Experiences of Solitary Confinement: Insights from a Former Prisoner

Prison life is an experience that is not often thought about in detail unless you have been through it yourself. Rarely are we privy to the stark and often harrowing realities of solitary confinement. Serving my time in the Australian prison system, I was subjected to experiences that starkly illustrate the challenge of life in isolation.

Life in the Cell

My cell was at best dim; there was almost no natural light, and the barred window was covered with a material that ensured even the tiniest amount of light was blocked. The bed had a pencil-thin mattress, and no sheets—only a single blanket. This is a stark contrast to the living conditions that many prisoners and legal experts would consider acceptable.

In certain prisons, particularly in the Australian prison system, such conditions are unfortunately the norm. The lack of connectivity and basic amenities such as a proper toilet and shower further exacerbate the harsh conditions. For instance, the toilet was simply a bucket that needed to be emptied on a daily basis. During my time in solitary confinement, I never had a shower, and it was a constant reminder of the losses brought on by my incarceration.

Different Responses to Solitary Confinement

Life in the hole varied greatly from person to person. Some found it utterly unbearable, while others adapted to the routine. For some, engaging in "tobacco runs" was a means of survival. This euphemism for selling contraband tobacco within the prison often resulted in attracting dangerous associates, as seen in prison reports. Sadly, this practice was quite common in prisons like Missouri prisons.

During my time, smoking was strictly prohibited, which led to a creative method of bringing tobacco into the cell—a technique termed "kiestering." Today, such methods pose significant risks to prisoners' health and well-being, highlighting the resilience of the human spirit in adverse conditions.

Survival and Adjustments

The loss of basic freedoms, such as the ability to tell time, often starkly illustrated the psychological impact of solitary confinement. In the absence of clocks, those within the hole found their own ways to estimate the time by tracking the sun's position through the window. Despite these measures, the need to adjust regularly for the sun's movement demonstrated the daily challenge of maintaining a semblance of normalcy.

Our daily routine included several activities such as the infamous "Cadillacs"—a crude system for passing messages or items between cells using a string with a weight attached to the end. This method provided a rare opportunity for connectivity, albeit under strict control.

The Nature of Violations and Confinement

Conditions and consequences varied widely. My time in the hole was often a result of minor and sometimes disputed violations. I was placed in solitary confinement various times, most typically for fights, dangerous contraband, and general disobedience. The detailed breakdown included the following:

Several fights Beating and being classified as the victim of an assault (though I was the one who got beaten) Carrying one dangerous item Disobeying one direct order (which I often believed was not given)

Amazingly, most of my time in the hole totaled just ten days, although the waiting period for a cell bed could be significant. However, the longest stretch I experienced was fifteen days, which seemed like an odd number during my stint at Potosi Correctional Center.

Long-term Consequences and Parole

The most severe incident of being placed in solitary confinement was the result of one dangerous contraband item. This resulted in nine months at Potosi Correctional Center. Parole proceedings led to a reduction in my custody level and the assignment of a "Dingleman" cell, which served as an extreme precaution due to potential threats to my safety.

This experience underscored the complex nature of prison life, where interactions with the correctional staff can be as detrimental as the conditions themselves. For me, the dingleman cell was one of the few times I was furious about being placed in solitary confinement, despite the potential dangers and the harsh conditions.