The American Way or Crimes Against Humanity?
by Jake
In Seattle, Washington, a woman named "Rose" met and fell in love with "James", a man who had recently been released from a prison in New Jersey. The first year of their relationship seemed close to perfect. However, during the six months that would follow, Rose began to notice an unusual rage growing within this man. This resulted in both physical and emotional abuse which increased with each passing day. On the evening of June 6, 1998, she was brutalized and raped by him for several hours as his rage intensified into a drug-induced frenzy. She survived. James now lives in another city.
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Every citizen in the United States has the right to expect Correctional departments to make an attempt to rehabilitate the mind of a violent individual during his or her incarceration. Though rehabilitation is not always possible, an effort should at least be made, particularly if this one is due to return to society. Unfortunately, rehabilitation and education in prisons is becoming a thing of the past. And, ironically, this is being replaced with a more costly concept known as long-term isolation, control units, and the new Supermax Prisons. While the concept itself is not new, it has become fashionable in the past two decades to the point of housing prisoners in isolation for years on end. Being placed in these units for disciplinary purposes is one thing, though psychologists recommend more rehabilitative alternatives. But the concern here is when prisoners are sent to these units for suspected THOUGHTS or personal non-violent views and housed there for a minimum of one year. (Though Prison Officials claim the minimum is three months, it usually turns into a year in most east coast areas.) This long-term placement will almost always result in some degree of permanent psychological damage. The prisoner is placed in a small cell in an area of the prison which is often referred to as a Security Threat Group Management Unit. (STGMU) The public is led to believe that these units are used to put an end to gang activity, and on the surface it appears to be legitimate. But taking a closer look will show that what these units are ultimately achieving is the creation of an entirely new and unsurpassed wave of crime.
There is an ever increasing nation-wide concern regarding the use of isolation in prisons by human rights organizations. Their literature is enlightening, and further research shows an urgent need for public awareness. Psychiatrists have extended numerous warnings on the effects of long term isolation of an already criminal mind. Isolation of a normally healthy mind can and does result in devasting effects, as any menal health professional will outline. But what about the minds of those who have already demonstrated some sort of threat to the safety of an innocent public?
In their defense of long term isolation, Corrections Officials claim that they are merely "GETTING TOUGH ON CRIME" and then remind the public that "we are dealing with violent individuals". An investigation of isolation to control gang activity shows that most Prisoners were not placed in these units due to having committed some sort of infraction. In other words, rules need not be broken to be punished in ths manner. And it is not just gang members who are placed in these units. Religious groups are often targeted if Prison Officials choose to classify them as a threat, whether they are or not. Non-violent political activists are placed here as well. Prisoners who have been guilty of simply saying "hello" in passing to a SUSPECTED gang member have been sent to the unit, as are suspected gang members themselves, some of whom have no gang affiliation whatsoever. Prisoners with unexplained tattoos or a questionable design on a personal item can expect to spend time in these units. A picture of Bikers found in possession of a Prisoner, as well as a letter received by this one which refers to him as "Brother" will place him on the list of suspected gang memebers and will almost always result in confinement. There have been a number of instances where an informer seeking special privileges from the prison staff will point out a certain Prisoner and report him as a gang member over a personal vendetta. Most cases have proved that this is all it takes for a Prisoner to be placed within the confines of isolation. He can appeal the decision, but usually ends up to no avail. He does not even know who the accuser is nor is he granted the right to face him at his hearing.
Though a minimum time to be served in a gang unit is 3 months, (a reminder--this usually runs into one year) a Prisoner may end up spending his entire term here, guilty or not. Contrary to publicized statements by officials, there is little or no medical or psychological monitoring during this time. Once in the unit, the Prisoner is placed in a 6'x8' cell. (Cell sizes vary in different facilities.) Sometimes there will be two Prisoners placed into the same cubicle. However, this goes against their own policy of allowing NO HUMAN CONTACT in these units. Picture having to live in a small bathroom alone for a year. Then imagine having another individual in this same small space during this time. The size of the cell only allows one Prisoner to stand at a time. Other than this, there will be almost no other human contact for these Prisoners during their confinement other than "group" therapy. The point of these sessions is to program the Prisoner into believing that his lifestyle is a sickness, an ADDICTION that must be cured. They are told they must denounce their friends, sometimes family members, and as for certain religous groups, their God. They are often forced to sign a paper agreeing to this. If, in the future they even recieve a letter or religious material sent by an unknowing individual, they may return to confinement for yet another year.
The Prisoner will remain in this cell 23 to 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If he has "earned" recreation privileges, hP is allowed to enter a 10'x10' outdoor cage for approximately 30 minutes. Often the Prisoner opts not to partake of this "recreation", as in winter months many are not allowed the luxury of having a jacket. The scenario of the control unit concept has often been likened to a pit bull placed in a cage and poked with a stick for a year or so. The dog is then suddenly released into an innocent and unsuspecting public. This dog, once considered only a threat, now suffers from paranoia and other psychoses.But the silent rage it now possesses is the most alarming of all, as sooner or later it will explode.
Prisoners in control units consist of a variety of offenders. Many are serving minimal terms for non-violent crimes, and had been considered model Prisoners prior to their placement in isolation. Some just want to finsh paying their debt to society and get on with their lives. It will likely not end up that way. In this unit they receive no counseling, rehab, education, activities or religious services. As the silent rage ferments over time here, it often reaches a zenith and the Prisoner may go insane in is cell. At this time he is subjected to cell extraction and then a more intense form of sensory deprivation as further punishment. If he should happen to max out at this time, or reach the end of his sentence, he is simply set free. No rehab, no half-way house to help him readjust to societal norms, nothing. A former threat to society now free on the streets, only now and even bigger threat. This was James. But the story is far from over.
Putting aside the fact that Prisoners in control units are victims of numerous human rights violations, there is a need to come to the realization of the long term effects this concept is now having on society. Assuming that they deserve this holocaustic environment for the pain they may or may not have inflicted upon their victims, there is the fact that most of these men and/or women will one day re-emerge into freedom, accompanied with the deep and silent rage developed during confinement that may search for revenge upon the society whom thy feel contributed to their years of torture. Granted, not all of them will externalize this rage. Perhaps the public will "luck out" as some will just commit suicide. But how many of these now former prisoners will be capable of committing an act so much worse than the original crime that put them away in the first place? How many caged and tormented pit bulls will be docile upon their release? How many pit bulls will have "learned their lesson" after being subjected to long term isolation and abuse?
Many questions have been raised regarding the use of these units. Why are the warnings of psychiatrists being ignored? How is this concept supposed to put an end to gang activity? Why has such a concept become more important than rehabilitation? Why are the majority of these Prisoners not lifers? And, most important, who is behind the funding of these programs, and why?
The once highly publicized and well documented human experimentation in mind control as performed by the CIA and other government agencies, including FBI involvement, may come to mind upon examintation of the operational tactics use in prison control units. Innocent victims of these Federally sactioned atrocities were subjected to a variety of mental and physical torture. Among the main points and tactics used were:
1. Rule #1: "Control a person's environment and you control their perception of reality."
2. In the selection of candidates to be used as victims, top priority would be cult members or victims of rutual abuse, as their minds were already primed.
3. Application of forms of sensory deprivation, such as placing the victim in a confined area with either no lighting or too much for a selected period of time. This act contributes to the breaking of the human spirit.
4. Application of electric shock, rendering the victim more "compliant".
5. Subjecting the victim to long term periods of isolation.This will create a sense of paranoia, and will eventually create a sense of dependancy by the victim toward the "operator" (the one performing the experiment).
6. Destruction of the victim's credibility, thus if the victim were to suddely regain the memory that should have by now been damaged, and should report operations to local authorities, no one would believe it.
7. The gradual removal of the victim's personal support system, creating a sense of abandonment and despair. Manipulation of the victim's mind is now easier.
When the mind control operation on an individual is complete, these subjects were often used in various ways by government agencies as spies, informants, and even trained assassins. Note the alarming familiarity in tactics used in prison control units:
1. A controlled environment.
2. Candidates selected for placement in these units are either members or suspected members of gangs, cults, religious or political organizations.
3. Subjection to sensory deprivation.
4. Application of electric shock through the use of stun guns and/or belts.
5. Long periods of isolation.
6. No need to destroy the credibility of felons. They have none.
7. Destruction of the Prisoner's personal support system through the gradual elimination of visitation and the withholding and/or returning of cards and letters from friends and loved ones, resulting in feelings of abandonment and despair.
A brief look at the comparison of facts regarding tactics used in government funded mind control experimentation and those used in both government and privately owned prison control units should bring questions into a public that will ultimately pay a price in the end. How can officials justify the confinement and abuse of non-offending Prisoners? Repeating the same words "These are violent individuals" is not an answer nor is there any truth to this "justification". Prisoners are being placed in these units every day without cause and left there for years A mind control operant might view prisons as a perfect environment for continued experimentation and damaging operations. If anyone were to become suspicious and inquire about it all officials have to say is "these are dangerous people and they are liars to boot." End of subject. And the public resumes it's slumber. However, the question of "Gary" comes to mind as one asks, "Why would the FBI request the release of a Prisoner so that he could be used as an informant? Aren't there plenty of people who are not incarcerated that can be used? Was this man trained through mind control during his incarceration as an informant as victims of the past were also trained for similar operations by government agencies?"
The Department of Corrections and the Federal Government are fully aware of the failures in the past regarding the use of isolation as an answer to the problem of curtailing crime. Take, for example, Eastern State Penitentiary in Pennsylvania, which closed down in 1971. Built in the 1800's, this institution was an experiment in the use of isolation to gain the upper hand on crime. All Prisoners there were confined to isolation for the duration of their prison terms. In 1913, this concept was deemed as "psychologically damaging" to the human mind and detrimental to the public when prisoners were released. Prison officials recognized the need for psychological rehabilitation and the boosting of Prisoner morale IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY as well as to ensure that the majority of Prisoners returned to society would hopefully become productive citizens. From 1913 to 1971, Eastern State focused on this concept which did, in fact, lead to a decline in re-incarceration, and was successful in promoting and maintaining a great degree of public safety. They considered long term isolation a complete failure. With this knowledge, why has the use of isolation again become fashionable in the presnt prison system? "Those who forget the past are destined to repeat it." The lesson learned from past history is being ignored. Under the guise of "getting tough on crime" and "putting and end to gang activity" the DOC, along with the U.S. Government, are creating a monster. What is the REAL purpose behind this? Public safety is for certain no longer a priority on their agenda. Something that should be taken into consideration is the fact that prisons are now a multi-million dollar BUSINESS INDUSTRY. A look into the STOCK MARKET will confirm this. The Wackenhut Corporation shows a colorful history of covert government operations. Is it by coincidence that they are now the second largest corporate owner of private prisons in the world? Think about that.
Another point that must be mentioned is the fact that the population in prisons is multiplying at a phenomenal rate. People are being incarcerated on an hourly basis for crimes that should have sent them into rehabilitation rather than prison. Even worse, a large percentage of these do not even have a drug problem, nor are they involved in the distribution of such. This is called the WAR ON DRUGS. These Prisoners of War are the prime generators for much of the financial gain for the STOCK MARKET. This "war" is without cause. It is only a part of a money making project for corporate stock holders. How many of these innocent ones and their families will be devastated for the rest of their lives so that the rich can become richer? How many will serve time in isolation, and then return to society with new psychological problems they had not known before they were swept from their homes?
As for Corrections Official's claims that control units are putting an end to gang activity, this is simply not so. Their methods for getting tough on crime are only conforming troubled, criminal, and even healthy minds into damaged ones. Their ignorance comes complete with a price tag. Rose paid that price. Gary's victim paid an even higher one. How many others have had to pay, and what will our children be forced to endure before the public finally wakes up and demands an answer from the U.S. Government?
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