In Federal Prisons, Solitary Confinement Actually Means Sharing

Published March 25, 2016 at 1:40 PM EDT

Menard Correctional Center in Chester, Illinois. The prison was first built in 1878. It has 143 double cells in its segregation unit. (Joe Shapiro/NPR)

A new joint investigation finds that more than 80 percent of federal inmates in so-called solitary confinement are actually forced to share a cell with another, often violent, inmate. Marshall Project reporter Christie Thompson and NPR’s Joe Shapiro speak to Here & Now’s Peter O’Dowd about the conditions and the sometimes lethal repercussions.

Read the investigation via NPR

Guests

Christie Thompson, staff writer for the Marshall Project. She tweets@cm_thompson3.
Joe Shapiro, investigations correspondent for NPR News. He tweets @NPRJoeShapiro.

Stand up for civility

This news story is funded in large part by Connecticut Public’s Members — listeners, viewers, and readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

We hope their support inspires you to donate so that we can continue telling stories that inform, educate, and inspire you and your neighbors. As a community-supported public media service, Connecticut Public has relied on donor support for more than 50 years.

Your donation today will allow us to continue this work on your behalf. Give today at any amount and join the 50,000 members who are building a better—and more civil—Connecticut to live, work, and play.

Donate