Op-Ed: Here in San Quentin, I see why solitary confinement must end (via latimesopinion)
I’ve spent more than 26 years in California’s prison system, including 13 reporting for San Quentin News, Solitary Watch and various other news outlets. I have talked to dozens of people who were subjected to solitary confinement for disruptive behavior, as well as those sent to solitary because they were deemed sick.
“My dad shot me up when I was 12 years old,” Sperling said, who is serving his 11th year of incarceration. He was sentenced to seven years to life for conspiracy to commit extortion. Sperling says his troubles began shortly after his father got him hooked on heroin. He began running the streets, where he found acceptance in a street gang. His incarceration history includes several stints in juvenile hall.
During his incarceration. Kitchen said he has been subjected to solitary confinement several times for disciplinary events. But being sent to solitary confinement for being sick was the worst, because the Adjustment Center is really like a dungeon. Sitting alone in a cell for 23 hours a day, for years and months, he added, “I see that I was slowly losing my mind.” He talked about how even a solid person could begin thinking that all his friends were trying to get him, all from how a person looked at him or common gestures like waving or body language.