Sun Jun 01 12:49:00 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text, followed by a news article rewrite:

**Summary:**

Tariq, a man incarcerated in New Jersey State Prison, recounts his experiences with solitary confinement, emphasizing its traumatic and lasting effects. He contrasts his prison experiences with cherished childhood memories of freedom in the mountains of northern Pakistan. He describes the brutal conditions of solitary, including the sensory deprivation, lack of hygiene, psychological torment, and the despair that leads some inmates to suicide. He reflects on specific incidents of mistreatment and the dehumanizing nature of prolonged isolation. Despite managing to avoid solitary for 17 years after his initial stint, he ends up back in solitary for possessing a USB wire. He underscores the widespread use of solitary confinement in US prisons, its disproportionate impact on Black prisoners, and its potential to cause irreparable psychological damage. While now released, he carries the trauma of his isolation with him, finding solace in memories of his past, but haunted by the memory of a young man who commited suicide in solitary.

**News Article:**

**”A Trauma That Never Leaves”: Former Inmate Details Horrors of Solitary Confinement**

**Trenton, NJ** – In a harrowing account, a former inmate identified as Tariq, has shed light on the brutal realities of solitary confinement within the New Jersey State Prison (NJSP) system. Tariq’s experience, detailed in a recent article, paints a picture of extreme isolation, sensory deprivation, and psychological torment that left him with lasting trauma.

Tariq’s account described an environment where inmates are stripped of basic human necessities, subjected to unsanitary conditions, and left to grapple with profound loneliness. He recounts instances of guards mocking his requests for basic hygiene items and prisoners resorting to desperate measures, such as flooding their cells, to gain attention. He recounts the story of a young man in isolation who died by suicide.

“For those of us who have experienced it, solitary is not a topic of debate – it’s a trauma that never leaves,” Tariq writes. He contrasts the harsh reality of his imprisonment with fond memories of his childhood in northern Pakistan, where he roamed free in the mountains.

His story comes amid growing scrutiny of solitary confinement practices in the US. Recent reports indicate that over 122,000 prisoners, including men, women, and children, are held in some form of isolation daily. Studies have shown that prolonged solitary confinement can lead to mental health issues and brain damage, prompting human rights groups to denounce it as a form of torture.

While New Jersey law limits solitary confinement to 20 consecutive days or 30 days within a 60-day period, rights groups allege that these regulations are frequently violated, with inmates held in isolation for months or even years.

Tariq’s testimony underscores the urgent need for prison reform and raises critical questions about the long-term consequences of solitary confinement on the mental and emotional well-being of inmates. As advocates continue to push for stricter regulations and alternatives to isolation, Tariq hopes to return to Pakistan to find peace.

**[Note:** This story contains references to suicide. If you or a loved one is experiencing suicidal thoughts, help and support are available. Visit Befrienders International for more information about support services.]

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