Criminal justice system's 'dark secret': Teenagers in solitary confinement

[marmar]

(NBC News) James Stewart, a 17-year-old from Denver who committed suicide while in solitary confinement, had never been to jail before August of 2008. That was when, under the influence of alcohol and marijuana, Stewart had gotten into a head-on car collision, killing a 32-year-old man.

Because of the severity of his crime, Stewart was charged with vehicular homicide – and charged as an adult. His family couldn’t make bail, so Stewart was placed in the Denver County Jail while he awaited his sentence.

There was just one problem: Since he was a minor, Stewart was ordered to be put in protective custody, separate from the adult prisoners— and the best protection the jail had to offer was solitary confinement.

Weeks later, the psychological impact was too much. After a brief reprieve from solitary to be in a shared cell with another juvenile offender, Stewart was sent back to isolation after a minor argument with his cellmate. According to his older sister, Nicole Miera, Stewart took his own life after less than 10 minutes of being back in what inmates called "the hole." .................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://rockcenter.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/22/17403150-criminal-justice-systems-dark-secret-teenagers-in-solitary-confinement?lite&ocid=msnhp&pos=1

[99Forever]

1. We are a Nation without a conscience.

I want out.

[marmar]

2. This is the most punitive "free" society on earth.

At least it is if you're not a CEO, bankster, oil baron etc etc.

[99Forever]

3. Any "freedom" people think they have in this country..

... is purely an illusion they can still afford to purchase.