Torture in American prisons

"The degree of civilization in a society can be judged by entering its prisons."
Fyodor Dostoevsky


When it came to light that Iraqi detainees had been abused the perception of America across the Middle East eroded even further. But why hasn’t there been a similar negative outcry over the abuses seen with domestic prisoners? The use of torture to erode the dignity of prisoners, to enforce obediance and to satisfy the sadism of the authorities has a long tradition within America itself.

This British documentary provides a horrifying glimpse into the world of torture in American prisons.



Here are some useful links for those wishing to learn more and to get involved in the fight for dignity and the welfare of prisoners on a national level:

The Center for Prisoner Health and Human Rights "is a collaboration of doctors, social workers and allied health staff from a variety of medical disciplines with the common mission of preserving the basic rights and needs of individuals detained in correctional systems, both in the United States and abroad."

And one of the most brutal prison regimes in America today is the Louisiana State Penitentiary or 'Angola Prison' of which the following groups target for their calls for reform:

"Families and Friends of Louisiana’s Incarcerated Children (FFLIC) is a statewide membership-based organization that fights for a better life for all of Louisiana's youth, especially those involved in or targeted by the juvenile justice system."

"The Juvenile Justice Project of Louisiana (JJPL) fights on several fronts to challenge the way the state handles our delinquent young people, particularly those confined in juvenile prisons"