United States President Barack Obama is banning the use of solitary confinement as a form of punishment to juveniles in federal prisons. He banned the penalty on Monday because it causes depression and other psychological harm in the long run.
This decision of the president is part of a wider move against mental illnesses and to improve the condition of prisons in the U.S. The Guardian reported a research that stated prisoners who were confined alone can acquire lifelong mental illnesses. It explained that people, who are usually alone can get depressed, feel alienated, go through withdrawal and will have less capability to mingle with others. It further explained some might possibly become violent and others who are already mentally ill will have their state worsen. Solitary confinement could also generate new mental illnesses and suicide thoughts might become prominent especially for minors.
Obama said locking a prisoner alone doesn't give any positivity to the government or to anyone. According to Washington Post, Obama asked in an op-ed published Monday, "How can we subject prisoners to unnecessary solitary confinement, knowing its effects, and then expect them to return to our communities as whole people?" He added it doesn't make anyone more secure it only affect the people's humanity. He also wrote in the op-ed there will be facilities for inmate with mental illness and they will be regularly checked. There will also be new laws that will lessen the sentence of non-violent crimes and new guidelines to be followed by all federal correctional prisons.
The president used a 16-year-old boy as an example as to why the banning is needed. New York Times stated Obama said a boy from Bronx committed a suicide after being confined in solitude for being accused of stealing a backpack in 2010. Kalief Browder who was waiting for his trial in Rikers Island was put in solitary confinement for nearly two years. Browder committed suicide shortly after he was released in 2013. According to Obama it was due to trauma of being locked up alone for a day without anyone.
Obama is taking actions against unjust punishments and is widely spreading justice to the whole country. He is doing everything in his very limited time remaining as the president. He said that redemption is the key for improvement.
