This is my personal story about solitary confinement.
Over the last few years I have befriended someone who has spent a lot of time in prison. He has admitted to doing a lot of bad things in his life while he was high on heroin. He has been out of prison for almost two years now and he is trying to reform his life. He said that his time in prison was rough but exacerbated by his time in the ‘box’. He is trying to reintegrate into society but he continues to have serious PTSD issues which he largely blames on his time in solitary.
We all understand that if you do something wrong while in prison, there should be some kind of punishment. However, if our ultimate goal is to reintegrate people into our community, solitary confinement is clearly not the answer. I knew that as a mental health advocate, but now I know that on a personal level as well.
We urge you to take the thirty seconds to make three phone calls to help support passage of the HALT Bill. Your calls will help to end solitary confinement now.
CALL LEGISLATIVE LEADERS, YOUR SENATOR!
Please take 30 seconds TODAY to make 3 calls:
Call Senate Majority Leader Stewart- Cousins at 518-455-2585 / 914-423-4031) and tell her:
“Thousands of New Yorkers are suffering in solitary confinement, for months, years, and decades. The HALT Solitary Confinement Act (S1623/A2500) has 34 Senate cosponsors and others committed to vote for it. I respectfully urge you to bring HALT to a vote now (as is, without watering down its protections), so we can finally end this torture.
CALL Assembly Speaker Heastie: (518) 455-3791 and tell him:
“Thousands of New Yorkers are suffering in solitary confinement, for months, years, and decades. Thank you for your leadership in supporting the HALT Solitary Confinement Act (A2500/S1623). We appreciate that the Assembly passed HALT last year and that you continue to support the bill. I respectfully urge you to bring HALT to a vote now (as is, without watering down its protections), so we can finally end this torture. There is no time to lose!
CALL Your Own Senator: find at www.openstates.org and tell them:
“Thousands of New Yorkers are suffering in solitary confinement, for months, years, and decades. Thank you for your support of the HALT Solitary Confinement Act (S1623/A2500). What are you doing now to end this torture? Will you tell the Senate leadership that HALT is a priority and that you want the bill to be brought to a vote now (as is, without watering down its protections)? HALT has 34 Senate cosponsors and others committed to vote for it. There is no time to lose. Do not let another mind or life be taken by this torture. Thank you.“
3 DAYS TO GO TO STOP THE SUFFERING: THANK YOU!
