ASSIGNMENT 3: Module 10: The House That Herman Built Before viewing the videos below ask yourself how you feel about the practice of solitary confinement being used in our jails and prisons. Then watch the following video clips:
Herman’s House – Official Film Trailer 2 minutes 20 seconds
http://video.pbs.org/video/2365038994 3 minutes 12seconds
http://on.aol.com/video/prisoner-released-after-40-years-in-solitary-confinement-517953904 2 minutes
Then read the following articles:
https://www.vera.org/search?query=Solitary confinement
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/05/us/herman-wallace-held-41-years-in-solitary-dies-at-71.html?_r=0 (On page 2 of the PDF there is a list of common misconceptions about solitary confinement.)
Then answer the following questions for the discussion post:
1.Select one misconception and discuss your reaction.
2.The EIGHTH AMENDMENT of our Constitution (ratified in 1791) reads “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted”. There is disagreement whether solitary confinement is cruel and unusual. What do you think?
3.Have your feelings about solitary confinement changed after watching the videos and learning about this practice? If so, how?
4.The New York Times article quotes Herman Wallace’s last words.What were they and 5.what was your reaction to them?
Reminder: Occasionally links do not work; in that case simply drop the title into a browser/search engine and you can access the information that way.