Amnesty calls on US to end inmates' 40-year solitary confinement

Jun 7, 2011, 3:38 GMT

London - Amnesty International has urged the authorities in the United States to end, with immediate effect, the solitary confinement of two men since their murder convictions nearly 40 years ago.

In a statement released in London Tuesday, Amnesty said that Albert Woodfox, 64, and Herman Wallace, 69, have been in so-called Closed Cell Restriction (CCR) in Louisiana State Penitentiary since they were convicted of the murder of a prison guard in 1972.

Apart from very brief periods, they have been held in isolation in what is also known as Angola Prison.

The treatment to which the two men have been subjected was 'cruel and inhumane' and amounted to a violation of the US' obligations under international law,' Guadalupe Marengo, Amnesty's deputy director for America said.

'We are not aware of any other case in the USA where individuals have been subjected to such restricted human contact for such a prolonged period of time,' said Marengo.

Over the course of decades there had been no meaningful review of the men's designation to CCR. The only reason given for keeping them under these conditions had been due to the 'nature of the original reason for lockdown.'

Both men were originally arrested for armed robbery.

According to Amnesty, the convicts are confined to their cells, which measure 2 by 3 metres, for 23 hours a day. When the weather permits, they are allowed outside three times a week for an hour of solitary recreation in a small outdoor cage.

For four hours a week, they are allowed to leave their cells to shower or walk, alone, along the cell unit corridor.

The men's lawyers have told Amnesty International that both were suffering from serious health problems caused or exacerbated by their years of solitary confinement.

Amnesty International said it had also raised questions about the legal aspects of the case.

For example, no physical evidence linking the men to the guard's murder had ever been found, potentially exculpatory DNA evidence had been lost and the convictions were based on questionable inmate testimony.