I agree with Johnson that this is an important issue. The criminal justice system, including the rehabilitation of criminals, needs major reform. Johnson points out "segregation policies and practices are costing Americans a lot of money", but fails to provide any data to back up this claim. However it makes sense that putting prisoners in in solitary confinement, would take more rooms and a larger building, therefore costing more money.
Johnson also states administrative segregation undermines public safety, although I agree with Johnson, I am unable to pinpoint the causes from reading this article. "Almost all of these inmates are locked in their cells 22-23 hours a day." I know I go crazy if I am in my apartment or car too long, and we are forcing people to stay in this tiny cells for days at a time; not to go off the map, but this is a legitimate form of torture used by our government at Gitmo. I know that sometimes people need to be punished, but is this how we want to treat our fellow human beings.
Unfortunately a majority or prisoners that are placed in solitary confinement suffer from mental illness and/ or are elderly. Many people being released after administrative segregation show signs of being mentally unstable, wouldn't you after being deprived of human contact for long periods of time. "We don’t need to contribute to the number of mentally ill." -- Johnson I completely agree with my classmate on this one. People are sent to institutions in order to be rehabilitated so they are able to function in society, not to diminish what is left of them.
Johnson talks about legislation that has been put forth in Texas to help reform these problems facing our society, but unfortunately does not cite the bills. I believe the two pieces of legislation that Johnson was talking about was House Bill 1266 and Senate Bill 1003, These are a step to fixing the problem, but not a permanent solution.
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