• • • • Those suffering from mental illness must not be placed in solitary confinement and under no circumstances should the use of solitary confinement serve as a substitute for appropriate mental health care. The use of solitary confinement for pre-charge and pre-trial detainees must be strictly limited by law and must only be used in exceptional circumstances, with judicial oversight, for as short a time as possible, and never for more than a matter of days. Solitary confinement must not be imposed indefinitely, and prisoners should know in advance its duration. The use of solitary confinement as a means of coercing or ‘softening up’ detainees for the purpose of interrogation should be prohibited. Physical conditions and regime: • • • • • • • • Provide decent accommodation (as per established standards discussed in chapter 4), reflecting the fact that prisoners will spend most of their day in their cell. Provide educational, recreational and vocational programmes. Provide these activities, wherever possible, in association with others. Allow in-cell reading, hobbies and craft materials. Ensure that prisoners have regular human contact; encourage informal communication with staff. Allow regular and open family visits. Enable prisoners a degree of control of their daily lives and physical environment. Include a progressive element. Health • • • 74 Health staff must maintain the same standards of care and ethical behaviour as those which apply outside the prison, in particular the right to health care and to privacy and confidentiality. Health staff must not participate in the decision to impose or the enforcement of any disciplinary measure. Provide mental health training for custodial staff Sourcebook on solitary confinement: Summary of recommendations