‘It’s Still Driving People Mad’: Critic Of Solitary Confinement Discusses Its Difficulties

WGBH – All Things Considered March 4th, 2019 By Barbara Howard Reporter Chris Burrell, with our WGBH News partner the New England Center for Investigative Reporting, has been looking at solitary confinement in state prisons. Lizz Matos, executive director of the Prisoners’ Legal Services of Massachusetts, discussed the issue further with WGBH All Things Considered host Barbara Howard. […]

Bill restricts use of solitary confinement

November 24, 2017 The Salem News By Christian M. Wade BOSTON — Massachusetts has some of the nation’s harshest solitary confinement rules, allowing inmates to be placed in segregated units for as long as 10 years. But the state is now poised to ease its restrictive policies as part of a wide-ranging criminal justice bill […]

Can You Imagine Spending 23 Hours A Day In A Cell The Size Of A Parking Space?

November 15, 2017 WBUR By Bonita Tennierrello Right now hundreds of Massachusetts prisoners are locked alone in a concrete cell about the size of a parking spot. They can stay there for months or years on end, allowed only one hour a day outside, in a small exercise cage that looks like a dog run. Their meals […]

Is 10 years in Massachusetts solitary confinement torture?

October 18, 2017 The Boston Globe By Joshua Miller Massachusetts legislators attempting a sweeping overhaul of the criminal justice system are grappling with one of the toughest questions in corrections: How long is too long for a prisoner — even one who has harmed a guard or a fellow inmate — to be punished with solitary […]

Offering some solitary thoughts

July 8, 2017 The Boston Globe By Yvonne Abraham We like to think of ourselves as enlightened here in Massachusetts. But when it comes to how we treat inmates in our jails and prisons, a bunch of other states have us beat — including Maine, led by governor Paul LePage, who has spoken longingly of bringing […]