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Details on Dzokhar Tsarnaev's Solitary Confinement

RiaNovosti in Russia recently interviewed Devens Medical Center spokesman John Colautti about Dzokhar Tsarnaev's conditions of confinement.

Jahar is locked down 23 hours a day 5 days a week and 24 hours a day on weekends. He has no TV. He could listen to a walkman radio if he had $45 to buy it. His meals are brought to his cell. A book cart is brought by his cell a few days a week. He eats every meal alone in his cell. He gets three showers a week -- in his cell. He's not allowed contact with other prisons. Even if his injuries improve and he is moved to another facility, it's unlikely his living conditions will be any different -- he'll be deemed to be a "celebrity" inmate who needs to be segregated from general population. This could easily go on for a year.

The only people he sees besides medical staff are his lawyers, and they are 30 miles away. He still can't have visitors because it takes a while. He has to submit the names of visitors -- they have to be people he knew before being arrested -- and then a thorough background check is done on them.

His cell is about 10 feet by 10 feet and contains only a bed bolted to the floor, a sink and a toilet. When he is taken out for exercise, he is shackled at the hands and feet by two guards, and brought to a cage type place outdoors where he can exercise. If weather is inclement, there's an indoor room where he could exercise alone. If the prison gets put on lockdown, or staff is short (e.g. from furloughs), he doesn't get to go.

More details here.

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    So sad nobody has bothered to comment on this. (none / 0) (#1)
    by gbrbsb on Sun May 12, 2013 at 03:27:36 PM EST
    I expect I will be accused of being a total softie, an idealist, a stupid lefty, but i find myself overwhelmed by the fact that such a young apparently "good" lad (he was a voluntary mentor to learning disabled adults and my partner has two sons with severe learning disabilities) finds himself in such an inhumane detention.

    I mean, where is his possibility of redemption in all of this? His opportunity for repentance and in consequently forgiveness if not by himself by others? I am an atheist, but I was brought up a Christian being taught that christianity was all about forgiveness, (forgive thine enemies), and turning the other cheek, (do as thy would be done by), and never ever about revenge, cruelty or hatred.

    I freely admit I have difficulty assimilating that such a young US nurtured lad was so corroded by hate against the West that he chose to bomb innocent people, that is unless he is a psycho, or suffering another mental state which accounts for his alleged participation in the Boston bombings. I find it difficult to associate what for all intents and purposes appears to have been a very "normal" happy young lad with the wanton destruction of innocent people and it disturbs me profoundly.

    I don't know the solution for changing those that decide to wrong others out of hatred and revenge into law abiding caring citizens but there must be a better way than inhumane prison conditions, but maybe that way should at least include no more drones, no more Guantanamo, and a once and for all just solution for the Palestinian problem whether the pro Israeli lobbies like it or not.

    Cruel (none / 0) (#12)
    by Donna1220 on Mon May 13, 2013 at 03:23:50 AM EST
    Not to be read his Miranda rights after the request was made 3 times for a lawyer  .  A serious ill person being question for 16 hours ! As the rest of the world watched us do this to him  . No one knowing how they got any information from him . Did they hold back the pain medication from him ? Then for them to come back with a confession ? I thought all they  were suppose to find out if we were in danger from another attack . They said they didn't have to read him his Miranda rights but to break the justice system after he asked for a lawyer . When he asked for a lawyer that should have been the end of the questioning . What they learned they could have learned the same thing with a lawyer present . That is just breaking justice all together . I say this 19 year old's rights were broken in many ways and was treated cruelly then just being in a 10x -10x cell by himself . I thought Americans are suppose to stand for humanity . He was still just a suspect and for him to confess I would say he was forced and traumatize  . I wish I could just send him the 70.00 for a CD player . He is American citizen ! I cant believe we have gone this far off what we stand for in America .

    Parent
    I am a softie too (none / 0) (#2)
    by TycheSD on Sun May 12, 2013 at 06:20:50 PM EST
    I have a hard time reconciling what Dzhokhar supposedly did and who he is.  I also think solitary confinement for these famous prisoners is inhumane.  Are they seriously afraid that he would get hurt in the general population?  I don't believe in this long-term solitary confinement for anyone - not even Terry Nichols or any of those other guys out at ADX Florence.  That facility should be closed!

    There are organizations fighting solitary confinement.  www.solitarywatch.com is one.


    What's the story about triple murder in Waltham? (none / 0) (#3)
    by TycheSD on Sun May 12, 2013 at 06:26:55 PM EST
    Now police are trying to pin a 2011 crime on the Tsarnaev brothers.  Police leaks again.  What do you think they really have on these guys?  If Tamerlan and one of the victims were best friends, wouldn't it be normal for his DNA to be in the residence?

    this is off-topic (none / 0) (#6)
    by Jeralyn on Sun May 12, 2013 at 07:28:09 PM EST
    and will result in pure prejudicial speculation.

    Parent
    Sorry (none / 0) (#7)
    by TycheSD on Sun May 12, 2013 at 09:21:24 PM EST
    I am curious about this though.

    Parent
    3 murders (none / 0) (#11)
    by Donna1220 on Mon May 13, 2013 at 03:02:56 AM EST
    WATERTOWN -- Oct 20 2011

    Former Watertown Town Councilor Thomas Gus Bailey was arrested Wednesday and charged with trafficking marijuana after police reportedly found more than 1,000 marijuana plants and 300 pounds of cut marijuana, with an estimated street value of $2 million, in his Waltham warehouse.His wife was also cauhgt with money laundering . God only know what kind of money he made before they were caught . The case is coming up for trial in May . Two years after the crime . I wonder how well they are connected . Also arrested were Clay Gollobin, 42, of Brookline, and Eric Falzon, 43 of Auburndale. Gollobin was arraigned today on charges of conspiracy to violate drug laws, trafficking in marijuana and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and Falzon will be arraigned on charges of conspiracy to violate drug laws and trafficking marijuana.

    Read more: Police: Former Watertown councilor Gus Bailey busted with $2M in marijuana - Watertown, MA - Watertown Also along with Gus .Also arrested were Clay Gollobin, 42, of Brookline, and Eric Falzon, 43 of Auburndale

    It is funny that the 3 men were killed only 1 month later . I dont think Jahar or Tamerlan had anything to do with these murders . The same drugs were all over the bodies and 5k . I think this was someone that didnt want these two talking or a drug deal gone bad . Think about do you think Jahar or Tamerlan would have left 5k behind ? This is a set up

    Parent

    As if this treatment... (none / 0) (#4)
    by Dadler on Sun May 12, 2013 at 06:34:44 PM EST
    ...will make for a mentally healthy human capable of offering whatever information he can. All this does is ensure even less is known about this crime on the psychological level.

    True (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by Zorba on Sun May 12, 2013 at 07:21:14 PM EST
    I absolutely condemn and abhor the crime that he is accused of committing.  (And he has not been convicted yet, either, we may note.) You are correct that these conditions are almost guaranteed to very negatively impact his mental health and lead to much less knowledge about the crime.
    Even if he is convicted and is sentenced to life in prison, I do not see what purpose is served by this type of treatment.  It is "cruel and unusual" punishment, and it does not at all reflect well on this country.  

    Parent
    If they don't ever intend to let him out (none / 0) (#8)
    by TycheSD on Sun May 12, 2013 at 09:23:27 PM EST
    Then I guess they don't care about his psychological condition, which says horrible things about our government and our justice system.

    Parent
    Yes, it does say horrible things (none / 0) (#9)
    by Zorba on Sun May 12, 2013 at 09:42:23 PM EST
    There are a lot of prisoners who are subject to this treatment, and you are correct.  It is a disgrace that reflects very badly on our justice system and the government that allows it to happen.

    Parent
    Our European allies think we're inhumane (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by TycheSD on Sun May 12, 2013 at 09:55:48 PM EST
    From what I read, our European allies, particularly the UK, think our prison system and our death penalty are cruel and inhumane.  I don't want us to be like Europe in all things, although I would take the transit systems in some of the countries, but it makes you wonder what happened to us.

    Parent
    Absolutely. (none / 0) (#13)
    by gbrbsb on Mon May 13, 2013 at 04:21:25 AM EST
    If we are even to have a chance of learning something about how, why, when a normal person turns into a violent terrorist I can't see solitary confinement like this is the solution.

    Parent
    You go the OPPOSITE way (none / 0) (#14)
    by Dadler on Mon May 13, 2013 at 10:56:46 AM EST
    I don't mean to offend anyone, but if you want to be smart, out of the box, effective at getting this kid to act like a sentient human...then you have to be on too!!!  Love the kid, treat him well, subject him to visits from people who constantly want to treat him with more concern and care then he's ever received...THEN he will start chirping truth like the very damaged creature he is. (And we, by our treatment of prisoners, evidence just what a damaged creature our system, and we, are.)

    Parent
    It's all related to our scapegoat (5.00 / 2) (#15)
    by jondee on Mon May 13, 2013 at 12:58:07 PM EST
    religious mythology..

    The hanging up of a man like a side of beef to expiate our sins..

    Europe worked through most of it's lunatic fundamentalism a long time ago. Here, the psychological complex make-'em-suffer-make-'em-pay (for our sins) is still alive and well..

    Parent

    That's because a long time ago in Europe... (none / 0) (#17)
    by Dadler on Mon May 13, 2013 at 10:34:53 PM EST
    ...most of the Puritans got on boats, and they sailed right here, and they started a country.

    Parent
    Hear Hear... (5.00 / 1) (#16)
    by kdog on Mon May 13, 2013 at 09:35:44 PM EST
    Ask any man with a long-enough experience of prisons, and he'll tell you that all it takes to harden a man's heart is a system of justice.

    - Gregory David Roberts

    Parent

    Jahar's confinement (none / 0) (#18)
    by mcm717 on Wed Jul 03, 2013 at 04:44:57 AM EST
    Just have a few questions. Why is there so many inconsistencies in the fbi's stories that are ever changing. Why have the fbi decided that is ok to murder people indirectly related to this case. Why is there a video online called How To Steer A Wheelchair With Your Severed leg. That clearly shows a bare hand holding the double amputees damaged leg and pulling it from side to side. Just what was he doing? Seems to me he was trying to break it off. Very strange behavior, to say the lest. I mean is this normal if you say yes I'm surprised you can read. Because if you think that is normal your a retard. Well there is a reason he was checking if the fake add on would hold for the ride to the press. It seems to fit the scenario. I can't think of any other reason that would be done.