The DOJ announced it was sending two inmates, whose execution was commuted by President Biden, to life in the Supermax prison in Colorado. Here is what that sentence entails:
“Supermax prisoners are confined to a 7-by-12-foot concrete cell 23 hours a day. And by concrete, the walls, floor, a minimal desk, a stool, and a bed slab are all concrete. They have a stainless-steel sink/toilet combination and a minimal shower. Their only view is a window slit in the concrete wall, four feet tall but only four inches wide. Their meals are delivered through a slot in the cell door. They get one or two hours a day to exercise, alone, in a solitary outdoor cage. They have almost no human contact.” (Ward Clark)
Since we humans have been created by God to thrive in societies, could this (lifetime) punishment be construed as “cruel and unusual”?
On the other hand, they will have loads of time for deep scripture study and conversations with God.
Recall the Prophet Elijah’s experience:
1 Kings 19: 11. . .
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his faceand went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
Blessings.
“Supermax prisoners are confined to a 7-by-12-foot concrete cell 23 hours a day. And by concrete, the walls, floor, a minimal desk, a stool, and a bed slab are all concrete. They have a stainless-steel sink/toilet combination and a minimal shower. Their only view is a window slit in the concrete wall, four feet tall but only four inches wide. Their meals are delivered through a slot in the cell door. They get one or two hours a day to exercise, alone, in a solitary outdoor cage. They have almost no human contact.” (Ward Clark)
Since we humans have been created by God to thrive in societies, could this (lifetime) punishment be construed as “cruel and unusual”?
On the other hand, they will have loads of time for deep scripture study and conversations with God.
Recall the Prophet Elijah’s experience:
1 Kings 19: 11. . .
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his faceand went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
Blessings.
