More from Claire Schoen
RISE: Part I Sounding the Waters
(00:59:00)
From: Claire Schoen
The San Francisco Bay is a place of beauty and biological diversity. But sea level rise and extreme weather will change human life along its coastline — from San Francisco's ...
RISE: Part II Facing the Rising Tide
(00:59:00)
From: Claire Schoen
Rising waters threaten the lands of a farmer and of a developer, yet they and their families dismiss all warnings of danger. Why are so many of us unwilling to face this issue?
RISE: Part III Chuey’s Story
(00:59:00)
From: Claire Schoen
Adapting to climate change will be a messy and painful business. And in the short term there will be winners and losers. Chuey Cazarez’s family is caught in this bind.
Stories Make the World
(00:58:56)
From: Claire Schoen
"Stories Make the World" is an hour-long audio documentary celebrating the rich tradition of Jewish storytelling within the context of storytelling from cultures around the world.
Can You Hear Me?
(00:58:56)
From: Claire Schoen
"Can Your Hear Me?" is an hour-long audio documentary exploring the history of conflict and coalition between Blacks and Jews in America.
An Open Gate
(00:58:56)
From: Claire Schoen
"An Open Gate" is an hour-long audio documentary exploring the repercussions of a Jewish/Christian intermarriage on faith, identity and the family.
HEART-to-HEART Pgm I: Beyond Pain
(01:06:33)
From: Claire Schoen
It is possible for almost everyone to be pain free at the end of their lives
HEART-to-HEART Pgm II: Children Sometimes Die
(01:00:39)
From: Claire Schoen
We expect that children will get sick from time to time. But we don't expect them to die.
HEART-to-HEART Pgm III: Respecting Diversity
(01:00:45)
From: Claire Schoen
Respecting Diversity looks at the influence of culture, race and religion on dying; how the assumptions behind "good end-of-life care" do not necessarily match the needs of ...
Related Pieces
Piece Description
Tens of thousands of inmates live in total isolation in America's jails and prisons today. And the number is rapidly growing. Often prisoners spend years – even decades – by themselves in a cell the size of a small bathroom. They don't see anyone. They don't talk to anyone. They don't touch anyone. They are completely alone.
In this half-hour radio documentary, "survivors" of solitary paint a picture of what solitary confinement looks, sounds and feels like. These are the voices of both men and women; Black, White and Latino; old and young.
The effects of sensory deprivation experienced in solitary confinement have been well documented. They include depression, panic attacks, insomnia, paranoia, hypersensitivity, hallucination and psychosis. These psychological effects can be permanent. And often prisoners are released directly from solitary back into society.
U.N. conventions and treaties define this sort of treatment as torture. If we, as a people, continue to brutalize others in this fashion, what does that do to us all as a society?
Broadcast History
First broadcast on the National Radio Project's weekly series: "Making Contact."
Secondary broadcast on "Soundprint".
Transcript
SURVIVORS: Solitary Confinement in America's Prisons
Final Script
ACT I: INTRODUCTION
Narration:
President Obama recently declared that "We have banned torture without exception. " However, some would take exception to this claim.
Names 1:
Hakeem: The Hole.
Bilal: We called it The Hole.
ArchAngel: The Hole
Tommy: The Hole
Narration:
The Hole. That's what prisoners call it. Among other things.
Hakeem: The Bucket, the Can.
ArchAngel: The Box, the Hole, the Bing.
Laura: The Chiller.
ArchAngel: Lock up.
Laura: Maxy Maxy.
Bobby: The SHU
Bilal: Solitary Confinement
Narration:
Solitary Confinement.
One person per cell.
ACT II: THE EXPERIENCE
Robert: The cell that I lived in most of the time was 6 wide and about 9 feel long.
Bobby: The cell was probably like, maybe 7 feet. Maybe 9 feet long.
Tommy: Maybe 9 by 6.
ArchAngel: 5 by 9. 5 by 9.
Munirah: Maybe a 10 by whatever.
Bilal:...
Read the full transcript
Timing and Cues
SURVIVORS: Solitary Confinement in America’s Prisons
Timing and Cues
Total Program Length: 29:00
No Breaks
00:00:00 Incue:
Narration: President Obama recently declared that "We have banned torture without exception." However, some would take exception to this claim.
Effects: Buzzer. Door open.
Voice: “The hole... “
00:29:00 Outcue:
Narration: I’m Claire Schoen
Music: Up and Out
Intro and Outro
INTRO:When President Obama declared to Congress and to the world that, "America Does Not Torture," he was referring to his commitment to close the Guantanamo Detention Center. Human rights organizations denounce Guantanamo for a number of questionable practices, including "solitary confinement" causing severe sensory deprivation. However, here at home, the U.S. is housing tens of thousands of prisoners in solitary conditions that U.N. treaties have defined as torture -- treaties that the U.S. has signed. Here are nine former prisoners describing their experience in solitary confinement.
OUTRO:Musical Works
| Title | Artist | Album | Label | Year | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original composition | Quique Cruz | 00:00 |
Additional Files
- Companion multimedia story for "Survivors" (Cruel_and_Inhuman2.flv)
Additional Credits
Claire Schoen: Producer/Director
Quique Cruz: Music Composition
Quijerema: Music performance
Scott Koue: Sound effects and Technical support
Tony Heriza: Special thanks
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