Even though New York State passed a law prohibiting solitary confinement of inmates in cells for long periods of time, the prison units of the Big Apple are leaving the order a dead letter, because every day, in prisons such as Rikers Islandprison guards place inmates who disturb the order under what they call “restrictive housing,” a figure that advocates for New Yorkers deprived of liberty urge to end completely.
And intensifying their demand, community leaders and more than 160 organizations They called on the City Council to approve a bill that is currently in the City’s legislative body to once and for all end solitary confinement and stop what they denounce as acts of torture, in which even inmates have died.
The defenders of the rights of inmates They sent a letter to the President of the Municipal Council, Adrienne Adams, where they thanked the political leader and the majority of legislators for the support they have given to the legislative piece against solitary confinement and asked that it be given the green light immediately.
“In city jailswe must put an end to the cruel and inhumane practice of solitary confinement, which can cause irreparable and lifelong trauma,” said the project’s defenders, who criticize the prison authorities of the Big Apple for continuing to use this practice “with names different, devastating and deadly consequences.”
According to data from the signatories of the letter sent to the head of the Municipal Council, solitary confinement also disproportionately affects Latino and black inmates, in a clear example of racial injustice, since more than 90% of the facts of solitary confinement apply to those two groups.
Akeem Browder, director of the Kalief Browder Foundation and brother of deceased prison inmate Kalief Browder, who also experienced firsthand the consequences of solitary confinement, called on the City Council to do its part in protecting the rights of New York inmates.
“The horrors of Rikers and New York prisons They continue: we have seen the same thing since I was imprisoned until today. The corruption. Destruction and human degradation. My horror began when I was imprisoned and ended when my mother died of a heart attack because of what happened to her son,” said the former inmate and activist. “It doesn’t matter if they change the name, it’s still solitary confinement. “New York has continued to promise to end solitary confinement, but it has not lived up to its promise.”
Anisah Sabur, organizer of the #Haltsolitario campaign, asked the City Legislature to listen to New Yorkers, who broadly support ending solitary confinement in the city’s jails.
“There are more than 160 community organizations, a veto-proof supermajority of council members, the entire New York U.S. House delegation, and the Council President“Adrienne Adams, calling for the approval of the 549 introduction, now is the time to end the practice of solitary confinement in our city jails once and for all,” said the community leader.
Defenders of the dignified treatment of prisoners stated that solitary confinement is a way that authorities use to torture prisoners, leaving devastating physical and mental damage such as heart disease, anxiety, depression and psychosis, consequences that remain even after recovering. freedom and that can trigger acts of suicide, violence and overdose.
“My son, Brandon Rodríguez, passed away on August 10, 2021 in solitary confinement. It is imperative that you pass the 549 introduction. It’s been two years and they have been the worst two years of my life. This bill has been ready for a long time. It’s time“said Tamara Carter, whose son died in solitary confinement in a shower on Rikers Island. “Solitary confinement is cruel. Cages in showers are cruel. I am hurt. This must stop. “We have to keep fighting because there are still people suffering right now.”
Bill would end solitary confinement, in all its forms and names, and would only allow a maximum of four hours to separate a solitary inmate in an emergency cell in order to reduce tensions when they participate in acts of violence. After that period, they would be separated from the general prison population in alternative units that do not put the physical and mental health of the inmates or the safety of all at risk.
“Solitary confinement also makes everyone safer by causing people to deteriorate and making it more, not less, likely that a person will engage in harmful behavior.. “Evidence shows that the opposite of solitary confinement – using alternative forms of separation that involve full days of out-of-cell group programming and participation – actually works better to improve safety, as well as the health and well-being of everyone,” he stressed. the letter sent to the president of the Municipal Council.
2023-12-19 19:10:47
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