Albert Woodfox released after 43 years in solitary confinement in Lousiana - Polidicks

[img]http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/11733/production/_88357417_ad18b3c9-1791-40d4-8c48-a1e6f31d8f8c.jpg[/img] [url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-35617935[/url] [quote]A man who has been in solitary confinement for more than four decades in the US state of Louisiana has been freed, his lawyer says. Albert Woodfox was the last of a group known as "Angola Three" for their decades-long stays in isolation. He had been there since April 1972, after he was blamed for the death of a guard during a prison riot. Woodfox, 69, was awaiting a third trial after having two convictions overturned. He denies all the charges. His lawyers say he has served more time in solitary confinement than any prisoner in US history.[/quote]

Damn, I would've gnawed my own arm off after three days in solitary.

What's he like? Wouldn't you be completely fried mentally after 40 years of solitary? How is that even legal?

imagine being in that spot for so long you don't even know 9/11 or the fall of the soviet union happened

[QUOTE=portalcrazy;49774289]imagine being in that spot for so long you don't even know 9/11 or the fall of the soviet union happened[/QUOTE] I really doubt that he was kept that isolated. Probably was given reading material or at least somebody to talk to in that 1 hour a day outside.

This Shit is why solitary confinement needs to go it is quite fucking clear its being abused ( I hope the dude gets a good settlement after this )

Solitary has its purpose, but that purpose is served after about 24 hours. Less in the overwhelming majority of circumstances. I'd set the max at 36 hours and call it good.

Jesus Christ, I didn't think anyones been in Solitary longer than Thomas Silverstein (whos been in 24 hour a day isolation for 33 years).

[QUOTE=GunFox;49775998]Solitary has its purpose, but that purpose is served after about 24 hours. Less in the overwhelming majority of circumstances. I'd set the max at 36 hours and call it good.[/QUOTE] A few hour for the extreme sure, but clearly as the system goes in the states if the guard doesn't like a person welp hope that person enjoy a small dark lonely spot for years.

[QUOTE=Rangergxi;49774330]I really doubt that he was kept that isolated. Probably was given reading material or at least somebody to talk to in that 1 hour a day outside.[/QUOTE] This. In general, the point of solitary is to keep potentially dangerous prisoners (based off of past actions) isolated away from both prison staff members and other inmates. You keep them alone under strictly-controlled conditions that not only prevent them from harming others but also from harming themselves, and you interact with them on a minimal basis. It can be used as a punishment; mostly, it's there to ensure the peace it kept and dangerous individuals are isolated away from everybody else-- where they can't cause trouble, for anybody (including, again, themselves). While Woodfox's case is questionable in its application, and personally I think it wasn't necessary at all, solitary confinement should not be completely done away with. It has its uses, and it should be retained for those uses. Not only for hours, but for days, weeks, months, even years if necessary. It depends on the prisoner; who they are, what they did, what they're capable of doing, what they've tried to do/have done inside as a convict, etc. are all factors that must be considered on a case-by-case basis.

whats truly sad is the state was ready to keep re-charging him every time his conviction was thrown out simply to not admit fault for their own mistakes. to get out this time, he still had to enter a plea of no contest for crimes he did not commit which isn't right after he's had his sentence thrown out twice, and is facing a 3rd trial for the same crimes. i'm not sure how the 7th amendment doesn't apply here, but even if it truly doesn't, the spirit of this country's judicial system shouldn't have re-tried him after the first conviction was thrown out

[QUOTE=GunFox;49775998]Solitary has its purpose, but that purpose is served after about 24 hours. Less in the overwhelming majority of circumstances. I'd set the max at 36 hours and call it good.[/QUOTE] I'm actually interested to sort myself out with a couple of cold meals and some water, unplug all my devices, shift all my books, reading material, art tools, etc, out of my room and try doing 24 hours in 'solitary', with nothing to occupy me other than myself. I feel like I'm already super introverted but I'd love to have the experience of knowing what that is actually like

[QUOTE=Maloof?;49776290]I'm actually interested to sort myself out with a couple of cold meals and some water, unplug all my devices, shift all my books, reading material, art tools, etc, out of my room and try doing 24 hours in 'solitary', with nothing to occupy me other than myself. I feel like I'm already super introverted but I'd love to have the experience of knowing what that is actually like[/QUOTE] it'd be boring you'd go to sleep to fill the time after you got tired of thinking of shit most inmates report similar things.