You are not alone. As someone who has watched a child or other loved one go off to prison, the anguish we feel is often unbearable. Even when we know that because of their choices, they are going to the place that was inevitable for them. It was touching to see your shout out to your son during the Emmy's. I hope that he was able to see it.
You are right to question the system. The system is by no means perfect. If it was, organizations like the ACLU or CURE (Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of Errants) would not have to exist. The topic of solitary confinement is especially relevant at the moment considering hundreds of inmates in a California prison recently ended their 60 day hunger strike because of this issue. The inmates went on this hunger strike to draw attention to the barbaric use of solitary confinement and demand the end of its use within correctional facilities.
You already know what solitary confinement is doing to your son, multiply that by thousands of others who are being victimized by this practice. Studies show that extended solitary confinement just does not work and in fact increases psychiatric problems in those who are subjected to long term confinement. In short, if people aren't messed up to begin with, solitary confinement makes them unstable and for those who have mental issues when they go in, solitary confinement makes them worse. According to your statement, your son was put in solitary because of a violation and has been in there for 2 years. Your son is an addict who needs serious treatment rather than placement in solitary confinement. When inmates are in solitary confinement, their access to prison medical services, (which are usually laughable to begin with) are even more restricted. In many cases, people who are placed in solitary confinement are usually the ones most in need of psychiatric related services.
Your son is not the only person suffering. The ACLU estimates that over 80,000 inmates are currently undergoing solitary confinement. Each and every one of these is the child of someone, the parent of someone. Isn't it enough that whatever their crime was that originally landed them in jail, they are paying for that already? Do they really deserve to be further punished (some organizations consider solitary confinement to be torture) by being stuck in what is tantamount to complete and utter isolation from any human contact? Humans are pack animals...we need the company of others even if at times we do things that negate our ability to engage in appropriate social contact.
Inmates in solitary confinement have no voice. Your son has no voice. It is up to you, me and thousands of others willing to speak up on their behalf to ensure that while they are doing their time that they don't come back in to society more damaged than they already were. Many of us who volunteer for prison reform organizations do this because we believe that people, no matter who they are or where they are, deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. We believe in the power of redemption and in those instances where the state has limited the freedoms of someone due to their actions, people in confinement of any kind don't give up basic human rights or basic human dignity.
I would invite you Mr. Douglas to find an organization to work with on this issue. Lend your very public voice to this issue to assist those organizations that could possibly help end this practice for not only your son, but for thousands of others. Help these organizations end this cruel punishment so that no other child has to go through what you and your family are experiencing with your son.
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