Next Wednesday, the Maine legislature's Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety will hold a public hearing at 1:00 on a bill to limit the use of solitary confinement in the Maine State Prison. This bill is one of the ACLU of MAINE's biggest priorities this session, and we have become quite passionate about this issue.
Solitary confinement destroys people's minds. People in solitary confinement can become paranoid and dellusional; they may begin to act out, even if they are usually well behaved; and they may lose the ability to communicate and form relationships with others. Psychiatrists and Psychologists will tell you this. People who have experienced prolonged solitary confinement, including Senator John McCain will back them up.
Nobody believes it is easy to change our criminal justice system, but nonetheless it is necessary. Too many people end up in prolonged solitary confinement, for too many disparate reasons. If you want to help put restrictions on solitary confinement in place, to help ensure that people don't come out of prison less able to function than when they went in, please consider sending a quick note to your legislator urging them to support LD 1611.