It's Time to Monitor America's Prisons

Ever since the horrific photos of prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib prison outside Bagdad came to light last year, there has been a steady stream of stories in the press about the extensive nature of abuse of prisoners and detainees in the “War on Terror” by U.S. authorities. At the same time, major human rights organizations have redoubled their efforts to hold the U.S. government accountable for these sickening and outrageous violations of  human rights.

In late June, Amnesty International called for United Nations monitoring of U.S. detention centers throughout the world (Read the Amnesty press release). According to Amnesty International, independent monitoring of U.S. detention centers is essential to the prevention of torture and abuse in these prisons.

YES. And again, YES. But this demand doesn’t go far enough. We must end the torture and abuse of foreign nationals held in the “War on Terror.” But we must not stop there. It is equally urgent that we end the torture and abuse of prisoners in America’s own state and federal prisons.

While we may not have pictures of American prisoners being dragged on “leashes” down prison corridors, or being pepper-sprayed and held face down on concrete until they die from suffocation, documentation exists that proves that abuse of American prisoners is an ongoing, home-grown human rights crisis. As I wrote in the spring issue of Justice Matters, it’s time to shine a bright light on all of America’s prisons.