Reply #50: HRW says it's torture for the mentally ill

[muriel_volestrangler]

Deprivation of sources of stimulation, human contact, and activity that may not be unbearably cruel for some inmates can become torture when imposed on mentally ill inmates.

HRW doesn't think supermax prisons are "torture. Period"; they think they are overused, and that external oversight is needed to make sure they're only used when justified for violent prisoners, and that real reviews of prisoners' statuses are needed.

Rudolph is corresponding regularly with a newspaper; it would seem his basic mental state is still fine. He also has that contact with the outside world.