Solitary confinement, colloquially referred to as "the hole" (or in British English "the block"), is a punishment in which a prisoner is denied contact with any other persons, excluding members of prison staff. A related form of imprisonment known as "The Box" involves the use of an overheated room or cell.

Opponents of solitary confinement claim that it is a form of cruel and unusual punishment because it has a severe negative impact on a prisoner's mental state that is similar to certain mental illnesses such as depression or even an existential crisis. Those who accept the practice consider it necessary for prisoners who are considered dangerous to other people and for prisoners who are at high risk of being killed by other inmates. This form of solitary confinement is sometimes referred to as protective custody.

Solitary confinement is depicted in John Sturges' film The Great Escape, Frank Darabont's film The Shawshank Redemption, Mumia Abu-Jamal's book Live from Death Row, Henri Charrière's Papillon, and the HBO television series Oz.

See also

• Supermax
• The Box (torture)

Penal imprisonment

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