Your article about Jeff Rockefeller's experience as a mentally ill man serving a portion of his state prison sentence in solitary confinement ("No peace outside 'The Box,'" April 25) illustrated many serious issues related to this harmful and archaic practice.
In January, the New York State Bar Association issued a report highly critical of solitary confinement, its questionable rehabilitative value and its impact on the mental health of inmates.
About 4,500 of the state's 56,000 inmates are in solitary confinement, most for nonviolent offenses or rules infractions.
Our report (http://www.nysba.org/solitaryconfinementreport) found that mental health and substance abuse issues are often exacerbated when inmates are locked in tiny cells with no human interaction over time. Inmates often experience psychological or behavioral problems — depression, hallucinations and suicidal behavior — placing themselves, correction officers and other inmates at risk. These problems persist upon release.
In addition, more than 2,000 prisoners released annually from solitary confinement into communities receive no transitional assistance, potentially threatening public health and safety.
The State Bar Association implores state officials to significantly restrict the use of solitary confinement, adopt strict criteria for its use, and prohibit solitary sentences longer than 15 days.
We applaud the Times Union for raising awareness of this important issue.
Seymour W. James Jr.
President
New York State
Bar Association, Albany