Opening the Door to Solitary Confinement: Racial Disparities in Placement and Length of Stay

• In Event: Restrictive Housing: Consideration of Life on the Inside

Abstract

Although research has illustrated the detrimental effects of solitary confinement on mental and physical health, it has yet to consider how race intersects with solitary confinement placement. Understanding the extent to which solitary is utilized, and whether this utilization disparately impacts particular racial groups is critical because of the harmful social and psychological effects of this sanction and the potential compounded effects on Black individuals who are disproportionately represented within the prison population. This study utilizes data from the National Inmate Survey 2011-2012, to determine if there are racial disparities in: 1) who is placed in solitary confinement, 2) if there are disparities in the length of time an individual is placed in solitary confinement, and 3) if having a prior violent history mediates or moderates the relationship between race and a.) placement in solitary confinement, and b.) length of time spent in solitary confinement. I find that Black inmates and other race inmates are placed in solitary confinement more frequently and for a greater number of days compared to White inmates. Additionally, I find that the association between race and solitary confinement placement and length cannot be explained by other demographic characteristics of the inmates including prior violent history.

Author

• Marquianna Griffin, The Ohio State University