INTERFAITH PRINCIPLES
GUIDING OUR WORK ON U.S. PRISONS:
 
WHY ENDING PROLONGED SOLITARY CONFINEMENT IS A MORAL IMPERATIVE

GOD-GIVEN DIGNITY.  Holding people in solitary confinement for years and decades until they become mentally broken is immoral because it violates the inherent God-given dignity and worth of every person.

COMMUNITY.  Community and fellowship are essential to our faith traditions.  Solitary confinement severely restricts the ability to grow and develop spiritually and mentally through the company of others. 

PRESERVING AND RENEWING THE MIND.  Prolonged solitary confinement can lead to paranoia, delusions, and other long-term mental effects.  It severely damages prisoners’ capacity to think critically and reform behavior.
 
HEALING.  Solitary confinement does not transform prisoners’ behavior in a positive way.  We should not deny the opportunity for rehabilitation by holding prisoners in solitary confinement for months and years. 
 
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE.  People of faith are called to bring justice, not vengeance.  Vengeful punishment is beyond the bounds of justice. 

DEFENDING THE WEAK.  We are called to speak for those in our community who have no voice – the poor, orphaned, and imprisoned.  As people of faith, we must be advocates for justice and catalysts for transparency in prisons. 

GOD’S GIFTS OF DAY AND NIGHT.  Solitary confinement conditions rob people of God’s gift of night and darkness for sleep as lights are often left permanently on in prisoners’ windowless cells.