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Who’s in SHU? A Survey of Solitary Confinement
Loaded on July 1, 2020
by Terry A Kupers
published in Prison Legal News
July, 2020, page 28
Filed under:
Control Units/SHU/Solitary Confinement,
Failure to Treat (Mental Illness).
Location:
California.
https://prisonerhungerstrikesolidarity.wordpress.com/2020/05/25/compliance-or-critical-thinking/
By Terry A. Kupers, M.D., M.S.P.
(Many thanks to Willow Katz and Dolores Canales for support and editing)
Prisoners consigned to solitary confinement or Security Housing Unit (SHU) are derided as “the worst of the worst.” But when I enter SHUs around the country in …
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More from this issue:
- Mississippi Prisons in Crisis, by David Reutter
- Rappers Jay-Z and Yo Gatti Help Prisoners in Mississippi Sue State Over “Inhumane and Unconstitutional Conditions”, by Bill Barton
- From the Editor, by Paul Wright
- Florida’s Refusal to Release Prisoners During COVID-19 Resulting in Death Sentences, by David Reutter
- Prison Postcards: A Plea from Kentucky and Dispatches from Texas and Massachusetts, by Ken Silverstein
- Unlike U.S., Many Governments Releasing Large Numbers of Prisoners to Reduce Threat of COVID-19, by Matthew Clarke
- Status of the Pandemic Heading into Summer, by Michael D. Cohen, MD
- COVID-19 Pandemic Leads to Unrest in Prisons Around the Globe, by Matthew Clarke
- $1 Million Payout to Family of Man Who Died After Seizures in Montana Jail, by Kevin Bliss
- COVID-19 and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, by Edward Lyon
- Florida Guards and Prisoners Fear COVID-19 Infection, by David Reutter
- Sixth Circuit Vacates Preliminary Injunction Regarding Elkton Prisoner Class Action, by Derek Gilna
- The Popularity of YouTube Prison Lifestyle Videos, by Anthony Accurso
- Man Sentenced to One Year For Shoplifting Dies In Prison During Pandemic, by Anthony Accurso
- Secret BOP Document Raises Risk Factors, Security Levels of Prisoners
- L.A. County Sheriff Says Prisoners Intentionally Tried to Catch Coronavirus to Get Released, by Dale Chappell
- New York District Court Judge Denies Preliminary Injunction Against MCC Brooklyn, by Derek Gilna
- Who’s in SHU? A Survey of Solitary Confinement, by Terry A Kupers
- Reports: COVID-19 More Prevalent Than Reported in Nation’s Prisons and Jails, by Kevin Bliss
- Warden Reassigned From COVID-19 Inundated Louisiana Federal Prison, by Matthew Clarke
- ACLU Files Lawsuit Against CoreCivic Prison in Arizona over COVID-19 Failures, by Dale Chappell
- Sale of Clandestine Surveillance Equipment Available to the Government and “Select Clients”, by Kevin Bliss
- Michigan Prisoner’s Whistleblowing on GED Test Cheating Survives Summary Judgment, by David Reutter
- U.S. Supreme Court Overturns Texas Federal Judge’s Order Granting COVID-19 Relief to Elderly Prisoners, by Matthew Clarke
- Alabama Should Release Elder Prisoners at Risk for COVID-19, by Edward Lyon
- $1.15 Million Settlement After South Carolina Prisoner’s Baby Born, Dies in Toilet, by Edward Lyon
- With Lives of Immigrant Detainees at Risk to COVID-19, Federal Judge Forces ICE’s Hand, by Christopher Zoukis
- 11th Circuit Rules Florida Prisoner Claiming Sexual Assault by Guard Can Proceed With Cruel and Unusual Punishment Claim, by David Reutter
- Lawsuit Over Conditions at BOP’s New York City Prison Continues as COVID-19 Spreads, by David Reutter
- Oklahoma Jail Sued for Mocking Prisoner as He Died, by Dale Chappell
- Orleans Parish Sheriff, Wellpath, Sued Over Louisiana Jail Prisoner’s Fatal Overdose, by Matthew Clarke
- Interview: Alec Karakatsanis of the Civil Rights Corps on Money Bail and Debtors’ Prisons, by Ken Silverstein
- Indiana Prisoner’s Suit Alleging Illegal Solitary Confinement Settled for $425,000, by Douglas Ankney
- Policy Change Leads to Gang Riot at Utah Prison, by Kevin Bliss
- Pennsylvania Judge Verdict: A Potential Death Sentence for Shoplifting Conviction, by Edward Lyon
- Maine Court Rules Prisoner’s Rights Violated by 22 Months in Segregation Without Meaningful Review but Awards No Damages, by Matthew Clarke
- New Jersey Jail Detainee Dies While Reportedly Begging for Water, by Douglas Ankney
- NaphCare, Oregon Jail’s Private Healthcare Provider, Required to Disclose Records in Detox Death Suit, by Mark Wilson
- Report: JailCore Left Prisoners’ Data Unprotected Online, by Matthew Clarke
- Federal Court Allows Lawsuit Over Sexual Assault of Female Connecticut Prisoner to Proceed, by Matthew Clarke
- Ninth Circuit Announces New Rule on Eighth Amendment Violation Due to Sexual Assault by Montana Prison Staffer, by Dale Chappell
- Ninth Circuit Reverses Summary Judgment in California Sexual Harassment Case, by David Reutter
- California Court of Appeal Upholds Dismissal of Challenge to Excessive Jail Phone Rates as Unconstitutional Tax, by Matthew Clarke
- Ex Post Facto Oregon Parole Postponement Claim Not Cognizable in §2254 Proceeding, by Mark Wilson
- High School Journalists Garner National Attention by Exposing School’s Use of Prisoner Labor, by Douglas Ankney
- Florida’s “Pay-to-Vote” System Struck Down, by David Reutter
- Sexual Assault of Colorado Prisoner Deemed Constitutional Violation; Her Case Can Proceed, by David Reutter
- Delaware Changes Prison Health Care Provider Due to Lawsuits Against Prior Contract Holder, by Jayson Hawkins
- Texas Attorney General Finds GEO Documents Are Public Information, by Matthew Clarke
- Oregon Federal Court: 8th and 14th Amendments Mandate Miller Hearing, by Mark Wilson
- Rhode Island Pays $380,419 to Settle Prison Guard Hiring Discrimination Suit, by Matthew Clarke
- HRDC Prevails in Censorship Suit Against Kentucky Prison System, Wins $104,711, by David Reutter
- Former Prisoners Shut Out of Coronavirus Loans, by Jayson Hawkins
- Connecticut City Settles Suit Over Prisoner’s Suicide for $1,393,000, by Matthew Clarke
- Former CoreCivic Nurse in Colorado Claims Sex Discrimination, Retaliation After Filing Complaint About Poor Medical Care, by Dale Chappell
- COVID-19 Changes the Face of Education in the Nation’s Prison Systems, by Kevin Bliss
- Florida Prisoners Win 3.9 Million in Media Credits in MP3 Player Lawsuit, by David Reutter
- Prisoners Replace New Orleans Sanitation Workers Striking for Coronavirus Hazard Pay, by Kevin Bliss
- News in Brief
More from Terry A Kupers:
- Who’s in SHU? A Survey of Solitary Confinement, July 1, 2020
- Restrained Washington Prisoner Exonerated in Assault on Guard, July 15, 2000
More from these topics:
- Barbaric and Deadly Conditions Continue to Plague Los Angeles County Jails, Feb. 1, 2026. Systemic Medical Neglect, Totality of Conditions, Overcrowding, Failure to Treat (Mental Illness), Deliberate Indifference.
- Competency Crisis in Missouri’s Jails, Feb. 1, 2026. Jail Specific, Failure to Treat (Mental Illness), Pretrial Detention and Detainees, Competency, Competency Hearing.
- Amid ‘Catastrophic’ Shortage, Psychologists Flee Federal Prisons in Droves, Feb. 1, 2026. Staffing, Failure to Treat (Mental Illness), Suicides, Bureau of Prisons (BOP), Inadequate Health Care Facilities.
- Georgia Grand Jury Dings Augusta Jail for Overcrowding Days Before Violent Detainee Assault, Feb. 1, 2026. Private Contractors, Failure to Protect (General), Overcrowding, Staffing, Failure to Treat (Mental Illness).
- After Exposing Prison Horrors, Incarcerated Whistleblowers Are Moved to Solitary, Feb. 1, 2026. Whistleblowing, Retaliatory Segregation, Work Strikes, Totality of Conditions, Control Units/SHU/Solitary Confinement.
- $404,000 Verdict for Ohio Prisoner Brutalized by Trio of Guards, Kept in Solitary for Two Years, Jan. 1, 2026. Retaliation for Filing Grievances, Retaliatory Segregation, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Pepper Spray/Tear Gas, Control Units/SHU/Solitary Confinement.
- $2.75 Million Paid by Washington County and NaphCare for Death of “Floridly Psychotic” Detainee Left Untreated in Jail for Months, Jan. 1, 2026. Naphcare, Medication, Systemic Medical Neglect, Failure to Treat (Mental Illness), Deliberate Indifference.
- $11 Million Paid to Estate of Mentally Ill Illinois Jail Detainee Who Lost 60 Pounds During 85-Day Incarceration, Nov. 1, 2025. Systemic Medical Neglect, Medical Neglect/Malpractice, Failure to Treat (Mental Illness), 42 U.S. Code § 1983, civil action for deprivation of rights, Deliberate Indifference.
- Seventh Circuit Rules Against Prisoner’s Deliberate Indifference Claim Over Wexford Health’s Poor Psychiatric Care, Nov. 1, 2025. Wexford Health Services, Control Units/SHU/Solitary Confinement, Involuntary Treatment/Drugging, Cruel and Unusual Punishment, Deliberate Indifference.
- While Mentally Ill Rikers Island Detainee Lay Dying, Staff Sprayed Air Freshener, Fudged Cell Checks, Nov. 1, 2025. Jail Misconduct, Failure to Protect (General), Medical Neglect/Malpractice, Failure to Treat (Mental Illness), Negligence/Reckless Endangerment.

