Judicial Analysis
The Judicial case this year is labeled Ronald Williams v. John E. Wetzel. The issue presented is that of the use of solitary confinement in an unusual circumstance.
The plaintiff, Ronald Williams, is currently held in solitary confinement. John E. Wetzel is the defendant, for he is in charge of the agency that enforces the statutes against Ronald Williams.
Ronald Williams was convicted of first degree murder and the jury decided on the death sentence for him. The sentence held through in the PA Supreme Court (all death sentences are reviewed by the state’s Supreme Court) and the governor issued and set an execution date. Under Pennsylvania law, death row is solitary confinement.
Williams then made an attempt to save himself. He first used the Pennsylvania Post Conviction Act (“PCRA”). This statute allows for him to dispute his conviction and sentence. The PCRA court ruled that Ronald Williams was still guilty, but he will be given a new penalty phase that will either result in a re-sentence to death or life imprisonment, in which he would receive no parole. Nonetheless, Williams did appeal the decision given by the PCRA court and he will not redeem a new sentencing hearing until his appeal is reviewed and decided.
William has been in solitary confinement since 2012 and it will still be a few years until the appeal is decided upon. It is the policy of the DOC to keep him in solitary confinement and not move him into the general population until he his possibly re-sentenced to something other than the death sentence.
Wanting to be allowed back into the general population, Williams made two separate claims. He first claims that the Pennsylvania statute that governs imprisonment on death row allows him to be released from solitary confinement, when in actuality, it does the exact opposite, and is keeping him there.
Secondly, Ronald Williams claims that keeping him in solitary confinement on death row after his death sentence has been abandoned is in violation of the Due Process Clause of the United States Constitution. Since Williams was convicted of first degree murder and a sentence had been placed, he lost some of the liberty that’s usually protected by the Due Process Clause. For something to be done for a prisoner showing that they have liberty protected by the Due Process Clause, they must exhibit that their living conditions are causing for a nonconforming and atypical prison life. This is what Williams attempted to argue, but the DOC did not see it the same way.
Nothing was done because the court of common pleas denied both of Williams’ claims. Even with this, it is prohibited for Ronald Williams to be moved out of solitary confinement at this time.
With the multiple fails of Ronald Williams, he now is to appeal to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
From a very young age, children are taught to spend time alone and reflect upon their behavior after acting out or causing a disturbance; whether it’s being sent to their rooms, the corner, or even detention as they grow older, it is generally accepted that this form of punishment is a key element in developing boundaries.
In fact, much doesn’t change as these same children become adults. Solitary confinement remains as a widely-used correctional technique in which disobedient inmates are limited to a cell that usually averages six by ten feet. Many stays continue on for days, weeks, months, and in some cases, even years.
It proves to be a heavy topic of debate, with some swearing by effectiveness in maintaining order within prisons, and others diving into the ethical concerns associated with such punishment. That being said, let’s touch on just a few of the main areas of discussion:
1) Solitary confinement protects others from prisoners that may be classified as dangerous. Just as the initial jailing of these people is justifiable by the acts they’ve committed to pose a threat to society, prisoners who refuse to conform to the rules of their environment place all surrounding inmates at risk. Separating those who provoke this type of risk can potentially benefit the overall safety of the general prison population.
2) It protects these prisoners from surrounding inmates who may harm them for their crimes. Those who may have been involved in pedophilia and sexual assault crimes are at an especially high risk of attack and even murder at the hands of fellow inmates. Solitary confinement not only has the ability to shield the majority of inmates from this prisoner, but the prisoner from the other inmates; increased security makes it more difficult to harm those punished.
3) It ensures order within prisons. Without some means of further consequence for those who continue to disobey laws while imprisoned, there would most likely be mass chaos. The looming threat of solitary confinement itself may also potentially motivate prisoners to follow orders and stay out of trouble so as to avoid it.
4) Solitary confinement infringes on one’s basic human rights. In a solitary cell, a prisoner’s every move is usually monitored by guards using security cameras and other electronic processes, stripping them of their privacy. Additionally, some consider solitary confinement to be a form of torture as an inmate’s mental and emotional health is put at jeopardy.
5) Solitary confinement leads to severe emotional and mental health disorders. Many who have gone through solitary confinement have admitted to experiencing hallucinations, paranoia, and even schizophrenia as a result of no human interaction. Self-destructive behavior has also been reported among those who feel as though they had lost their grip on reality while in confinement.
6) It does not provide legitimate evidence of rehabilitation. The main goals of solitary confinement, to reflect on oneself and strive to do better are often forgotten in the process of simply trying to pass time as much as possible. The average rehabilitation stages are usually achieved through interacting with the surrounding world, a luxury that is deprived once confined.
In conclusion, while some believe the the benefits or risks of this punishment far outweigh the opposite, solitary confinement remains common in prisons across the world. Certain laws have been passed in the U.S. to regulate it and ensure it doesn’t get too out of hand, but it is currently still legal in all states. Whether one supports it or not solely depends on informing themselves on the topic and developing an educated opinion from there.