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A picture caption says thus: "An inmate doing push-ups in the SHU’s exercise yard, a small concrete room with an overhead skylight where inmates are allowed to
by vishnugupta 12y ago
A picture caption says thus:
"An inmate doing push-ups in the SHU’s exercise yard, a small concrete room with an overhead skylight where inmates are allowed to spend an hour and a half a day and receive their only exposure to sunlight"
What's the rationale behind curtailing exposure to sunlight?
A prisoner is already under stress, presumably, especially first timers. Won't denying them natural light only worsen their psychological makeup and pull them into negative spiral?
- eru 12y agoYes. And why only such a limited number of books? Why no (unconnected) computers? Why no exercise equipment?
- malka 12y agoI guess the logic is "they are criminal. They do not deserve any of it"
- Fjolsvith 12y agoActually, the Alaska prison system allowed personal computers to inmates up until about 18 years ago. As of 2003, I knew you could have a playstation or nintendo handheld game system, if you were active with required programs and held a prison job. After that I do not know, as that was the last time I was there.
- kbutler 12y agoLimiting hiding places and tools for violence come immediately to mind. It's easy from the outside to say this rule or that seems cruel or unreasonable, but they are created from experience trying to manage an incredibly creative and incredibly hostile population.
- Fjolsvith 12y agoIf an inmate could have a large number of books, searching cells would become quite time consuming. Unconnected computers can be hacked to an outside line. Again, searching the contents of them would be time consuming. Exercise equipment makes great weapons.
- anvandare 12y agoPelican Bay is a supermax prison, and the SHU is for the "worst of the worst". It's unlikely they put first timers there. As for the rationale: since the law prohibits you from actively torturing/executing prisoners, you have to resort to more creative means of inducing suffering (and thus hopefully compliance). Removing and limiting all privileges, personal belongings, and mental stimulation (including a view other than drab gray concrete walls, or sunlight) is a guaranteed way to get people's mental state to deteriorate. The worsening of the psychological makeup is thus by intent. This is meant for people who are deemed unredeemable, as well as a punishment to threaten prisoners in less severe prisons with: "We have an even worse place for you, should you cause too much trouble." It's torture, of course, except it's legal.