To: Clergy, religious, parish communicators, social justice ministries and campus ministers
From: Jayna Hoffacker, director of Restorative Justice Ministry; Office of Life, Dignity and Justice
On any given day, more than 100,000 people across the country are held in solitary confinement. Incarcerated people are confined to a cell (alone, or with another person) for 22-24 hours per day, with an hour alone in an exercise cage. Food is pushed through a small slot in the door. Those who have survived it describe the experience as being “buried alive.”
People are held in solitary confinement for days, weeks, months, years and even decades at a time. The United Nations has determined that any use of solitary confinement beyond 15 days constitutes torture.
The National Religious Campaign Against Torture seeks to organize faith communities to take collective action against torture in our prisons. See the included list of action items and visit NRCAT’s website at www.nrcat.org to see how your community can get involved.
For more information, contact me at jhoffacker@archatl.com or 404-920-7898.
