Prison Reform

Solidarity from Solitary

Michelle Pitcher / Texas Observer Sep 24, 2024 From cell blocks to Congress, the fight to give incarcerated workers basic labor rights gains steam. Dig deeper ( 16 Min. Read )

Prison Reform

Supreme Court Gives a Thumbs Up to Solitary Confinement

Brett Wilkins / Common Dreams Nov 16, 2023 Rep. Cori Bush, who is leading the End Solitary Confinement Act, argues that "we are using taxpayer money to torture people." Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Uncle Sam, the Human Rights Hypocrite

Paul Street / Truthdig May 2, 2018 The U.S. sees itself as a humanitarian City on a Hill, fit to judge other nations while giving itself an "exceptionalist" free pass on violations. Dig deeper ( 13 Min. Read )

Prison Rights Advocates on Isolation: ‘This Is Torture’ (Video)

Staff and Chris Hedges / Truthdig Jan 23, 2018 Truthdig columnist Chris Hedges meets with ex-prisoner Ojore Lutalo and rights advocate Bonnie Kerness to discuss abuse in U.S. penitentiaries. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Private U.S. Detention Center Punishes Immigrants for Refusing to Work, Intercept Reports

Donald Kaufman / Truthdig Jan 15, 2018 One detainee tells of being held in solitary confinement for encouraging others to stop participating in a labor program that is supposed to be voluntary. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Illinois Cutting Solitary Confinement Time for Juveniles

Duaa Eldeib / ProPublica Oct 29, 2017 State officials heed a court order regarding the punishment and say research on the harm of isolating young offenders is too powerful to ignore. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Privately Operated Prisons Are Less Safe for Prisoners and More Punitive, Justice Department Says

Staff / Truthdig Aug 12, 2016 Inmates at contract prisons were nine times more likely to be put on lockdown and in solitary confinement than other prisoners in the federal system. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

U.S. to Punish Chelsea Manning After Suicide Attempt in July

Staff / Truthdig Aug 3, 2016 Manning's attorney (pictured) said officials are arranging further miserable conditions for the convicted leaker, including solitary confinement and indefinite detention. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Chelsea Manning Facing Punishment After Suicide Attempt

Staff / Truthdig Jul 29, 2016 The whistleblower could be subject to indefinite solitary confinement and may lose any chance of parole if the Army convicts her of what the ACLU calls “administrative offenses.” Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

An American Formerly Imprisoned in Iran Finds a Way to Break Out of ‘The Box’

Emily Wilson / Truthdig Jul 16, 2016 After experiencing the horror of solitary confinement for over a year, Sarah Shourd now is using storytelling and the theater to heal herself and others. Dig deeper ( 11 Min. Read )

Shaka Senghor: Out of ‘the Hole’ and Into the Light

Emily Wilson / Truthdig Apr 30, 2016 After 19 years behind bars, including seven in solitary confinement, the best-selling author works for criminal justice reform—and for those he left behind. Dig deeper ( 6 Min. Read )

Albert Woodfox, the Last of the Angola Three, Is Finally Free

By Amy Goodman and Denis Moynihan Feb 25, 2016 Woodfox is a living testament to the resilience of the human spirit when subjected to the cruel and unusual punishment of solitary confinement. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )