Not For Human Consumption – Solitary
Solitary confinement is undeniably cruel and should be outlawed. Statistics reveal a haunting reality: three out of four inmates, subjected to solitary confinement for 14 continuous days or more, suffered from enduring mental health conditions. These afflictions encompass depression, anxiety, hypertension, and even schizophrenia. Moreover, the same statistics show that isolated inmates are 95% more likely to attempt suicide than those in general population.
While Colorado purports to be at the forefront in ending this abominable practice, the reality paints a different picture. Recent legislation in Colorado attempted to limit the time offenders spent locked away, such as those in R.H. (Restricted Housing) and M.C. (Managed Control). Allegedly, offenders in R.H. now receive only 2 ½ hours out of their cells, while those in M.C. are allowed 4 hours daily. This isn’t just a mere suggestion; it’s the law. However, from my personal experience as a current inmate in the M.C. at Centennial Correctional Facility in Canyon City, Colorado, I can attest that this law isn’t being upheld.
C.D.O.C. (Colorado Department of Corrections) A.R.s (Admin Regulations) stipulate that M.C. offenders should have 1 hour in outdoor recreation cages, 1 hour in the rec room, 2 hours of table time, and a 15-minute shower. Yet, in my approximate 45 days in the M.C. unit, I’ve been out in the outdoor rec cages only twice and had table time on two occasions. Most days, I am confined to the indoor rec area and the shower, given that I choose to do so. With no cellmate and only an hour in the indoor rec room, it feels much like solitary confinement to me.
I earlier mentioned ‘table time,’ a form of torture veiled by C.D.O.C. First, a correctional officer opens my tray slot and handcuffs me, after which I’m led outside. Two C.O.s then chain me in the universal chain restraints, consisting of a belly chain and handcuffs secured behind my back. Subsequently, a seat chain is added, securing me to a table in a seated and restricted position. This protocol turns into an excruciating ordeal, and my back aches significantly after just 20 minutes. After 45 minutes, it becomes unbearable. If I desire human contact, I must endure this torture for two hours. After an hour, I plead with the Cos to return me to my single cell. The problem is that almost every inmate at the table wants the same, and unchaining each of us takes ten minutes. This cruel and unusual psychological deterrent is used to control individuals, but I strongly believe C.D.O.C. designed this to inflict pain and humiliation, dissuading inmates from seeking table time. It’s a carefully crafted method to maintain control and enforce the law, albeit in a painful, humiliating manner.
At CCF, C.D.O.C. houses close custody offenders who are granted 6 hours out of their cells daily without being restrained. However, when incidents in close custody prompt facility lockdowns, MCC (Managed Control Custody) unit, including inmates like me, also face lockdown. It’s not uncommon to be locked in our cells for 72 straight hours when such events occur multiple times, amplifying the sense of solitary confinement.
The uncertainty of coming out of our cells at scheduled times triggers extreme anxiety and bouts of depression. It’s a daily conditioning in negativity, fostering a sense of psychological torture worse than solitary confinement itself — the torment of uncertainty. The perpetual anxiety causes me to incessantly pace in my cell, leading to dry, bleeding feet. Other inmates resort to keeping their food trays or covering windows with paper to force the C.O.s to open the door, seeking relief from the close environment. This stems from extreme emotional distress resulting from inhumane tactics akin to solitary confinement.
It’s a harsh truth — just because a state like Colorado has decided to rebrand ‘Solitary Confinement’ as M.C.C. doesn’t change the reality. It’s a psychological inhumane game. How long will we allow this to continue? It breeds mindsets that we strive to shield ourselves from in the U.S.”
– Stephen
