From the National Religious Campaign Against Torture (http://www.nrcat.org):
One of the most difficult challenges I faced while serving three years in solitary confinement was the constant thought that no one in the outside world cared about the people held there, including me. Today I am proud to be working with all of you to ensure that the people most impacted by the torture of solitary confinement are not forgotten, and the systems which hold them are held accountable. The truth is, for many of the men, women, and children held in isolation, those of us lifting our voices in support and advocacy are their only lifeline and only hope of escaping the torture of solitary.
NRCAT is honored to continue building the capacity and amplifying the work of faith leaders, including people with lived experience in solitary. Over the summer we met with correctional leaders to discuss self-imposed reductions in solitary in their states; worked with Photo Requests From Solitary to amplify the voices of people held in solitary; and organized public education events at universities, divinity schools and faith and community conferences around the country.
In addition, NRCAT co-sponsored Solitary Week at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. This offered the opportunity for me to speak with Karol V. Mason, John Jay’s President and a former Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Office of Justice Programs in the Obama Administration, after her very impactful visit to our virtual reality experience of solitary confinement exhibit.
However, there is still much work to do. The only way we will arrive to the finish line of justice is by deepening our campaign efforts, building member support, and continuing to invest in the leadership of those most impacted. Here are a few ways to get involved in this important work:
- Register for the upcoming webinar Rethinking Restrictive Housing: What’s Worked in Colorado? on Sept. 17 at 12:30pm ET. The webinar will include remarks from the head of the Colorado Department of Corrections, Executive Director Rick Raemisch. The online conversation is organized by the Safe Alternatives to Segregation Initiative of the Vera Institute of Justice, and NRCAT is pleased to serve on the Initiative’s Advisory Council.
- Watch Understanding Solitary Confinement, a recorded webinar I participated in that was organized by JustleadershipUSA, which provides a comprehensive analysis of the true impact of solitary confinement in the U.S.
- Listen to Voices of Juvenile Abuse Behind the Wall, a conversation I was part of that was organized by AJC radio.
As we enter the fall, I am reminded of how cold solitary cells become even in the fall, and I find comfort in knowing that together we will continue to fight to preserve the dignity and protect the mental health of the nearly 100,000 people subjected daily to the torture of solitary confinement.
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