AN EXPLORATION OF THE EFFECTS OF SOLITARY CONFINEMENT IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

Abstract

Psychology, which is the study of the human brain and its involvement in thought processes, personality, and characteristics, has always been relevant in considering the motives, methods, and decisions of criminals. It is especially pertinent when studying corrections, which often involves an attempt to change someone’s behavior through punishment. A specific type of punishment is solitary confinement, which entails the nearly complete isolation of an individual from human contact, including from other inmates and prison staff. Though it may be imposed for a variety of reasons, it almost always includes complete social isolation and some degree of sensory deprivation. The effects of solitary confinement on individuals have been studied in controlled experiments, in the natural environment, on volunteers, both in and out of prison settings. This review both outlines the findings from decades of research and provides suggestions for future research.