Is Long Term Solitary Confinement Torture?

[maiforpeace]

Bradley Manning, the soldier who leaked all the classified documents to Wikileaks, has been in solitary confinement for the last four months. Does he deserve this punishment even though he hasn't been been tried yet, and Is it torture?

Bradley Manning, WikiLeaks' Alleged Leaker, 'Very Annoyed' At Solitary Confinement

[Gawdzilla Sama]

There are more creative way to torture somebody.

[maiforpeace]

There are more creative way to torture somebody.

Apply directly to the...oh, nevermind.

So, how do you think you would fare if kept in solitary confinement, Gawdzilla?

[Gawdzilla Sama]

There are more creative way to torture somebody.

Apply directly to the...oh, nevermind.

So, how do you think you would fare if kept in solitary confinement, Gawdzilla?

Poorly, I think. But it would be preferable to sharing a cell with one other person for an extended period. It doesn't take long in that environment before everything they do gets on your nerves.

[Pappa]

I think it is torture. The only valid reason somebody should be held in solitary is if they can't be trusted (for whatever reason) around other people. Presumably, in a prison environment it also works well as a short term punishment when few other options are available. It is barbaric though, locking someone inside their own mind indefinitely is torture and can harm them for the rest of their life.

[Trolldor]

Torture?
I wouldn't go that far.. I mean, you know, unless they actually mean solitary confinement including the absence of human contact.

[FBM]

Wiki sez:

Psychological torture also includes deliberate use of extreme stressors and situations such as mock execution, shunning, violation of deep-seated social or sexual norms and taboos, or extended solitary confinement.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torture#La ... st_torture

Even so, I don't think it would be equally torturous for everyone. I don't think solitary confinement would be a problem for me except in the greatest extremes, by which I mean years. Maybe not even then.

The soldier in question doesn't seem to be a danger to anyone, so I don't see how they could justify prolonged solitary. If it hasn't crossed over into being torture yet, it may well soon.

[JimC]

Wiki sez:

Psychological torture also includes deliberate use of extreme stressors and situations such as mock execution, shunning, violation of deep-seated social or sexual norms and taboos, or extended solitary confinement.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torture#La ... st_torture

Even so, I don't think it would be equally torturous for everyone. I don't think solitary confinement would be a problem for me except in the greatest extremes, by which I mean years. Maybe not even then.

The soldier in question doesn't seem to be a danger to anyone, so I don't see how they could justify prolonged solitary. If it hasn't crossed over into being torture yet, it may well soon.

It may well be that others are a danger to him, though... Some lifers are patriotic gentlemen, who might be inclined to express that patriotism via a hand-made shank...

That aside, if it is being done for punishment reasons rather than protection, it would be unacceptably barbaric if it went more than a few months...

[FBM]

Good point, Jim. I didn't think of that. I imagine a fair number of servicemen would see him as a despicable traitor and might decide to off him for it.

[Berthold]

I'd prefer being alone to being with an aggressive cellmate.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I'd prefer being alone to being with an aggressive cellmate.

Or a religious one.

[Trolldor]

I wouldn't classify it as 'solitary' if he has regular human contact - actual conversations etc.

[Mallardz]

Solitary confinement certainly is torture. Especially for prolonged periods of time.

[Ian]

What little I know is that he has visitors, is able to read newspapers and such, and is out of his cell for on hour per day for exercise (ranging from just getting fresh air to playing basketball). And he's got a cell to himself 23 hours a day. These things do not constitute prolonged solitary confinement.

Quantico knew when they were getting this kid that he'd be a high-profile prisoner for the duration of his stay. That fact alone should do much to negate the possibility of their abusing him.

[charlou]

What little I know is that he has visitors, is able to read newspapers and such, and is out of his cell for on hour per day for exercise (ranging from just getting fresh air to playing basketball). And he's got a cell to himself 23 hours a day. These things do not constitute prolonged solitary confinement.

Quantico knew when they were getting this kid that he'd be a high-profile prisoner for the duration of his stay. That fact alone should do much to negate the possibility of their abusing him.

okay, thanks for the facts, Ian.