The Kalief Browder Story
In an article written about Kalief Browder’s story, Jennifer Gonnerman tells the story of what happened to Kalief while he was spending time at Riker’s Island without being convicted of a crime. He spent two years doing solitary confinement, where he attempted suicide many times.
In the video above, ABC News tells the story of Kalief Browder, who was sixteen years old when he was first arrested after being accused of stealing a backpack. Browder spent three years in Rikers Island prison, without a trial and spent over two years in solitary confinement, as a minor. While being in solitary, he tried taking his life several times. After three years of enduring abuse in the prison by guards and other inmates and a lot of time in solitary confinement, Kalief Browder was released from Rikers and wasn’t charged with a crime. Shortly after being released, Browder killed himself in his mothers home after having a hard time adjusting to being out of the prison.
Barack Obama has an article on The Washington Post about solitary confinement, revealing that there are as many as one hundred thousand people held in solitary confinement in the United States — including juveniles and people with mental illnesses. “Research suggests that solitary confinement has the potential to lead to devastating, lasing psychological consequences. It has been linked to depression, alienation, withdrawal, a reduced ability to interact with others and the potential for violent behavior.”
There are several people who have also tried to kill themselves like Kalief, and instead of prohibiting people from becoming better we need to give them a positive push so they can have a chance. It is important to remember that adolescent brains are still developing for every juvenile and young adult being held in solitary, and such stress can damage the psyche of a young person.
