Madness in the depths of prisons Author: Terry Coopers Number of pages: 325 pages

Madness in the depths of prisons: the mental health crisis behind bars and our role in confronting it Terry Cooper Translation: Amira Ali Abdul Sadiq Review: Hani Fathi Suleiman This book sheds light on the brutality and failure of the current punitive system in the United States regarding all prisoners, but its focus is more on the terrible conditions faced by those suffering from serious mental disorders inside prisons. The author points out that excessive isolation leads to the worsening of mental illness symptoms in prisoners with mental disorders. This, in turn, makes them more vulnerable to assault by aggressive prisoners. The author believes that punishment is not an appropriate or effective way to address the symptoms of mental illness; a person suffering from a mental illness should be admitted to a hospital, not prison. The author concludes the book with a number of recommendations that could improve the conditions of prisoners inside prisons.