Alone: Teens in Solitary Confinement

Capping a year of reporting about teens held in solitary confinement, The Center for Investigative Reporting is releasing our documentary "Alone," which can now be seen on our KZbin channel, The I Files.
This follows stories we've done in print, for broadcast on the PBS NewsHour, as part of CIR's new "Reveal" radio show, and in an animation ("The Box") and graphic novel.
With the publication or broadcast of each version of our reporting, we have seen the issue of teenage solitary confinement become part of a growing national debate.
In May, after more than a year of lobbying by youth advocates, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder called on states to end the excessive use of solitary confinement on juvenile inmates.
CIR began investigating the solitary confinement of teenagers in prisons, jails and juvenile halls across the U.S. in March 2013. Juvenile justice experts had been pressing the Department of Justice to flex its muscle on behalf of young inmates, to no avail. Holder's shop declined all interview requests by CIR.
Our reporting quickly zeroed in on Rikers Island, the massive jail complex in New York City, where last year about a quarter of juvenile inmates were held in isolation for 23 hours a day. We spent almost a year requesting to see Rikers' teen solitary units, but the city's Department of Correction denied them, as did officials at Cook County jail in Chicago and five county jails in Florida. We figured out quickly that juvenile solitary was an often secretive practice, largely unregulated and rampant in most states.
Our investigation early on pointed to thousands of American teenagers held in solitary every day. We wanted to show what that looked like and how it affected kids. We talked to criminal justice experts in California who said virtually every juvenile hall in the state used some form of prolonged isolation.
That's when we remembered Santa Cruz County Juvenile Hall. Covering juvenile justice over the years, Trey Bundy had heard again and again that officials in Santa Cruz had created a model that had reduced the use of isolation so much that corrections officials around the country routinely traveled to California's Central Coast to see how they did it.
Santa Cruz Chief Probation Officer Fernando Giraldo, and Sara Ryan, the hall's superintendent, allowed us to film inside their facility for five days, unescorted, and talk to anyone we wanted. Our resulting documentary, "Alone," toggles between New York City and Santa Cruz, where young people tell their own stories of isolation and how the justice system can do better.
Now that Holder has said he wants to end excessive solitary for youth, we'll keep watching for changes. In the meantime, watch "Alone" and see for yourself what it's like for kids in isolation and how one facility is trying to keep them out.
"Alone" was produced Daffodil Altan. It was reported by Altan and Trey Bundy, edited by David Ritsher and Andrew Gersh, and filmed by Marco Villalobos. The senior producer was Stephen Talbot. The executive producer was Susanne Reber.

[@johnwick-ge8rf]

I've been in jail. did a month in the hole 23 hours a day solitary. most tortuous month of my life. I was 23. never wanted to die more.

[@garywentz424]

Did three months in the hole served 6 months in jail the first 2 weeks are rough but i adjusted easier than most i guess it helps when you have anti social issues

[@jkillvril4614]

Madara Ramses me too . Im 17 and I spent 32 days .My cell had a hole in the window and it was February 2017. Guards caught rec off the fact snow was coming in. I went through two blizzards in there. I wrapped my feet with toilet paper and put my slippers on while shivering under covers. The extreme conditions made half my body become numb .Ihave MS and they knew that but these guys were souless. They would taunt instead of help ... n they wonder why people wanna body them .I heard kids going crazy in there .the toughest kids would eventually break down n cry . It's beyond wrong .still bothers me to think bout it .

[@alexoelkers2292]

Madara Ramses at least you got your legal hour to get out of your cell in Sacramento they will keep you in there 24 hours a day for up to a week at a time while they "process" you.

[@bohemoth1]

@ASM _ Wake up! Everyone knows that the deck is stacked against minorities in the criminal Justice System! You are a victim of PERCEPTION MANAGEMENT! The CONTROLLED statistics you are speaking of are MANIPULATED by the government that is the white government of the united States! Our criminal Justice system is flawed with the disparity of the administration of justice. I have an idea for you! Why don't you go into a Black or Hispanic community and mentor a few young kids! Get to really know them. See how the educational system treats them. Watch how the police look at them and intimidate them. Watch what happens when they walk into a store to buy something. Then come back and make your comments! You know what!? I dare to even try to see how they live!

[@bohemoth1]

@ASM _ many of the juvenile offenders are not in confinement for a criminal act in New York City. They are placed in jail via a PINS PETITION by their parents or teachers. A PINS PETITION is that the parent or teachers feels that the child must be placed into a structured environment. PINS = PERSON IN NEED OF SUPERVISION! And running away from home or skipping school in New York City is just cause for a PINS PETITION! You can Google NEW YORK STATE DOMESTIC RELATIONS LAW in the McKinney Edition Law Books. You can research THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE LAW of The State of New York and The Penal Law of The State of New York.

[@simoneritchie7257]

How long will it take people to realize that solitary confinement makes the person worse, not better?

[@TrembleB4Me]

Right but how do you make them not do the crome again if they are not punished? How can you make them hate jail so they wont do the crime ever again? Thats what boggles the minds of jails

[@fromdestructiontoredemptio2840]

My ex-fiance went to jail for 8 months & was in solitary confinement for most of his stay because of serious behavioral issues. When he got out, he was even crazier than when he went in.

[@thewestspecialty6090]

I went in a good 13 year old kid, came out 3 and a half years later a monster. It’s been almost 3 years and I’m still struggling to shake everything off my shoulders. This shit is real I promise

[@itravisoni]

Call on Jesus He loves You.

[@googlegmail9888]

@@itravisoni amen

[@Leaptab]

The truth is the system victimizes people, even innocent ones. The correction officers get to take their own frustrations on inmates as personal punching bags, the grow into sadistic tortures.

[@freeflyer151]

This happened to me at a very young age because my mom said I was unruly. I was never charged with a crime but they would still put me in there because she didn’t want me at home so she could stay at her bar all night and do what she wanted. I am 39 now and it still affects me to this day. There are no words to describe the torture I would feel in there. I was always freezing cold. It wasn’t just mental kids need to be active and I was athletic if you exercised you would sweat then freeze even more. It made me feel like I wasn’t even human. This should not be done to anyone especially for an extended period of time.

[@EastsideSILENCER777]

I work in a smu ( Special Management Unit) at a Federal Prison. Just being a BOP Officer in there is sometimes torture. It comes to the point that I have to walk off the range.

[@itravisoni]

She should have told You what You did wrong. She wasn't brought up right someone abused Her. May Jesus richly bless You mighty with His Holy Spirit.

[@Leaptab]

@@itravisoni we shouldn't rely on Jesus, we can and should fix the system ourselves.

[@itravisoni]

@@Leaptab I mean trust in Jesus and pray to Him for His wisdom to fix the system that needs to be fixed. If You don't hang out with the wrong crowd and stay out of trouble You don't go to Jail or Prison.

[@robertomaricruz6026]

​@@itravisoniJesus isn't real

[@jkillvril4614]

Solitary is rough on even the toughest of adults ....I can't even imagine how it is for a teen . Cruel and unusual punishment

[@NateDumbout]

Uni Aka fire stfu you dumb asshole people deserve a second chance in life and you don’t understand that because you don’t say the bigger picture and nobody is perfect.we are all here for a reason and people should be forgiven

[@NateDumbout]

Jake killvril facts it’s really crazy and it’s like hell on earth

[@anthonyvega5400]

Unconstitutional

[@benjaminphillips5639]

@@gowdsake7103 No, but maybe you should.

[@c.a.greene8395]

This isn't segregation In segregation you are kept naked, no blanket, no pillow, only a metal bed frame to lay on....thats solitary confinement these boys are doing for misbehaving Segregation on the otherhand is much, much, worse, I know because I was kept in one naked and cold for 6 months at 12 years of age, in a man's super max prison in Canada for running away from home, made a ward of the courts, deemed a child in need of protection then forgotten...if I hadn't had been transfered to a woman's prison I would never have escaped! Being I had been given no sentence I could still be there today had I not escaped. I was 12 then, I zm 50 now and still AWOL. I am waiting to be arrested on the AWOL charge so I can get my day in court and sue these bastards for what they did to me...

[@thelordismyshepherd7515]

Any teen watching with me? Stay in school

[@s0ftbby346]

Lord is My Shepherd definitely not, school makes me miserable

[@kit2130]

softwlw then do online classes

[@jmariebradley9231]

Stay in school 😂😂😂😂😂okay....

[@biancakatai263]

Jmarie Bradley .,

[@emanrodr2736]

softwlw okay bum

[@chopx-nick5116]

Jail should be about rehabilitation so they can go back out Society as good people

[@fkoff6301]

Blue Destroyer ... I do agree about that though

[@tims4502]

Ic3ywrist Style - rehab only works when the person wants to be rehabilitated

[@janellehaines7979]

Sometimes people just need to be punished

[@mr.pocket575]

Halden prison in Norway was built with that exact objective in mind en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halden_Prison

[@wiltuhoward8164]

Ic3y Wrist exactly

[@emilymchale]

rip Kalief Browder. Youre not forgotten.

[@cbass415]

It saddens me what happened to Kalief almost to tears to this very day.

[@99yearsago37]

@@cbass415 what happened to him

[@cbass415]

@@99yearsago37 long story. They made a documentary on hii experiences he had to endure. I think it's simply called "The Kaleif Browder Story". I think it's on Netflix may be wrong about that, but if you look him up I'm sure you'll find it easy enough.

[@cbass415]

@@99yearsago37 I just typed it in KZbin. They have full story.

[@aishacoco8902]

@bianca prince dumb bitch

[@nonicee3146]

You can tell a lot about a country by the way they treat their prisoners!!! Treat someone like an animal....ultimately they will behave like one!!!!

[@chih-lichen5588]

But at the same time, you get treated like an animal because you weren't acting human in the first place you know? They take away your human rights as a punishment for not acting right

[@yungdrilla2751]

LILY you can’t take away someone’s human rights though because even if they’ve acted inhumanely to get into prison does not mean they should now be treated like a caged animal. Locking someone in solitary will help no one but it will cause the inmate to behave even more like an animal.

[@sarahh367]

We treat everyone bad..does not even matter the color of your skin. It messes you up !!

[@nicoleann9658]

Compared to other countries they have it pretty damn good here.

[@christopherjames375]

Thank u . Shit in a bucket. Banged up 23 hours day . They say he is a nutter . Not FUCKING many .

[@bookcreator]

Solitary confinement is cruel, period, regardless of whether the prisoner is a juvenile or not

[@HistoryChannel1776]

I wonder is these kids can have books in their cell?

[@Theealterego]

I doubt they can have books in solitary confinement. Yes it is a cruel punishment

[@Mia-ln1zs]

+James Mac If their on suicide watch no, yes if they're just being isolated from others. It also depends on the guard.

[@nicoleann9658]

Behave then and be a good person on the outside. Don't even end up there.

[@fusionfallmaina]

Nicole Ann there are people that haven’t been charged with anything sitting in solitary, what did they do?

[@Slim545]

jail does nothing but make u an more violent person than u already were, that's y they need to put people in rehabilitation spots not a fukking cell... n for people who r on the comments bashing these individuals it's very easy to do that when u grew up in a nice neighborhood without watching ur back every 5 mins, hearing shots 24/7, all types of violence......

[@chopx-nick5116]

reckless exactly

[@geovaniibrown1568]

Agree

[@sql-me7ew]

This world need more soled ppl not vienes because we ain't trying to get punk by other county's or other reases shit is there for a reson

[@sql-me7ew]

Y u think we go to war for to make niggas into mans u think girls want a bitch nigga in his side

[@sql-me7ew]

If it's like that then fool whold take us a joke who's down to gun shit down like we should... U now y ppl get busted is snitches n talking to much n going to fast that's y ppl get busted but who ever dont like this life stay away that's it we don't got u guys ala fuersa plz get away from are way we still gona do it no matter what one way or another somo cuatemo

[@skateyoyodudeEXG]

Solitary confinement is a form of torture

[@BillAngell]

Yup

[@coyoteden3773]

so is being robbed ...mentally its torture...they didn't get put in solitary by following the rules..

[@mlove4654]

You come out worst that can really fuck up your mind

[@kushy2249]

So is rape bu you know that didn't sop them.

[@DAC2791]

Work a day in my shoes as a corrections officer, dipshit.

[@gracefullyblessed555]

My son was in there, and the CO's failed to do there job on seeing his depression if being in solitary confinement, he is in the hospital now fighting for his life, no eating, showering, long hair, long beard and mustache, long toe nails not coming out, how far does it have to go for these young inmates get help

[@IONLYPLAYCODFTW]

It’s one year later I hope he’s doing ok much love from Ireland 🇮🇪

[@gracefullyblessed555]

@@IONLYPLAYCODFTW my son has passed but thank you

[@Bones.x]

This should never have happened to you and your son. 💔

[@walkdownonnasucka]

Grace Villalba im really sorry to hear that 💔

[@doraymeandyou]

So sorry for your loss. 💔

[@gracefullyblessed555]

I even reported it, cause my son would not communicate at all with me he would just look at me, all they could tell me is they would do a mental evaluation but where is it..my son is now fighting for his life please keep him in prayer

[@emkaygcaba3907]

hows your son doing ?

[@ianmuir3640]

In jail because your poor Jimmy Carter was right when he said "you don't see many rich Americans in jail

[@quedugar408]

I always noticed that all the young guys that went through juvenile corrections came back to their communities numb to emotions, used and sold drugs, and ended worse in prison or dead. Rehabilitation? What's that?

[@nickperez8127]

I remember being 14 and then giving me 68 hours for talking during lunch. I was actually praying to my self for my food. The system is messed up and no one should do time apart from society

[@johndough4396]

I spent a week in juvenile hall in isolation for skipping school. Felt like a year. Time deprivation. Falling asleep and waking up having no idea if I've slept for 8 hours or 8 minutes. The only sense of time I had was when David Letterman came on at 11 o clock. And I was a tough guy. Solitary broke my spirit and made me cry like a little bitch. I can't say I agree with it having experienced it myself.

[@WhatsyourIQ1]

😂😂😂 lesson learned I hope.

[@tristanjones429]

@@WhatsyourIQ1 screw you, no one deserves prison or solitary confinement for just skipping school.

[@chill_pilll]

Just 4 skipping school are you serious? Maybe not only for skipping or hard-core skipping.

[@WhatsyourIQ1]

@@tristanjones429 I’m sure you have been screwed more than once. Do the right thing and you wouldn’t have to be locked up like an animal. Go to school children it’s very important you will end up bitter like Tristan.

[@haydenfowle7576]

@@WhatsyourIQ1 seems a bit much for skipping school

[@PissedOffRedneck1]

the USA is the only country in the united that doesnt view solitary confinement as torture

[@PissedOffRedneck1]

PissedOffRedneck1 *United nations

[@851852093114208513]

PissedOffRedneck1 - To be fair, the stupid half of our government doesn't want to be part of the United Nations. For example, we don't agree with the whole human rights thing. Why? Because the conservatives don't think America should be bowing to a foreign power.

[@rupertplum1709]

Because it's ran by white men.

[@fiddlermike]

@@851852093114208513 Americans have fought and died to keep from bowing to foreign powers.

[@davewilliams5208]

UK does it, it made me strong, taught me a lot about myself

[@rockstarskolas]

This reminds me of the time a guy spent 3 months in Rikers only to find out his bail was only $2

[@kr1221E]

what a crying shame :(

[@treywilliams7223]

Only in America.

[@moe4204]

Gtfoh lmao

[@sonkien3]

what the actual fuck!?!?!?!?!?!?

[@MrGrayWolf]

I don't think people are getting the message from this video. They aren't trying to defend these kids from getting punished for their crimes. But do you see this kind of "reforms" helping anyone? It's supposed to put in their minds to not do something like this again, but in that kind of place, they don't have any room, any chance of interaction to improve themselves. Going without almost all communcation with the outside world, not knowing what is going to happen to you. You are stripped from everything you know and have, and stuck in that place for days, or even months.

[@MrGrayWolf]

ASM _ Oh, I guess you'r'e right.. I'll edit my comment.

[@poohpooh5468]

Gray Himakar yesss🙌Thank uu exactly. Some people are just lowdown an font give a fuck until its them

[@tbeautifulmelodies9820]

Gray Himakar they shouldn't be out there committing crimes.

[@hollyharrison1377]

ASM _ and clearly, seg didn’t give you the ability to relate to other people. You are proving the message of this video to be correct with every reply you post. Keep going. Thanks for proving our point

[@fatimak8558]

Gray Himakar there are people put in there for things they didn’t do

[@ChrisChimbay25]

I was 16 when i was in solitary confinement and honestly it was the worst and cruel place to be. I just wanted to die. It really fucked me up inside there but thank god I am out and doing better in life and I turned my life around. I promise myself I never wanna go back to that horrible place.

[@pmbarro]

Seems like it worked then lol

[@orcatwilight1340]

More solitary would’ve made you a millionaire

[@pamelalynn140]

If a parent locked their child up like this in Canada we'd go to jail for child abuse, but it's ok for jails to do this?? This is torture and needs to stop, how is this rehabilitation?? Poor kids, breaks my heart 💔

[@chriss9187]

I was in solitary soon before my 19th bday. Worst experience of my life.

[@bettyvanderhooven-schmaasc4235]

Every lawmaker & person working in corrections; jailers, clerical, medical, wardens, EVERYONE should have to endure a MANDATORY 24 hour stay in solitary. Then watch things change.

[@jonathannagel7427]

I just watched a documentary you may want to check out, it was about an Indiana (?) lawmaker who did a measly 48hr stint to better understand the system... but knowing you’re going home to nice food and a nice so soon is so far from a real experience. (Edit: it was on KZbin)

[@Iworkwithnitwits]

Tell that to the victim's family that they are still kids.

[@99yearsago37]

I would start losing my mind in the first 24 hours

[@sledgehammer7567]

I really commend that woman for letting that kid play guitar. He's pretty decent at it too. We are human...

[@vap420]

Moral of the story.....................dont fucking commit any crimes

[@putinstea]

But this is state abuse!!!

[@giveitback2me]

There are a lot of innocent people who gets locked up for crimes they didn't commit. The point of this is placing violent offenders in solitary confinements. You wouldn't be in the SHU if you kept your calm and didn't act up. But, did you spend time in the SHU?

[@chang1nglanes]

moral of the story; don't treat people like shit no matter what they've done. No matter what someone has done, solitary confinement is just inhumane.

[@TheHippie0]

vap420 If that is honestly all you got out of this documentary then you are fucked up in the head

[@CC-mm3bl]

+vap420 Says the person who's name has 420 in it. Treat others how you would want to be treated. Would you like to be thrown in solitary confinement for a little weed? But hey, it's a crime you know.

[@joem1842]

No one should be in solitary confinement period. They need mental help

[@joem1842]

Uni Aka fire yes for the very heinous crimes and for the people that show no remorse to those that are killed but a lot of people are wrongly convicted (innocent) sit in these cells and even those convicted are out in these types of conditions when they don’t need to be, those guys need help but not the people that show no remorse to their multiple murders

[@RutoMustGoNow]

Oh pedophiles deserve instant painful death, but this might be a good option too.

[@andrestapia7329]

@@RutoMustGoNow agree. I've done time. But i do think some ppl do deserve it. For a while.

[@s0ftbby346]

Esther Mwangi pedos are not always predators. THEY deserves death

[@s0ftbby346]

Uni Aka fire how are you any better than them if you’re willing to do something like that?

[@tylerthompson6046]

I would rather be in solitary confinement than in a cage with 3 other people.

[@paulmiddleton8593]

I did 10 months in solitary confinement and it was the most peaceful time of my life....I have had a rough life....it's much better now but solitary would still not bother me...I'm nuts

[@GypsyGirl317]

You're not nuts, you're probably an introvert. :-)

[@Jo-lp1px]

Are you saying it took you out of an abusive environment? I’m glad it worked for you

[@plutoplatters]

love it ! it really is peaceful in a strange way if you think about it.

[@TheWhiteWolfDog]

its a cruel world

[@westlake3737]

The most I saw my foster dad was when he came to visit my group home.After I lived with his family,the mothers favorite word was no.It was the first foster home that I lived at and I had more trouble after that.She kept me in my room a lot.I left after 9 months.

[@maxwellbernstein9235]

As a victim of long-term covert malignant narcissistic abuse, my son and I are in this same situation, even though we are "free". The sociopath has SO tristwed everything, and is in control of everything, that there is no hope. We have even been pitted against each other by the sociopath and we live in this same situation day after day. It breaks my heart to see my sin give up on life because he knows he is powerless to change the situation because the narcopath uses the legal system to further torment us by proxy. There are a lot of details I can't talk about here, but the effect is the same. It's hard on me, but it's been harder on my son to be in solitary confinement, abandoned, backed into a corner, beaten down, hopeless about his future. We have both been pushed to the brink of insanity and need to separate even in the same house. We both have agoraphobia because of the abuse and except for reading, are alone 23.5 hours a day. My son doesn't see a future for himself, he has no hope, and I'm losing mine. There are more youth/men/ women experiencing this torment than just in jails alone. Isolation, abandonment, solitary confinement is the murder of a soul.

[@XxNighTmarexX71]

If the teen ACTUALLY hurt someone then okay put them in there for a couple day to 3 weeks max (depending on the damage done). But just to throw them in there for being "annoying" is horrible. This REALLY fucks with teenagers minds. Treating someone like a like trash is awful.

[@classicjukebox]

***** I agree...3 hours minimum....I thought North Korea was bad....America has 80,000 in solitary confinement...what makes this even worse is the constant noise they endure...sleep deprivation on top of it all....This is a war crime....America must bow her head in shame over this....

[@MrLogicTroll]

classicjukebox "This is a war crime" I don't think that term means what you think it means.

[@classicjukebox]

***** I meant in equivalency.

[@LongLiveIsrael742]

+Katy Lee This same shit happens in Mental Hospitals. I got locked away for 4 days solid.

[@smile_girl1500]

+Katy Lee It's torture and shouldn't be allowed. This is the 21st century and they shouldn't be using medieval methods to "reform" inmates!

[@dalerothwell6896]

i love how people sitting at home say how these criminals should be let out, who cares if they follow rules, do drugs, assault staff, kill inmates or staff maybe it happens. why dont you people go and become guards and when they cut you are someone on your watch then you can tell everyone about how wrong it is to flat lock these THUG/CRIMINALS DOWN. i am listening to these teenagers who are saying no matter what i do i am a kid. so just ask him he is a man when he is out commiting crimes of all nature, but when its time to pay for it then he his a kid who is just preaching the word of god and then they just get thrown in the whole because America is bad and corrections officers god forbid want to go home. try not being a criminal, or learn from your mistakes and behave in jail.

[@dimemeking190]

Dale Rothwell true

[@sunluv6115]

That’s true tho 🤷🏽‍♀️

[@laelisrael9501]

Nobody's saying that crime shouldn't be punished. People say that reprehensions should be proporsional to the crime. Solitary confinement means no social interaction, no real stimulation for the brain and barely any physical activity. Solitary confinement has been proven to cause damage to people. Clearly, it's an extreme solution. So I'm sure you'd agree that it should only be used when necessary. Currently teens are put in solitary confinement when it's not necessary. In the video it was mentioned that one of the criteria is simply being rude. It's imporrrtant to stress this point: solitary confinement is used even when it's not even relevant to the prisoner's behavior. Aside from the aforementioned point, there's something else I'd like to mention. Even if prisoners were put in solitary confinement only when they posed a constant threat to their surroundings, there are still other solutions which sound reasonable. If people are dangerous, tie themyp! Or put them in solitary confinement for most of the day, but give them activities like books or games, and let them talk to other people. Not hard to do, is it? And I'm sure it would make the prisoners improve their behavior, which is in everyone's interest.

[@jamesbarnes7045]

Very well said

[@MiiLkyToKes67]

It made me so happy when he got to play that guitar. That is also my passion. I often used musical creativity as a means of coping with prolonged anxiety and depression, probably as many others have.

[@acajudi100]

Audio books should be provided, like Les Brown, Wayne Dyer etc. Paper and note paper.

[@chang1nglanes]

I agree. Boredom leads to violence.

[@mouse7984]

The risk of self harm is too high in seg. This video doesn't fully cover all the different reasons of why someone gets put in seg to begin with.

[@kr1221E]

Now that is the purpose of prison REHAB

[@kayamac3]

I couldn’t agree more David goggins book

[@doraymeandyou]

Mouse 79 someone should invent a writing instrument that can’t be used for self harm. There’s a gap in the market. Even just wax crayons. A bit blunt for writing, but you can carve a point into them with your finger nails, or sand them down to a point, don’t even need a rough surface, some spare sheets of paper will do. Maybe they’ll rebel and write on the walls, but so what? Gives the next inmate something to read. These guards need to pick their battles, stop being control freaks. Maybe they’re afraid the kid will keep a diary and record all the stuff the guards are doing wrong.

[@flappy7373]

People will never really think about this stuff until it happens to them or their family. Because why would they? This stuff is horrific. Its torture. Its unpleasant to think about. So why dont people think about this stuff? Because they dont want to.

[@seferino]

Worse is being crammed in a cell full with other criminals.

[@arturogomez8249]

They committed an adult crime while in the institution they committed another violation if you can’t do the don’t do the crime

[@emceesupremejustice]

to all the young kids watching this - being a nerd is cool like a really cool

[@billsherrill2860]

I remember covering my window, soaping the floors, and fighting the C.O.s just to get out of my cell for a little and get human contact!

[@chadplzak5664]

So your one of them pieces of shit that can't behave

[@yogastudio5763]

@@chadplzak5664be kind

[@yogastudio5763]

@@chadplzak5664 don't be a walking asshole As it stinks

[@21steezy]

@@chadplzak5664 lol you wouldn't make it in solitary

[@Roheline9]

Chad Plzak , you’re one of those ignorant punks with poor grammar.

[@kathyoberle9093]

Being luck up 23 hours a day for a month without a radio is worse than lock up with a radio.

[@fatherof3husbandto1]

If I was 17 and locked up with my guitar I would have begged to stay in there with it. They would have to threaten me with losing it in order to get me to do anything else. I wholeheartedly approve of that superintendents approach to that young man. Positive reinforcement and getting him to apply himself to something he's passionate about is the the epitome of rehabilitation.

[@fatherof3husbandto1]

@not fairyou must have had so many nice toys and possessions at home and you assume I'm as weak as you. You assume my lifes been a cake walk, I'd have been happy to be anywhere my sociopath father was not. Torture from a stranger is easier to accept then torture from your parent. I'm sorry to hear 2 weeks was so awful for you

[@solemvow6281]

Idk man. I dont really feel sorry for them. They chose to commit crimes, they chose their actions, they schose their life style and they also chose to continue their behavior behind bars. I know their teens but that doesnt make them any more innocent

[@squintohighlights]

I think it depends on situation. Person known for putting inmates and guards at danger? I can see solitary being necessary, however I believe counseling would be more effective. There are also people born into the projects who gotta do their hustle to support their sick mama and it usually ends up with them killin a nigga tryna steal their dope or some shit then they get 25 to life for a situation they were born into and all they knew was that lifestyle.

[@kellycramer8572]

And we wonder why most who get out end up back in jail or prison over and over again.

[@pikachudemsy9751]

Yep

[@mellosimpson1224]

If an Adult can't survive SOLITARY CONFINEMENT. How do they think a ADOLESCENT can??

[@dorothykilgallenwasmurdere1653]

When you go to jail, it isn't meant to be a pleasant experience. I'm all for it.

[@benjaminphillips5639]

But should it be torture is the real question?

[@bellenicks3879]

Benjamin Phillips Nope

[@bettyvanderhooven-schmaasc4235]

The most fucked up part of solitary is that inmates are sometimes released directly to the streets. This makes for a very dangerous individual.

[@acajudi100]

Have field trips there, so young people can see their reality. Take them to the morgue, and let them watch an autopsy.

[@benjaminphillips5639]

Well considering that it didn't do anything when they tried doing it for reality TV, I don't see how it would work in other scenarios. Maybe it'll scare a few kids who would consider themselves "good kids" but at the end of the day this does little to deter crime considering that there are often other factors that go into crime.

[@bettyvanderhooven-schmaasc4235]

Agreed, but also show them the bright side of life. Take them sky diving, teach them to fight forest fires, have them rehabilitate horses and dogs. There are so many ways to change a person's life instead of throwing them away.

[@Whats_your_motivational]

Everyone is sitting at home and losing it due to coronavirus yet have tv cellphone netflix etc now image being in quarantine in a 8x6 box with nothing for not just a couple months but years

[@mrwaterfighter1]

This mini documentary paints a one sided picture. This subject is goes much deeper than what's being shown here.

[@alonzocurtis8810]

tru but some kids know what they did and deserve solitary confinement if we can rehabilitate the individual we would have less crazy mfs or less criminals running around and all they needed was some help thats all i needed and i havent committed a crime since my last visit to prison. we learn from our mistakes. we should want to help each other. build each other.

[@sixmercer2504]

@Kekistan Shitlord they showed the "crime" that kid committed and he was in solitary confinement. It had something to do with tobacco.

[@sixmercer2504]

@Kekistan Shitlord the dude got in trouble while he was there for having tobacco which was their reason for putting him in the hole. I've been to jail. They're all different but similar and mine would toss you in solitary for very dumb shit like having contraband like a single cigarette. The guards were awful to the inmates. Making fun of them and watching them fight as if it was on display just for them. It was everything I expected it to be.

[@vidjdwhite]

So if you are considered an adult under criminal law at 16, is it also legal to drink in NY state? Drinking as a minor is a criminal offense. If you are considered an adult there would be a catch 22 when charging "minors" with drinking...

[@GypsyRoseBlanchardisaliar]

John D no because the drinking age is 21 lol

[@dee1921]

Kid murders someone Guy: THERE STILL KIDS

[@spoiltmilk6511]

they are still kids under the law, you don't lose your human rights after you're convicted of a crime. solitary confinement for extended periods of time is cruel and unusual punishment for an adult let alone a teenager

[@WhatsyourIQ1]

How could he compare child abuse to teen criminals?

[@Underhills]

I'm watching this in solitary confinement. I like being alone by myself so I don't see the problem, but we are all different. I know most people prefer to socialize.

[@aquawil8467]

I could honestly do it with a phone but I’ve been to jail a handful of times and was in confinement for a handful of days and obviously without a phone and it was One of the hardest thing I’ve ever done

[@jasmine_joyce]

Rape, attack , abuse someone on the streets: horrible person, jail do the same thing in jail: normal

[@rhysmarlatt6866]

man i cried so much, ive been through so much shit with jail and stuff and nobody understands man. :'(

[@rhysmarlatt6866]

nah im crying for the kids who are stuck in solitary cause its fucking brutal

[@rhysmarlatt6866]

+ASM _ ive been in solitary myself, and as a 15 year old it was awful. it was before i had even been convicted of a crime

[@582riley]

Rhys Marlatt big baby

[@SOULRELIEF22]

Rhys Marlatt May God bless you! My grandson was incarcerated at 18 in 2011. Hearing your testimony touched my heart. He was bad certainly, but never around family, so we never met the child who was jailed. They have him in super max now. Somewhat for his safety, somewhat because he would rather be there. Poor thing. For years now. He received Jesus in 2016, but the place is not exactly a quiet sanctuary. JESUS really is his peace. Young people, please get saved and don't be deceived into these horrible places. Even the prison max is better than waking up in hell! As a minister, I depend on the Lord to bring my child out whole, AND better than he was upon entry. The one who goes through these places without repentance are more likely to return. A penitentiary is a place to do penance. Tears are penance. God loves you and I love you too! 💗

[@desmondfarrell7249]

Rhys Marlatt obviously you committed some type of criminal activity to have been arrested in the first place. Deserve everything that happens to you!!!

[@jesus-is-rad9684]

All 16 years charged as adults!? Are you fuckin kidding me!? That's insurmountably fucked up!

[@PissedOffRedneck1]

i went to jail for a suicide attempt once, and they put me in 23.75 hour/day solitary confinement for 3 days. is that logical?

[@awkwardgeek4694]

Wtff

[@Mia-ln1zs]

+PissedOffRedneck1 Yep that's what happened to me. Then the prison psychologist had the nerve to say they were there to help me.

[@PissedOffRedneck1]

its unnerving, the worst place to put someone that wants to die is isolation.

[@PissedOffRedneck1]

not this one

[@thegodess6211]

Are you taking meds?

[@Fightback2023]

Stop having kids if you are not planning to parent them.

[@juliantorres5662]

I use to have a homie when I was 17 he was 15 and had came in and out of jail for home invasion , car jacking I would sometimes see him on the block sometimes he was gone when he was gone the homies knew he had got in trouble he was a foster kid so family wasn't there for him but every time he came around his mind wasn't the same, he started copping with hard drugs he is now 18 and I havnt heard ever since a year ago but i hope he is okay I always wonder what happend to him

[@Gintas333]

Consequences and Repercussions

[@sarah6557]

They do the Crime. ....so do the time .....its not a holiday. ......its a punishment 😕😕

[@janicehoff2865]

I’m not buying teens are put in segregation for “annoying” guards. It’s meant to be punitive to correct/discourage breaking the prison rules. The criminals aren’t good at following rules out in society, so not surprising they might not follow rules in prison but others must be protected from attacks from other inmates.

[@kooldudes597]

16:35 That guy is correct. Only under extreme circumstances should people be in solitary.

[@joangdemkoatgmail]

Way to go Izzy, so proud of you. Bless you.

[@Kinetic.Visuals]

I get anxiety just by watching this smh

[@ignatiusjk]

People are complaining about being confined during Covid, wonder how long they would last in solitary.

[@missxmarvel]

Over protective parents do almost the same thing to their kids, Keeping them inside of 4 walls and their social activities and interaction with the world is kept to a minimum but nobody is making a fuss out of that.

[@raymondcook8364]

I fyou don't want to be in Solitary or in an ADULT JAIL, STOP breaking the law.

[@missxmarvel]

Raymond Cook I'm talking about helicopter parents doing the same thing to their kids but nobody pities them. And I know that already, That's why I'm a contributing citizen because i dont want to end up in there.

[@bassboi2001]

I'm a perfect example of what you're saying.

[@missxmarvel]

bassboi2001 You are over protective? Well there are healthier ways to protect your children such as self defense class and teach them to never walk alone because society is pretty much the reflection of the wild, When you are alone and off guard then you are an easy target. Also keep in mind the huge dis service you do to your children they feel like you are ruining their life which you are and they can suffer from depression and late maturing, There is also a huge chance that they will blame or resent you.

[@bassboi2001]

My grandparents were overprotective not me.

[@anonymousq9434]

DONT DO THE CRIME IF YOU CANT DO THE TIME

[@Doubles_-wo6xj]

I agree 100% for solitary. If you act like an animal, you get treated like one. They are not locking up little Angel's.

[@musicinspire1745]

When kids commit adult crimes, they're not JUST kids any longer. They've cast aside their childhood for something that lands them in prison.

[@musicinspire1745]

@Ty Green This bleeding heart nonsense is the kind of crap that pushes for letting those kids get away with it on the basis of flawed and downright stupid assumptions about their underdevelopment. Hatred and malice push kids to commit such crimes, not because of underdeveloped brains. What about all the other kids with underdeveloped brains. Most of them don't go around doing this stuff. What a STUPID notion. You obviously hate the victims. What does THAT say about YOUR brain?

[@kevinlee8600]

Now that was great to give him a guitar and let him keep practicing his passion he will keep getting better and who knows may become the next Jimmy Hendrix kudos to you guys

[@readthiscomment6748]

Putting someone in solitary for misbehaving is the equivilent of trying make a drug addict have an overdose

[@isntshelovelyy]

23 hour lockdown will NEVER be ok with me like he said in the beginning they are KIDS honestly I don’t think anybody should be locked down for 23 hours what’s the point of living at that point ?

[@gowdsake7103]

With some of the scum in lockdown I have to agree !

[@GypsyRoseBlanchardisaliar]

Committing a crime doesn’t deserve freedom

[@abuabdullah955]

Tip of the day: Just don't comment crimes and you don't have to worry about solitary confinement.

[@WhitemenaresoSexy]

Whether you're in confinement or not, Prison is Prison, you're serving your time, Regardless

[@TheRealDarrylStrawberry]

They say its like being trapped in your bathroom for 23 hours a day 7 days a week. But its actually like being trapped in someone ELSE'S bathroom...23 hours a day 7 days a week.

[@londonjohnson7748]

I did 9 months straight in the hole it was rough. I remember when I was a kid every one that went to the juvenile jail had to sit at least 3 days in the hole before goin to population

[@jakephillips4453]

I'm guessing you don't want to go back there? That was the point.

[@tristanjones429]

@David Wang guys seriously, this is not the way to help people be rehabilitated

[@gregorioalcantara8544]

Think first before you commit crimes then you will never be in this situation

[@vsculpt]

Brilliant !!!

[@leviharrison4127]

These adults like to pretend that kids don't ever get put in solitary for unnecessary shit. Hold them in limbo for a day and let the board decide.

[@adriangonzalez1284]

They get what they deserve how will u punish the person that hurt ur family member

[@jaymorpheus11]

This sort of sounds like my younger years, the solitary confinement was living with family members because my hippy mother wanted to use drugs and date a psycho.

[@clv9327]

I was in juvie in solitary for 2 years and a half for a crime I didn’t commit. Just got out last month, when I could prove I wasn’t involved. It was horrible. I wasted 2 years of my life. I’m 16

[@kingjulien2999]

Hope you're doin jus fine in life young blood

[@RUfor80six]

dont forget these people dont just get sent there for nothing... they are a risk to the other inmates and cant get kept with them for the safety of others...

[@missbunni6604]

Yea so if somebody tries to take the lil bit of commissary you got, rape you or beat you up for nothing your a danger for defending yourself....okay!!!

[@davidhoffman6595]

If “correctional” facilities actually worked at “correcting” bad behavior, then the recidivism rate would be much, much lower than it really is.

[@rush1106theman]

Knowing that solitary confinement is a brutal punishment should be a deterrent to inmates to not cause trouble. Hard to feel sorry for a prisoner who is causing trouble 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@lindabond5002]

This would make a person worse coming out of prison than they were when they went in, and we are paying for it in more ways than one.

[@rosemurphy2694]

WHATS WRONG WITH TUFF LAW IF U DO THE CRIME THEN PAY WITH TIME

[@mistyconner9896]

rose murphy I agree! You do the shit, that’s it. My step daughter right now is in Juvie in Florida. She lives with her mom and her mom let her do whatever the hell she wanted. She stole from stores. Didn’t want to keep a job. She was selling pills and drinking and smoking weed, cigs. Her mom was dropping her off to see a 22 year old man, when she was 16. Well the judge gave her 2 strikes for everything she did. Than she stole a car and took a ride in her step dads car with her friends, when the cops were called she left the car and fought cops. So now she going to he juvie place for a year. She is lucky as hell she didn’t get charged as an adult. My husband and I tried to help her but she wanted to do what she wanted. That’s it

[@benjaminphillips5639]

That seems to have worked so well for the united states. Care to show me any statistics showing that this form of justice is working?

[@skullduggery1096]

Whatever one might say draconian barbarity comes to mind.These kids got serious issues but solitary can only make them far. more fractured. I know,it took me a long time to recover,and even now at seventy and not been to prison since I was a child can not sleep without a light on.Solitary is wrong and evil,period

[@chingon711]

i guess if my situation could get much worse in prison, i'm thinking i better behave myself and not break any laws.

[@josephtheclown8205]

chingon711 you don’t understand prison politics or any correctional facilities politics and second yeah you can go PC but that’s solitary your held in solitary for protection so let that sink in your in harms way you can tell cause your going to the hole and if you fight your going to solitary

[@truth.is.hella.bitter8985]

You BREAK Laws/Rules everyday. Your NOT Perfect. Stop pretending to be... You NERD. 😛

[@donkeyballs3307]

dont like jail ,dont like solitary confinement, dont do crime ,seems simple 2 me

[@MatthewEcclesiastes]

Solitary confinement is inhumane

[@plutoplatters]

as the wonderful people of whom end up in sc.

[@kiracattan4624]

I spent 9 months in a mental hospital, most of that time would be spent in this atmosphere... a Quiet Room. You'd call it Solitary. I survived, but do people ever complain about that? No. But I do understand Solitary. At least I had a window to look out of. This was in the 70's. No one wanted to talk about this.

[@janikb3538]

I don't really pity these "kids". If I kicked someone's grandma and sent her to intensive care, I'm sure anyone would ship me to the nearest prison. If you don't want to end up in jail then quit acting like a delinquent punk, get your shit together. If solitary confinement can't deter you from doing crime then idk what will...

[@philipferrante3717]

I have no sympathy for teens or adults in solitary confinement if you can't do time don't commit the crime. I have no sympathy for men in jail period. If you can sell drugs assault or kill or rob a person there's consequences. Jail isn't a hotel its meant to make you think about what you did.

[@vsculpt]

Exactly it's not ment to be Club Med