Ending Isolation

The Case Against Solitary Confinement

By: Christopher William Blackwell, Deborah Zalesne, Kwaneta Harris, Terry Kupers

Narrated by: Jason Grasl

The injustice and cruelty of the US carceral system find their barbaric apogee in the practice of solitary confinement. Once deemed a form of torture by the US Supreme Court, "the hole" is still wrongly used as a solution to prison overcrowding and violence. But locking someone in a cell the size of a parking space for months or years causes profound psychological harm. For Christopher Blackwell, it was a harrowing ordeal that changed his life forever. Ending Isolation weaves Chris's vivid account with other stories from solitary, alongside insights from legal and medical experts. Through these narratives and undeniable research, the book makes a powerful case for abolishing this cruel and unusual punishment.

©2025 Christopher William Blackwell and Deborah Zalesne