Politics of Punishment, a PHRI report published in 2016, presents trends in the use of solitary confinement in Israeli prisons and offers practical ways to end this practice. Solitary confinement is seriously detrimental to prisoners’ short and long-term mental and physical health. It is a cruel practice that runs fundamentally counter to any attempt to rehabilitate and treat prisoners. In some circumstances, the practice of solitary confinement even amounts to torture.
The report also presents major recent changes in international law, which trend towards the prohibition of solitary confinement. In particular, the international community has intensified its call to limit—and stop—its use. The report highlights the lack of transparency and oversight regarding solitary confinement and the growing use of the practice under the separation ordinance, as reflected by quantitative data. It also considers the various uses of solitary confinement by the IPS and security authorities, discussing: (1) protected wards, (2) the placement in solitary confinement of prisoners suffering from mental health issues; (3) punitive punishment; (4) placement in solitary confinement on grounds of protecting state security; and (5) the placement in solitary confinement of detainees during interrogations. Additionally, this report addresses the involvement of health professionals in approving and sustaining the practice of solitary confinement, outlining their ethical obligation and responsibility to stop the solitary confinement due to the harm it inflicts on/causes imprisoned patients.
The report argues that the medical community in Israel, and first and foremost the Ministry of Health, should actively challenge the use of solitary confinement as a detention practice in Israel. Furthermore, PHRI argues that it is the duty of the Ministry of Public Security and the IPS to maintain the health of those placed in their custody, and that the state cannot continue to ignore the devastating effects of solitary confinement on prisoners. As such, it is responsible to act to eradicate this harmful practice and desist from the use of solitary confinement as means of pressure serving political and punitive goals and as a tool for handling individuals coping with mental-health issues.
The report is one in a series of reports that are part of PHRI’s effort to end the use of solitary confinement, including a 2008 report, accessible here, and a 2011 report accessible here. PHRI’s work challenging the use of solitary confinement also includes a joint petition to the Committee Against Torture (CAT), and in response the CAT issued a series of recommendations to Israel concerning its use of solitary confinement. PHRI’s joint-report and discussion of the CAT recommendations are accessible here.
