Solitary confinement is a death sentence

Movies can’t even come close to showing us the experience of being in solitary confinement.  It’s not intended to be a death sentence, but it ends up being one because just a few days in solitary can significantly increase the inmate’s risk of death after being released.  A study looking at the long-term effects of solitary confinement, revealed that those who spent less than a week in isolation were 60% more likely to die within 5 years than those who spent no time there.  Most of the inmates’ death weren’t natural and were caused by accidents, suicide and violence.  The inmates who died were younger and served longer sentences.  Certainly, more research has to be done regarding the impact of isolation, but for now, Departments of Corrections are changing their practices of using solitary confinement.  Prison should not be a death sentence.