The American Human Rights Council (AHRC-USA) joins the rest of the humans rights community in America and around the world in welcoming President Obama’s historic announcement that he has banned the imposition of solitary confinement on juveniles in federal prisons.
AHRC considers this reform one of many of overdue reforms urgently needed to modernize the criminal justice system. Solitary confinement is an unduly harsh punishment, particularly when imposed on the youths or used for extended periods with adult prisoners. We urge the Obama administration to continue the reform of the system.
“President Obama is the only sitting president to have visited a prison. We need to overhaul the criminal justice system and ending the imposition of solitary punishment on juveniles is one of many needed reforms,” said Imad Hamad, AHRC Executive Director. “Even though this is an important reform, our job is far from done. We urge the whole human rights community, nationally and internationally, to continue the momentum in advocating for all the needed reforms of the criminal justice system,” stated Hamad.
For more information on this important step, please see President Obama’s post on Facebook: http://on.fb.me/