From Facts to Feelings: The Role of Personal Narratives in Solitary Confinement Reform

Author: Sarah Mazar

Field of Study: Arts and Humanities

Program Affiliation: Source Project Research Program

Faculty Mentors: Will Glovinsky

Easel: 31

Timeslot: Morning

Abstract: Each year more than 100,000 Americans are isolated from all human contact in solitary confinement cells. While a United Nations report has said solitary confinement may amount to torture and called for it to be banned, except in highly exceptional cases, its use persists in every US state partly because such practices are by definition hidden from the public. One way to convey the reality of solitary confinement for broader publics is through personal narratives and memoirs. This project therefore turns to Albert Woodfox’s Solitary and The Solitary Watch Archive to explore how personal stories may uniquely resonate with the public, prompting both empathy and policy reform. By amplifying the voices of those who have endured solitary confinement, we can cultivate a deeper understanding of its psychological and human costs, ultimately fueling the empathy and legislative action that is needed to end this inhumane practice.