Inside Supermax Prisons: Life in Solitary Confinement

Supermax prisons, also known as isolation prisons, represent one of the most restrictive types of correctional facilities. These prisons are designed to isolate inmates from their peers in a bid to maintain security and control. Inmates in these facilities are typically confined to their cells for extended periods, with minimal opportunities for human interaction.

Isolation and Restrictive Conditions

Prisoners in supermax facilities are often kept in solitary confinement or under extremely restrictive conditions. This isolation is intended to prevent communication between inmates and to reduce the risk of violence, escape, or gang activity. Commonly known as supermax prison, these facilities prioritize stringent security measures over rehabilitation and human interaction.

Limited Contact

Even when prisoners are allowed out of their cells, it is usually for very short periods and often in a controlled environment where they cannot interact with others. Activities such as exercise are typically conducted in individual cages or enclosed areas to maintain separation among inmates. For some inmates, Rare exercise periods might allow them to be in the same area with a partner, although this is highly restricted and controlled.

Communication Restrictions

Communication with other inmates is generally prohibited. Even during rare instances when inmates might be in the same area, such as during transport, strict measures are taken to ensure they cannot communicate. This lack of inmate interactions can significantly impact mental health and well-being.

Visitation and Supervision

Inmates may have the right to receive visitors, but those visits are usually conducted under strict supervision and do not involve contact with other inmates. While rare, some inmates might even have access to limited communication through written notes or verbal exchanges, which are often monitored closely.

Psychological Impact

The isolation and lack of social interaction can have significant psychological effects on inmates, which is a concern among mental health professionals and human rights advocates. Solitary confinement has been linked to severe mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and psychosis.

The Case of USP Florence ADMAX

The most secure facility in the United States is the United States Penitentiary Administrative Maximum Facility (USP Florence ADMAX). In this facility, about 400 inmates are confined to their single-person cells. Every aspect of their living environment, including the bed, toilet, desk, and chair, is made of concrete. Inmates are fed and medicated through a slot in the door, and they do not have the opportunity to see or communicate with guards.

Every three days, inmates can take a shower in a designated area with a guard present. The exercise period, lasting one hour, is often solitary, but in some cases, up to three inmates might be allowed in a special area to exercise together. However, they are still separated by concrete walls.

No weights or equipment are available during exercise sessions, and the space provided is a 24 x 24-foot area. Inmates do not have the ability to hear or see other inmates, nor can they communicate by sound, as the design of the cells is specifically intended to prevent such interactions.

Some inmates are allowed to have a television with very limited channels, while most can listen to a radio or have music piped in, again with limited access.

As of last month, the maximum confinement area at USP Florence ADMAX housed 365 inmates.

These conditions highlight the severe restrictions faced by inmates in supermax prisons and the challenges they pose to mental and physical well-being. Advocates continue to argue for more humane treatment and the need for transparency in these institutions.