BOP Chief, Director Samuels' Explanation of Use of Solitary Confinement in Federal Prison Is Not Accurate, Says Advocacy Group, A Just Cause

26.8.15

BOP Chief, Director Samuels' Explanation of Use of Solitary Confinement in Federal Prison Is Not Accurate, Says Advocacy Group, A Just Cause: According to the National Journal, "At a hearing of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on Tuesday (August 4, 2015), activists clashed with prison administrators over the level of mistreatment in the federal prison system, especially when it came to defining 'solitary confinement.'" (Emma Roller. National Journal, The Problem with Defining 'Solitary Confinement,' http://www.nationaljournal.com/congress/the-problem-with-defining-solitary-confinement-20150804). The National Journal went on to report, "But in a confusing exchange with Democratic Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey at the hearing, Samuels denied that the Federal Bureau of Prisons even practices solitary confinement."

According to The Hill, Director Samuels claimed, "We do not practice solitary confinement. Our practice has always been to ensure that when individuals are placed in restrictive housing, we place them in a cell with another individual, to also include that our staff make periodic rounds to check on the individuals." (http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/250247-dems-grill-federal-prisons-chief)