Solitary confinement as a sentence isn’t justice, it’s torture

Erin Patterson’s crimes shocked Australia, but the isolation of the decades of total for decades is challenging human rights. Clive Solomon.

Justice on September 8, 2025 Christopher Beale prisoner Erin Patterson -The so -called called by “Mushroom Killer” Life in prison for a period of -33 years of parole. Hearing broadcasting The first example of his kind in Victoria. Justice Beale said it was right “No hesitation” When placing his crimes in the worst murder category: three dead, one seriously wounded and shattered.

But beyond the crimes, another fact emerged. Patterson, which led to the court for 15 months, was held under cell imprisonment close to the ball. It was locked alone in a cell for 22 hours a day without almost any human contact, and endured conditions that no human beings can survive without injury. Because of his fame, Corrections Victoria He has made it clear that he could stay in similar conditions for decades for decades. This is not justice. Torture.

. United Nations Mandela Rules to identify “Long -term cell imprisonment” It forbids more than 15 days and clearly as cruel, inhumane and humiliating. Nevertheless, Australia – a nation that has eliminated the death penalty decades ago and still has a recording of human rights abroad – a fate much worse than execution: in a box alone. When a leading Western country breaks the law of human rights so clearly, the world must take notes.

Medical science is clear. Psychiatric and public health research shows that long -term isolation destroys the minds: the risk of paranoia, hallucinations, depression, cognitive collapse and excessive suicide. People emerge as broken, not rehabilitated months after months or years. It is not a security measure to refer any prisoner to these conditions for decades. It is a deliberate destruction of a person.

And there are alternatives. Correction systems manage high -profile or vulnerable prisoners without condemning them to decimal years of isolation. Protective custody units, structured interaction with personnel, sunlight and exercise, small group theme – all of the prisoner and the people can protect the people without torture. To claim that the only option is not professionalism to be imprisoned in cells; Persecution.

This practice is disappointed in the international arena. We condemn other nations for using torture, humiliating treatment and inhuman prisons. Still, we’re doing it ourselves now. Every day, Patterson remains locked in total insulation, we despise the standards we help create.

The crimes were deliberate and destructive. Justice should punish. However, it does not mean destroying punishment. Life imprisonment is sufficient. The addition of decades of cell imprisonment for decades makes it a penalty for torture approved by the state.

If Australia is serious about being a country of human rights, corrections must find humanitarian alternatives of Victoria, and the Victorian government must apply strict time limits and surveillance to cell imprisonment.

This is not just about Patterson. Who we are as a human being. Even a prisoner cages in worse conditions than death, we will reduce the humanity of all of us.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kv-rco4sias

Dr Clive Solomon (BSC MED, MBCHB, FRACS) worked as a regional council member, hospital board member and vocal patient defender. NZARH’s 2012 winner Charles Southwell Award To defend the values of enlightenment.

Support independent journalism subscribe to IA.