From: SolitaryWatch, July 31st, 2012
by Jean Casella and James Ridgeway
The American Friends Service Committee has put out a new edition of the vital publication Survivors Manual: Surviving in Solitary -- A Manual Written By and For People Living in Control Units. The volume is a collection of letters, stories, poetry, and practical advice on surviving solitary confinement in prisons. AFSC released the following announcement last week:
Solitary confinement, characterized by 23-hour a day lockout with minimal exercise and lack of human contact, affects an estimated 100,000 prisoners in federal and state prisons in almost every state. Thus the need for "Survivors Manual," which was first issued in 1998, is even more vital.
In this powerful collection of voices from solitary, people currently or formerly held in isolation vividly describe their conditions and their daily lives. They also write about how they struggle to keep mind, body, and soul together in an environment that is designed to break them down. Many also analyze the political, economic, and social forces that shape their torturous situation. The collection also includes some stunning artwork and poetry.
A PDF of the manual is available online at the following link:
http://www.afsc.org/document/survivors-manual-surviving-solitary
Copies can also be purchased for $3 each at the following site:
http://www.quakerbooks.org/survivors_manual.php
[thanks to FFIP for alerting us!]
