In the United States, some convicted criminals, like the Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, are locked away in supermax prisons that confine them to tiny cells for nearly a full day. These high-security facilities, like ADX Florence in Colorado, focus on isolation and control.
Tsarnaev's future is uncertain as the Federal Bureau of Prisons decides if he serves his life sentence in ADX Florence or on death row while waiting for appeals. As America's most secure supermax, ADX Florence is dubbed the Alcatraz of the Rockies. Guards bring prisoners to the facility by bus, special vehicle, or even a Black Hawk helicopter. Armed patrols roam the sprawling complex, and towering guard towers dominate the landscape.
Former ADX guard Robert Hood recalled that the moment prisoners entered the facility, it was etched upon their faces. "It's the last time they'll ever see it," Hood said, referring to the picturesque Rocky Mountains outside the prison. Hood, who served as warden from 2002 to 2005, likened living in supermax to "a life after life" and considered it worse than death.
Inmates spend most of their days (23 out of 24 hours) in 7-by-12-foot concrete cells with tiny windows that only let in some light. Food is passed through cracks in the door, and inmates sleep on hard concrete slabs. The isolation tactics are intentional, aiming to frustrate and control the prisoners.
Besides guards, inmates have minimal human contact. They are handcuffed, shackled, and chained when escorted by guards, and outdoor exercise is confined to a small, cage-like area. The facility is studded with countless cameras and armed guards constantly patrolling the hallways.
Some cells have radios or black-and-white TVs with religious, educational, or general programming. Inmates can work within the facility or attend religious services. Visitation is restricted to legal teams and immediate family, and all conversations are monitored.
Notorious inmates typically reside in the High Security Forced Response Unit, named H-Force. Visits with children are discouraged for their safety. Accusations of cruel and unusual treatment prevail, claiming the conditions exacerbate mental health concerns, leading to suicide, feces-throwing, and other acts of self-destruction.
While proponents of supermax prisons claim they deter criminals and make prisons safer, others argue that long-term solitary confinement creates environments ripe for psychological decline. It's difficult to gauge the impact of these factors on inmates like Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. Their isolated lives are a stark contrast to the comforts and socialization many people take for granted.
