The following is excerpted from a letter sent to us a Prison Health News reader, published with his permission.
My name is Josh O’Connor. I’m 20 years old and serving a 22 yr sentence for a crime I committed at 17 years old. I’m Native American and a vegan.
I’m in solitary for a fight I got into and have been here for 4 months and was told I would be forced to stay in solitary confinement for the next 6-8 months. I fear the mental/physical detrimental effects being in solitary confinement for so long and how I may suffer permanent health effects. I have met many inmates who have spent years – 7, 10, and even up to 20 in solitary confinement and you can easily see the adverse/detrimental deterioration of their health. Many have had insufficient brain activity to communicate with others not to mention get a job, and you can see many don’t get enough nutrients, because of the lack of sun/vitamins, which makes us very sick. I hope something will be done soon regarding limiting or abolishing solitary confinement.
Continue reading “Letter from Josh O’Connor: solitary confinement, food access, and being Native in prison”