When I first saw the term 'solitary confinement' I thought it referred to a more general form of social isolation. I have since come to recognise that it is more specifically the confinement of inmates in prisons.
Numerous studies have been conducted on this form of imprisonment, many of which document the extreme negative psychological effects it imposes on its victims. which leaves the question, where and when will it begin to change? In California, Governor Schwarzenegger has just announce that he will put $1 billion dollars into 10,000 new beds for mentally unstable prison inmates. the cells will be fitted properly, which will hopefully decrease the ability for prisoners to hang themselves (the number 1 cause of suicide in prisons).
Because a lot of the inmates are places in solitary confinement for their own protection, it is sad that they must endure the torture of being without any form of social companionship.