36 Years in Solitary Confinement -- Cruel and Unusual?

[m_huber]

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080327/NEWS06/80327013/1008/NEWS06

Herman Wallace and Albert Woodfox were moved into a “maximum security dormitory” on Monday, said Angie Norwood, assistant warden at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola. Wallace and Woodfox had been in solitary since 1972, after their convictions in the death of a guard.

The men, known to supporters as the “Angola Three,” have said their 36 years of solitary confinement at the prison amount to cruel and unusual punishment. Both are appealing their convictions.

Apparently, the prison officials claim that they were kept in solitary for their own safety. But two Black Panthers imprisoned in the 70's? Doesn't sound quite right to me.

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Perhaps they shouldn't have killed a guard.

[Almo]

Cruel and unusual punishment is cruel and unusual punishment regardless of the crime.

[The Central Scrutinizer]

You're right.

In that case, this is not cruel and unusual punishment.

[Bikewer]

Fairly extensive coverage of this on NPR this morning. Apparently the involvement of these two individuals in the guard's killing may be in some doubt as well.

Would individuals convicted of similar crimes (particularly violent homicide) be so sentenced normally?

[aggle-rithm]

If following the letter of the law, punishment must be both cruel AND unusual, so all that must be done to circumvent this right is to do it more often.

Side note: When I was young, my older brother used to hit me, unprovoked. If I asked why, he said, "I'm cruel and unusual."

[fuelair]

Cruel and unusual punishment is cruel and unusual punishment regardless of the crime.
Our mileage may differ.

[Cainkane1]

Dennis rader was. The BTK killer is in solitary confinement for his own good.