On a recent episode of Last Week Tonight, host John Oliver addressed solitary confinement, how prevalent it is and how damaging it can be. Here are just a few facts discussed:
On any given day, it is estimated that there are 90,000 people being held in solitary confinement in prisons and jails across the country, which is most likely an undercount because of how poor the data collection is on this practice.
The average size of a solitary confinement cell is six feet by nine feet, or the size of an average home bathroom.
Despite the fact that a UN Special Rapporteur said that solitary confinement could be considered “torture” and called on all countries to limit the practice to less than 15 days, we still continue this practice and, in some contexts, even subject children to solitary confinement.
Watch the full episode:
UPDATE: Our friends at Rattling the Bars have released an analysis of what Last Week Tonight with John Oliver gets right about solitary confinement and what it leaves out. Watch Rattling the Bars for more.
In our 10th anniversary year, JustLeadershipUSA’s work of educating, elevating, and empowering justice-impacted leaders continues and is growing even stronger!
This is going to be a very special time to look back on the past decade of JLUSA’s important work, the 1,600+ leaders we have helped get to the next level in their work, and even more importantly, we will look ahead to the next 10 years and beyond!
We can’t do this without you. We need your support to help us continue to do this work now and into the future. By making a donation in honor of JLUSA’s 10th anniversary year, you are saying to the amazing leaders in our network who represent the 70+ million Americans who have been directly impacted by the criminal legal system, “I see you, and I support you!”
Please give a one-time $100 gift or set up a recurring $10 monthly donation to celebrate JLUSA’s 10th anniversary year, and together we will build a fair and just U.S. Thank you!
Mail that includes checks only:
JUSTLEADERSHIPUSA, INC
P.O. Box 23681
New York, NY 10087-3681
All other mail:
P.O. Box 1730, New York, NY 10037
347.454.2195
© 2024 JustLeadershipUSA. All Rights Reserved.
JustLeadershipUSA is a non-partisan organization. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed belong solely to the individual author or speaker, and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the organization.