Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments

SoylentNews is people

posted by cmn32480 on Saturday September 24 2016, @06:08PM   Printer-friendly
from the prison-isn't-easy dept.

Chelsea Manning will spend at least seven days in solitary confinement for attempting suicide in July:

A military prison disciplinary board has sentenced US whistleblower Chelsea Manning to fourteen days in solitary confinement, her lawyer has said. She will spend seven days in solitary confinement for charges relating to her attempt to kill herself in July. She ended a hunger strike last week, after the military agreed to provide her with gender dysmorphia treatment. The army private, born as Bradley Manning, is serving a 35-year sentence for espionage.

Last July, the former intelligence officer attempted to take her own life, after what lawyers said was the Army's refusal to provide appropriate health care. She was found guilty on Thursday by prison officials in Leavenworth, Kansas, of "Conduct Which Threatens" for her suicide attempt. She also was convicted of having "prohibited property" - the book "Hacker, Hoaxer, Whistleblower, Spy," by Gabriella Coleman.

Earlier this month, it was announced that the US Army will grant Chelsea Manning's request for gender transition surgery.

The President of the United States and others believe that constraints must be placed on the practice of solitary confinement. Studies have found that solitary confinement leads to increased risks of self-harm.


Original Submission

 
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
Display Options Threshold/Breakthrough Mark All as Read Mark All as Unread
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
  • (Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday September 24 2016, @07:48PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday September 24 2016, @07:48PM (#406024)

    Solitary confinement doesn't mean that you get your own cell. High level prisoners like Chelsea Manning are probably already in individual cells.

    Solitary confinement means that they cut you off from all human contact in order to punish you. You can't even talk to a person in the next cell. They take you away from what little social contact and possessions that you have, and lock you in a windowless, featureless cell with no one to talk to and nothing to do, and leave you there for days or weeks or more. It's truly a cruel and psychologically damaging thing to do, especially for someone who is already messed up enough that they are attempting suicide.

    Whoever came up with the idea of using solitary confinement to punish those who attempt suicide should be placed in solitary themself for a few weeks, just to see how it affects a "healthy" person.

    Starting Score:    0  points
    Moderation   +1  
       Informative=1, Total=1
    Extra 'Informative' Modifier   0  

    Total Score:   1