US inmartes 40 years in solitary must end

[biglin]

uk.news.yahoo.com/us-inmates-40-years-solitary-must-end-amnesty-000047090.html

US inmates' 40 years in solitary must end: Amnesty
AFPBy Jaime Razuri | AFP – Tue, Jun 7, 2011

Two US prisoners who have been held in solitary confinement for nearly 40 years should have their isolation ended immediately, Amnesty International said Tuesday.

Albert Woodfox, 64, and Herman Wallace, 69, have been held in solitary at Louisiana State Penitentiary ever since they were convicted of murdering a prison guard in 1972, the London-based human rights group said.

Their four-decade ordeal "is cruel and inhumane and a violation of the US's obligations under international law," said Guadalupe Marengo, Amnesty's Americas deputy director.

"We are not aware of any other case in the United States where individuals have been subjected to such restricted human contact for such a prolonged period of time."

The pair are suing the Louisiana authorities claiming that their prolonged isolation is "cruel and unusual punishment" and so violates the US constitution.

"The treatment of these men by the state of Louisiana is a clear breach of US commitment to human rights," said Marengo.

"Their cases should be reviewed as a matter of urgency, and while that takes place authorities must ensure that their treatment complies with international standards for the humane treatment of prisoners."

Amnesty said the men were confined to their cells, measuring two metres (6.5 feet) by three metres, for 23 hours a day, and have never been allowed to work or have access to education.

[arizonavet]

It took me some time to even FIND what Rideau & Woodfox had done to originally be imprisoned....I believe it's relavent.

www.wilbertrideau-realstory.com/rideaus-true-story/wilbert-rideau-and-albert-woodfox/

The crime of Wilbert Rideau was horrific, no matter how his supporters try to color it. On February 16, 1961 he robbed the Gulf South National Bank in Lake Charles, Louisiana; took three bank employees hostage (two female tellers and a male vice president); took the hostages to a remote area in Calcasieu Parish; grievously wounded two of the hostages as they tried to flee for their lives; and killed the third employee by stabbing her through the heart and cutting her throat. By Rideau’s own admission, it was a senseless, coldblooded, and methodical “hate crime” murder.

On April 17, 1972 a group of black inmates on the Big Yard at the Louisiana State Penitentiary walked into Pine 1 dormitory and stabbed a prison guard named Brent Miller 32 times killing him. Four inmates were arrested for the murder: Albert Woodfox, Herman Wallace, Chester “Noxema Black” Jackson, and Gilbert Montegut. Jackson took a plea deal to a lesser charge and Montegut was acquitted. Woodfox and Wallace were tried and convicted in a West Feliciana Parish courthouse and sentenced to life terms.

I still couldn't find what Woodfox was originally in prison for....99% of all "hits" I get say nothing concerning his guilt....only his solitary confinement.

No, just can't work up a good simpathy for the predjudiced, cold blooded, white-hating, Black Panter killers myself.

They are lucky to be still stealing oxygen.

[biglin]

I'm anything but naive about these people.

Like you, I'm a firm supporter of execution for murder.

I wish they had been executed but since they're obviously serving life instead I guess we have to go for that as the lesser of two evils.

The question is, though, granted that these scumbags have to be locked up for the rest of their lives, does that justify solitary confinement?

As a punishment it IMO should only be used for short spells.

The idea that even lowlives like these two should have to endure it for 40 years is what I find totally unacceptable.

As I said, I'd much rather they'd swung from a rope years ago,

Once they entered the prison system instead there's a certain minimum standard of care which IMO is not met by 40 years solitary.

Lock them up, watch them like hawks, do whatever reasonable security measures have to be taken since they're (sadly) not going to be executed.

But don't put them in solitary for 40 years.

That's how I feel and I've always taken a consistent line on issues of crime and punishment.

[arizonavet]

Jun 7, 2011 15:27:31 GMT -5 @biglin said:

I'm anything but naive about these people.

Like you, I'm a firm supporter of execution for murder.

I wish they had been executed but since they're obviously serving life instead I guess we have to go for that as the lesser of two evils.

The question is, though, granted that these scumbags have to be locked up for the rest of their lives, does that justify solitary confinement?

As a punishment it IMO should only be used for short spells.

The idea that even lowlives like these two should have to endure it for 40 years is what I find totally unacceptable.

As I said, I'd much rather they'd swung from a rope years ago,

Once they entered the prison system instead there's a certain minimum standard of care which IMO is not met by 40 years solitary.

Lock them up, watch them like hawks, do whatever reasonable security measures have to be taken since they're (sadly) not going to be executed.

But don't put them in solitary for 40 years.

That's how I feel and I've always taken a consistent line on issues of crime and punishment.

We agree....probably wasn't right...
I've never agreed with torture, for any reason, and that is what this is.

These murderers declared war on the prison, and American society in general.
They shouldn't be too suprised if when they lost the war.....they were treated very badly.

Not right.....but, oh well.......OK, let them out for an hour a day...... ;D