Open Post #7: ADX Florence: The Federal Government's "Supermax" Prison

      In the middle of Colorado, there is a facility in the Rocky Mountains that houses the most dangerous criminals the United States and other countries have to offer. The inmates are terrorists, both foreign and domestic, violent gang leaders,  and prisoners that are too dangerous or pose a threat to national security. They are in solitary confinement twenty three hours a day, with the other hour in recreation with three armed guards to one prisoner. CNN was able to get a very rare tour of the twenty two year old facility, making a brief video and article you can see here.

Image credit: archdaily.com

       It is one of the most secure facilities in the world, it is also quite controversial in their use of solitary confinement for their supermax prisoners. It has been the subject of investigations and potential lawsuits after many prisoners have hung themselves. For most of the supermax population, this eighty four square foot box they live in will be their home for the rest of their life. They can't see the sky outside, have no idea where they are in the prison, and have no contact with the outside world. Is it too harsh for the worlds dangerous criminals? Or is it justified for the thousands of deaths these men have brought upon to the United States. Not all of these men are of the terrorist/mobster/traitor variety. Some of these men have been convicted or murder or armed robbery, and have been sent to normal maximum or minimum security prisons. However in these prisons these men have either murdered or escaped, and now are locked up at the highest levels to avoid those incidents again. 

       One of the most interesting features of the prison that I found amazing was the walls are soundproof, so the inmates cannot yell or use morse code to communicate at all. If any facilities are really escape-proof, this would be it. There are twelve sniper towers, attack dogs, hundreds of guards and cameras, and a twelve foot fence complete with razor wire. When the inmates are out of their cell, they are chained at the ankles, wrist, and belly..

       The downside to ADX Florence is the cost. It costs three times as much as a normal maximum security prison to run each year, with less inmates and less guards. Is it worth the cost to keep these dangerous men so confined? Let me know what you think.

All information was taken from the CNN article linked above.