Deck 9: Isolated Confinement and the Hole and Administrative Segregation

Question 1

All of the following are consequences of solitary confinement EXCEPT:

A) Reduced diet
B) Reduced sleep
C) Limited access to reading materials
D) Limited access to light

Answer 1

Reduced sleep

Question 2

The __________ is the main focus for all violations and punishments regarding isolated confinement.

A) The Fourteenth Amendment
B) The Eighth Amendment
C) The Fourth Amendment
D) The First Amendment

Answer 2

The Eighth Amendment

Question 3

Which of the following explains the reasons for denial of cruel and unusual confinement conditions claims?

A) Failure to establish the existence of alleged conditions as fact
B) Failure to report conditions
C) Failure of the judge to believe the claim
D) None of the above

Answer 3

Failure to establish the existence of alleged conditions as fact

Question 4

In __________, the Court set the standard for conditions that infringe on the civil rights of prisoners in a special housing unit.

A) Griffin v. Smith
B) Wilkinson v. Austin
C) Hutto v. Finney
D) Sandin v. Conner

Question 5

In __________, the Court refused to overturn the district court's holding that punitive isolation in sections of the Arkansas penal system violated the Eighth Amendment.

A) Griffin v. Smith
B) Wilkinson v. Austin
C) Hutto v. Finney
D) Sandin v. Conner

Question 6

For the right of counsel to attach, a prisoner must do which of the following?

A) Ask for an attorney
B) Establish indigence
C) Make a prima facie case showing the reason for confinement is for investigation
D) All of the above

Question 7

Which of the following is not a situation that has been deemed cruel and unusual punishment resulting from isolation?

A) Confinement based on militant political ideas
B) Denial of food for a five-hour period
C) Being fed only water and bread
D) Confinement based on past or threatened litigation

Question 8

What is one reason for the increase in use of supermax prisons?

A) Rise in prison gangs
B) Societal expectation
C) Protect prisoners' rights
D) The number of prison facilities

Question 9

Which of the following is an example of supermax conditions?

A) Visitation is conducted through glass walls
B) Deprivation of almost all human contact
C) Placement is for an indefinite period, limited by a prisoner's sentence
D) All of the above

Question 10

In __________, the Court addressed the assignment of supermax, stating it is protected by procedural due process.

A) Griffin v. Smith
B) Wilkinson v. Austin
C) Hutto v. Finney
D) Sandin v. Conner

Question 11

In which state does Wilkinson v. Austin take place?

A) Oklahoma
B) Ohio
C) Oregon
D) California

Question 12

Which three issues did Wilkinson v. Austin address, and in which order were they addressed?

A) Establishment of a supermax facility, assignment to supermax involving a liberty interest, erroneous placement and the safeguards
B) Erroneous placement and safeguards, prison officials conduct, assignment to supermax involving a liberty interest
C) Prison officials, prisoner conduct, establishment of a supermax facility
D) Assignment to supermax involving liberty interest, erroneous placement and safeguards, establishment of a supermax facility

Question 13

Regarding the constitutionality of racial segregation in prisons, the Supreme Court held in __________ that the strict scrutiny standard is the proper standard of review rather than the compelling state interest standard.

A) Griffin v. Smith
B) Wilkinson v. Austin
C) Johnson v. California
D) Sandin v. Conner

Question 14

The procedure used in placing a prisoner in administrative or disciplinary segregation depends on the existence of which of the following?

A) A protected liberty interest
B) The offense committed by the prisoner
C) The correctional officer's discretion
D) The Eighth Amendment

Question 15

Administrative isolation is isolation from the general population imposed as a penalty for violating institutional rules.

Question 16

Federal courts have rejected arguments that isolated confinement is unconstitutional.

Question 17

It is the initial burden of the prisoner to bring an action of cruel and unusual confinement conditions.

Question 18

For administrative isolation, a due process hearing is required before confinement takes place.

Question 19

There is a minimum standard on the number of days that will constitute cruel and unusual punishment for punitive isolation.

Question 20

Proper punishment for isolated confinement is the maintenance of order within the institution.

Question 21

Due process is a concern only when liberty interests are at stake.

Question 22

Supermax prisons are synonymous with extreme isolation.

Question 23

The Court applied the Austin standard to determine the eventual outcome of Sandin.

Question 24

In Austin, if one reviewer declined to recommend a prisoner to supermax, the process was terminated.

Question 25

Cases prior to Sandin that found protected liberty interests are now of questionable authority.

Question 26

Johnson v. California addressed the issues of racial classifications in prisons.

Question 27

Explain the constitutional rights afforded to prisoners regarding the conditions of isolated confinement

Question 28

Summarize the Supreme Court case of Wilkinson v. Austin and its importance.

Question 29

Discuss the differences in punitive isolation, administrative isolation, and supermax. Use any case law necessary to discuss these differences.