitary confinement increased with mass incarceration. By the early 2000s, solitary confinement was a routine practice in U.S. prisons and jails. 

Solitary: A Virtual Experience

The national Unlock the Box campaign to end solitary confinement collaborated with The Guardian, Solitary Watch, and survivors of solitary confinement to create the “6×9: A Virtual Reality Experience.”

A mobile app allows you to experience ”6×9” on your own, with or without a VR viewer. If you don’t have a smartphone, scroll down to watch the 360° video.

https://youtu.be/odcsxUbVyZA

Download the app for the full virtual experience:


ANDROID


APPLE


CARDBOARD

The many names of solitary confinement

United States correctional facilities commonly use solitary confinement for many purposes but under a variety of pseudonyms, including administrative segregation, segregated housing units (SHU), restrictive housing, disciplinary segregation, protective custody, medical stay-in-place or lockdown, room confinement, safe cells, or suicide watch. 

Solitary Cell by Carnell Hunnicutt, Sr., Northern Correctional Institution, Connecticut, 2014 (solitary survivor)

lasting effects

effects on the brain

long term damage

Watch the Hearing on the 2022 ERASE bill.