The effects of solitary confinement on inmates within the Maltese context : a professional’s perspective

Abstract

Solitary Confinement is an umbrella term (Shames & Wilcox, 2015) encapsulating the transfer of prisoners from the general inmate population to more restrictive housing (Salerno & Zgoba, 2020) for approximately 22 to 23 hours a day (Brioschi & Paterniti Martello, 2021; Lynch, Mason & Rodriguez, 2016), for reasons varying from protection to punishment (Butler et al., 2013; Salerno & Zgoba et al., 2020). SC has shown to influence the inmate holistically, leaving its mark on their physical, psychological, and social wellbeing (Brunner et al., 2017; Shalev, 2008; Smith, 2006), not to mention the effect it has on their loved ones (Haney, 2001). Given the lack of local research in this domain, this study sought to explore the effects that SC yields on inmates, through the lens of the professionals working with them. Six semi-structured interviews were carried out with professionals with experience working with such populations, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using Thematic Analysis. Three main themes were found, that of the Impact on the Self, Physical Implications, and Strained Interpersonal Relationships, each branching into their respective subthemes. Findings illustrated the strains on the physical, psychological, and social health SC contributes to, especially through the changes in identity and internalisation of coping mechanisms inmates employ to survive prison. This study has contributed towards obtaining a glimpse of what inmates subjected to SC endure.