Former Jamestowner Speaks About 10 years in ACI Solitary Confinement in Support of Pending RI Anti-Solitary Legislation
In support of a bill in the state assembly (Restrictive Housing Act) to restrict solitary confinement in RI state prisons, childhood Jamestowner Eddie Franco will discuss and take questions about his 45 years in Rhode Island maximum security and how his 10 years in solitary confinement inspired his anti-solitary advocacy.
On hand also to discuss the issue will be Nick Horton co-executive director of Open Doors, a Providence-based non-profit that supports formerly incarcerated individuals and their families, one of the bills 15 legislator sponsors, and community organizer of the Stop Torture RI Coalition Brandon Robinson, who also spent time in solitary.
Currently, indefinite solitary confinement is deemed torture by the United Nations under the Mandela Rules. Unlike surrounding states like Massachusetts, Connecticut and Maine and a growing number of states that restrict and regulate unaccountable solitary confinement ("restrictive housing" or "administrative segregation"), RI has no laws restricting solitary and allows RI Dept. of Corrections total freedom in implementing this antiquated and abusive practice. Roughly 15 RI state legislators sponsor the Restrictive Housing Act measure. A broad coalition of Rhode Island organizations, including the RI Catholic Conference and RI ACLU (Restrictive Housing Act) also support the Restrictive Housing Act.
Guests will hear from the speakers about their time in solitary confinement and how its use unfairly extends time in prison and actually increases recidivism, giving RI one of the highest recidivism rates in the nation. They will learn about the many ways Rhode Islanders can help assure the passage of the Restrictive Housing Act to modernize and improve outdated, counterproductive correctional policies and practices.