Donn Rowe, president of the New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association, in a recent commentary claimed, "Every inmate in solitary confinement has inflicted suffering to some degree on another innocent person," ("Prisons have solitary confinement for a reason," May 9). This is not true.
We recently concluded a lawsuit on behalf of a young woman who was forcibly raped by a correctional officer while she was incarcerated for a minor offense. She is a small woman, barely taller than 5 feet, and he is the size of a linebacker.
The officer threatened to kill her and her children if she told anyone what he had done. She and her attacker were discovered by a supervisor moments after the rape. She was crumpled on the floor, her clothing ripped, sobbing hysterically.
The supervisor ordered her to relate what had happened, threatening to put her in Special Housing Unit if she refused. Although terrified, she did so, in part to avoid the horrors of SHU. A local hospital confirmed the rape and documented bruises on her neck, arms and legs suffered during the vicious sexual assault.
Upon her return to the prison, she was locked in SHU for eight days and nights. She was deprived of her clothing, reading materials and medications, was allowed no contact with her husband or children and denied counseling or support. She spent the time close to despair, terrified that her rapist or one of his colleagues would carry out his threats.
Contrary to Mr. Rowe's assertion, our client inflicted suffering on no one. She was the innocent who was punished.
Laurie Shanks
clinical professor of law, Albany Law School
Terence L. Kindlon
Kindlon Shanks
& Associates
Albany
