CONTROL UNITS/MAXIMUM SECURITY:  USA

Statement by Bonnie Kerness

Heartfelt Greetings to all of you participating in this most important conference from myself and Masai Ehehosi, my associate in the American Friends Service Commitee's Prison Watch Project.

The use of isolation as a tool for social control is expanding throughout the world. Last year, we read of the many brave Turkish prisoners protesting the use of this form of torture and know that some died as a result of their fight for social justice. They join those throughout the world, and throughout time who have struggled for peace and justice.             

The United States is not only exporting the concept of supermax prisons, we are also exporting the architects to build them, training the people to maintain them as well as exporting the devices of torture that we often see used in them. Devices such as restraint chairs, restraint tables, stun guns, stun belts, spit hoods, shackles and chains are

"money-makers" for many corporate entities in this country.

Their use violates a number of the United Nations Treaties and Covenants signed by the United States.

The use of isolation along with these devices is an increasingly world wide phenomenon, which makes conferences such as this critical. Those of us who have been monitoring the use of extended isolation in control units and supermax prisons have seen an expanded use particularly for prisoners who are political or legal activists. Here they tell us that supermax prisons are used for the "worst of the worst". When we examine who is currently being held in the endless isolation, it  is not prisoners who murder other prisoners or guards as they say, it is the prisoner activists - and too often the mentally ill.

It is of great meaning to see young people throughout the world gathering on issues of importance to all of us committed to world-wide social justice. Prison issues are the bottom line manifestation of poverty, racism, corporate greed and a world wide crises of the human spirit. Masai and I have been working for social justice and social change since the early 1960's. It is so good to see the next generations push forward. You have our love. If there is any way in which we can help this struggle move forward, please be in touch with us. 

Bonnie Kerness