The report examines the use of seclusion and restraint across different detention contexts in New... more The report examines the use of seclusion and restraint across different detention contexts in New Zealand. It is based on visits to seventeen different places of detention including prisons, health and disability units, a youth justice residence, a children’s care and protection residence, and police custody suites, which took place between 26 October 2016 and 11 November 2016. It is also based on material provided before, during and after those visits, including some extensive data sets. The report was commissioned by the New Zealand Human Rights Commission with funding from the UN Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture, and conducted by an independent expert, Dr Sharon Shalev, of the Centre for Criminology at the University of Oxford, UK.
The book examines the rise and proliferation of 'Supermaxes', large prisons dedicated to holding ... more The book examines the rise and proliferation of 'Supermaxes', large prisons dedicated to holding prisoners in prolonged and strict solitary confinement, in the United States since the late 1980s.
Drawing on unique access to two Supermax prisons and on in-depth interviews with prison officials, prison architects, current and former prisoners, mental health professionals, penal, legal, and human rights experts, it provides a holistic view of the theory, practice and consequences of these prisons. Given the historic uses of solitary confinement, the book also traces continuities and discontinuities in its use on both sides of the Atlantic over the last two centuries.
It argues that rather than being an entirely 'new' form of imprisonment, Supermax prisons draw on principles of architecture, surveillance and control which were set out in the early 19th century but which are now enhanced by the most advanced technologies available to current day prison planners and administrators. It asks why a form of confinement which had been discredited in the past is now proposed as the best solution for dealing with 'difficult', 'dangerous' or 'disruptive' prisoners, and assesses the true costs of Supermax confinement
Review of Standards for Adult Correctional Services in the Australian Capital Territory on ACT Standards , 2019
Thank you for the opportunity to provide feedback on this document. We congratulate the Inspector... more Thank you for the opportunity to provide feedback on this document. We congratulate the Inspectorate on the extensive work involved in preparing the draft Standards, and on their preventive focus in light of the ratification of OPCAT. Our comments are intended to assist in clarifying and strengthening these rights protections, and more broadly ensuring that the Standards provide a prisoner-centred focus.
Under the Prison Rules for England and Wales, prisoners can be removed from the main prison popul... more Under the Prison Rules for England and Wales, prisoners can be removed from the main prison population and housed in a segregation unit or a close supervision centre (CSC) for a variety of reasons, with periods of confinement in them ranging from a single evening in a segregation unit while facing a charge of breaking a prison rule, to years of indefinite confinement in a close supervision centre. In this sense, segregation units and close supervision centres function as a ‘continuum of exclusion’.
"Deep Custody" reports the findings of a comprehensive study of prison segregation units and close supervision centres in England and Wales, carried out by Sharon Shalev of the Centre for Criminology at the University of Oxford and Kimmett Edgar of the Prison Reform Trust.
The study included a survey sent to all prisons in England and Wales; visits to 15 segregation units and 4 close supervision centres across the country; and in-depth interviews with prisoners and prison staff.
WHO defines health as a “state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing, not merely the ... more WHO defines health as a “state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”, affirming that health, as defined, is a fundamental human right. Solitary confinement negatively affects all these aspects of health. It is an extreme form of confinement whose
deleterious physical, mental and social health effects have long been observed and documented by practitioners and researchers alike. Yet solitary confinement is a common and universal feature of prison systems worldwide, used throughout the various stages of the criminal justice process and for a variety of reasons including punishment, containment
and protection. This chapter offers a brief overview of the practice, with a particular focus on key issues relevant to prison health care staff.
This article examines how the prolonged solitary confinement and
additional deprivations in supe... more This article examines how the prolonged solitary confinement and
additional deprivations in supermax prisons measure up against
legal protections afforded to those deprived of their liberty. It suggests that if the prohibition against cruel, inhuman or degrading
treatment were to be taken at face value, supermax confinement
would meet the definition of what constitutes such treatment, and
urges the courts to re-examine their position regarding supermax
confinement. It also suggests that health professionals are well
placed, and ethically bound, to play a more active part in efforts
to curtail the use of prolonged solitary confinement in all places of
detention.
This article examines some of the findings of a recent study of the psychological effects of admi... more This article examines some of the findings of a recent study of the psychological effects of administrative segregation (solitary confinement) on prisoners held at the Colorado State Penitentiary over a period of one year. While the study is a credible attempt to overcome many of the drawbacks that have prevented systematic studies of solitary confinement in the past, its design, methods, and statistical analysis suffer from problems that render its findings flawed, Accordingly, these findings should not be generalised.
Crime, social control and human rights: from moral …, Jan 1, 2007
Chapter 10 The power to classify: avenues into a supermax prison Sharon Shalev The real significa... more Chapter 10 The power to classify: avenues into a supermax prison Sharon Shalev The real significance of classification lies in the form, not the content, the enterprise itself and not its end-results. The power to classify is the purest of all deposits of professionalism. (Cohen 1985: 246) Once ...
Journal of Forensic Psychology Practice, Jan 1, 2011
The article examines how the prolonged solitary confinement and additional deprivations in superm... more The article examines how the prolonged solitary confinement and additional deprivations in supermax prisons measure up against legal protections afforded to those deprived of their liberty. It suggests that if the prohibition against cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment were to be taken at face value, supermax confinement would meet the definition of what constitutes such treatment, and urges the courts to re-examine their position regarding supermax confinement. It also suggests that health professionals are well placed, and ethically bound, to play a more active part in efforts to curtail the use of solitary confinement in all places of detention.
The report examines the use of seclusion and restraint across different detention contexts in New... more The report examines the use of seclusion and restraint across different detention contexts in New Zealand. It is based on visits to seventeen different places of detention including prisons, health and disability units, a youth justice residence, a children’s care and protection residence, and police custody suites, which took place between 26 October 2016 and 11 November 2016. It is also based on material provided before, during and after those visits, including some extensive data sets. The report was commissioned by the New Zealand Human Rights Commission with funding from the UN Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture, and conducted by an independent expert, Dr Sharon Shalev, of the Centre for Criminology at the University of Oxford, UK.
The book examines the rise and proliferation of 'Supermaxes', large prisons dedicated to holding ... more The book examines the rise and proliferation of 'Supermaxes', large prisons dedicated to holding prisoners in prolonged and strict solitary confinement, in the United States since the late 1980s.
Drawing on unique access to two Supermax prisons and on in-depth interviews with prison officials, prison architects, current and former prisoners, mental health professionals, penal, legal, and human rights experts, it provides a holistic view of the theory, practice and consequences of these prisons. Given the historic uses of solitary confinement, the book also traces continuities and discontinuities in its use on both sides of the Atlantic over the last two centuries.
It argues that rather than being an entirely 'new' form of imprisonment, Supermax prisons draw on principles of architecture, surveillance and control which were set out in the early 19th century but which are now enhanced by the most advanced technologies available to current day prison planners and administrators. It asks why a form of confinement which had been discredited in the past is now proposed as the best solution for dealing with 'difficult', 'dangerous' or 'disruptive' prisoners, and assesses the true costs of Supermax confinement
Review of Standards for Adult Correctional Services in the Australian Capital Territory on ACT Standards , 2019
Thank you for the opportunity to provide feedback on this document. We congratulate the Inspector... more Thank you for the opportunity to provide feedback on this document. We congratulate the Inspectorate on the extensive work involved in preparing the draft Standards, and on their preventive focus in light of the ratification of OPCAT. Our comments are intended to assist in clarifying and strengthening these rights protections, and more broadly ensuring that the Standards provide a prisoner-centred focus.
Under the Prison Rules for England and Wales, prisoners can be removed from the main prison popul... more Under the Prison Rules for England and Wales, prisoners can be removed from the main prison population and housed in a segregation unit or a close supervision centre (CSC) for a variety of reasons, with periods of confinement in them ranging from a single evening in a segregation unit while facing a charge of breaking a prison rule, to years of indefinite confinement in a close supervision centre. In this sense, segregation units and close supervision centres function as a ‘continuum of exclusion’.
"Deep Custody" reports the findings of a comprehensive study of prison segregation units and close supervision centres in England and Wales, carried out by Sharon Shalev of the Centre for Criminology at the University of Oxford and Kimmett Edgar of the Prison Reform Trust.
The study included a survey sent to all prisons in England and Wales; visits to 15 segregation units and 4 close supervision centres across the country; and in-depth interviews with prisoners and prison staff.
WHO defines health as a “state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing, not merely the ... more WHO defines health as a “state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”, affirming that health, as defined, is a fundamental human right. Solitary confinement negatively affects all these aspects of health. It is an extreme form of confinement whose
deleterious physical, mental and social health effects have long been observed and documented by practitioners and researchers alike. Yet solitary confinement is a common and universal feature of prison systems worldwide, used throughout the various stages of the criminal justice process and for a variety of reasons including punishment, containment
and protection. This chapter offers a brief overview of the practice, with a particular focus on key issues relevant to prison health care staff.
This article examines how the prolonged solitary confinement and
additional deprivations in supe... more This article examines how the prolonged solitary confinement and
additional deprivations in supermax prisons measure up against
legal protections afforded to those deprived of their liberty. It suggests that if the prohibition against cruel, inhuman or degrading
treatment were to be taken at face value, supermax confinement
would meet the definition of what constitutes such treatment, and
urges the courts to re-examine their position regarding supermax
confinement. It also suggests that health professionals are well
placed, and ethically bound, to play a more active part in efforts
to curtail the use of prolonged solitary confinement in all places of
detention.
This article examines some of the findings of a recent study of the psychological effects of admi... more This article examines some of the findings of a recent study of the psychological effects of administrative segregation (solitary confinement) on prisoners held at the Colorado State Penitentiary over a period of one year. While the study is a credible attempt to overcome many of the drawbacks that have prevented systematic studies of solitary confinement in the past, its design, methods, and statistical analysis suffer from problems that render its findings flawed, Accordingly, these findings should not be generalised.
Crime, social control and human rights: from moral …, Jan 1, 2007
Chapter 10 The power to classify: avenues into a supermax prison Sharon Shalev The real significa... more Chapter 10 The power to classify: avenues into a supermax prison Sharon Shalev The real significance of classification lies in the form, not the content, the enterprise itself and not its end-results. The power to classify is the purest of all deposits of professionalism. (Cohen 1985: 246) Once ...
Journal of Forensic Psychology Practice, Jan 1, 2011
The article examines how the prolonged solitary confinement and additional deprivations in superm... more The article examines how the prolonged solitary confinement and additional deprivations in supermax prisons measure up against legal protections afforded to those deprived of their liberty. It suggests that if the prohibition against cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment were to be taken at face value, supermax confinement would meet the definition of what constitutes such treatment, and urges the courts to re-examine their position regarding supermax confinement. It also suggests that health professionals are well placed, and ethically bound, to play a more active part in efforts to curtail the use of solitary confinement in all places of detention.
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Books by Sharon Shalev
The report was commissioned by the New Zealand Human Rights Commission with funding from the UN Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture, and conducted by an independent expert, Dr Sharon Shalev, of the Centre for Criminology at the University of Oxford, UK.
Drawing on unique access to two Supermax prisons and on in-depth interviews with prison officials, prison architects, current and former prisoners, mental health professionals, penal, legal, and human rights experts, it provides a holistic view of the theory, practice and consequences of these prisons. Given the historic uses of solitary confinement, the book also traces continuities and discontinuities in its use on both sides of the Atlantic over the last two centuries.
It argues that rather than being an entirely 'new' form of imprisonment, Supermax prisons draw on principles of architecture, surveillance and control which were set out in the early 19th century but which are now enhanced by the most advanced technologies available to current day prison planners and administrators. It asks why a form of confinement which had been discredited in the past is now proposed as the best solution for dealing with 'difficult', 'dangerous' or 'disruptive' prisoners, and assesses the true costs of Supermax confinement
Papers by Sharon Shalev
"Deep Custody" reports the findings of a comprehensive study of prison segregation units and close supervision centres in England and Wales, carried out by Sharon Shalev of the Centre for Criminology at the University of Oxford and Kimmett Edgar of the Prison Reform Trust.
The study included a survey sent to all prisons in England and Wales; visits to 15 segregation units and 4 close supervision centres across the country; and in-depth interviews with prisoners and prison staff.
The report is available in full at:
http://solitaryconfinement.org/UK-solitary-confinement
deleterious physical, mental and social health effects have long been observed and documented by practitioners and researchers alike. Yet solitary confinement is a common and universal feature of prison systems worldwide, used throughout the various stages of the criminal justice process and for a variety of reasons including punishment, containment
and protection. This chapter offers a brief overview of the practice, with a particular focus on key issues relevant to prison health care staff.
additional deprivations in supermax prisons measure up against
legal protections afforded to those deprived of their liberty. It suggests that if the prohibition against cruel, inhuman or degrading
treatment were to be taken at face value, supermax confinement
would meet the definition of what constitutes such treatment, and
urges the courts to re-examine their position regarding supermax
confinement. It also suggests that health professionals are well
placed, and ethically bound, to play a more active part in efforts
to curtail the use of prolonged solitary confinement in all places of
detention.
The report was commissioned by the New Zealand Human Rights Commission with funding from the UN Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture, and conducted by an independent expert, Dr Sharon Shalev, of the Centre for Criminology at the University of Oxford, UK.
Drawing on unique access to two Supermax prisons and on in-depth interviews with prison officials, prison architects, current and former prisoners, mental health professionals, penal, legal, and human rights experts, it provides a holistic view of the theory, practice and consequences of these prisons. Given the historic uses of solitary confinement, the book also traces continuities and discontinuities in its use on both sides of the Atlantic over the last two centuries.
It argues that rather than being an entirely 'new' form of imprisonment, Supermax prisons draw on principles of architecture, surveillance and control which were set out in the early 19th century but which are now enhanced by the most advanced technologies available to current day prison planners and administrators. It asks why a form of confinement which had been discredited in the past is now proposed as the best solution for dealing with 'difficult', 'dangerous' or 'disruptive' prisoners, and assesses the true costs of Supermax confinement
"Deep Custody" reports the findings of a comprehensive study of prison segregation units and close supervision centres in England and Wales, carried out by Sharon Shalev of the Centre for Criminology at the University of Oxford and Kimmett Edgar of the Prison Reform Trust.
The study included a survey sent to all prisons in England and Wales; visits to 15 segregation units and 4 close supervision centres across the country; and in-depth interviews with prisoners and prison staff.
The report is available in full at:
http://solitaryconfinement.org/UK-solitary-confinement
deleterious physical, mental and social health effects have long been observed and documented by practitioners and researchers alike. Yet solitary confinement is a common and universal feature of prison systems worldwide, used throughout the various stages of the criminal justice process and for a variety of reasons including punishment, containment
and protection. This chapter offers a brief overview of the practice, with a particular focus on key issues relevant to prison health care staff.
additional deprivations in supermax prisons measure up against
legal protections afforded to those deprived of their liberty. It suggests that if the prohibition against cruel, inhuman or degrading
treatment were to be taken at face value, supermax confinement
would meet the definition of what constitutes such treatment, and
urges the courts to re-examine their position regarding supermax
confinement. It also suggests that health professionals are well
placed, and ethically bound, to play a more active part in efforts
to curtail the use of prolonged solitary confinement in all places of
detention.