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Solitary confinement is a traumatic experience. It’s been linked to lifelong physical and mental health problems, including anxiety, paranoia and depression. Some correction systems are moving away from the practice, especially for minors, but it’s still in wide use to isolate inmates considered to be dangers to themselves or others.

For this special event, former inmates who survived solitary for months, years, even decades, will share their experiences in story-slam performances and conversation. Micropolis host Arun Venugopal will also be joined by members of the ACLU-NJ, the National Religious Campaign Against Torture and the NJ Campaign for Alternatives to Isolated Confinement to assess where we are in this moment of criminal justice reform.

We’ll also breakout after the panel so you can have unfiltered conversations with the host, survivors and panelists, as well as your fellow New Yorkers.

And you’ll even have a chance to see what solitary confinement is like through virtual reality.

Live Video Stream

→ Can’t make it in person? Watch our free live stream.

Hear Arun’s segment on WNYC’s Morning Edition with one of our event participants who survived solitary:

About Micropolis Live

Hosted by WNYC’s Arun Venugopal, Micropolis examines race, gender, ethnicity and urban life in America, in serious and not-so-serious ways. This season, Arun is back with one-of-a-kind conversations, live performances, and his true-to-form dedication to thoughtful perspectives and levity (because, this is quite a moment). See full series schedule, buy tickets or watch video of past shows.

Micropolis is part of The Greene Space’s ongoing NEXT New York Conversation series. Leadership support is provided by: