I was glad to hear about your work to try and abolish control and SHU units. As a person who has spent many years in these type of units, I know first hand that they serve no purpose, other than punishing prisoners severely. The CDC covers themselves by saying that prisoners conduct that endangers the safety of others or the security of the institution shall be housed in a SHU. Of course this makes sense in the abstract. However, the criteria is not that rigorous. The disciplinary process for offenses that warrant SHU terms is a joke. The hearings are set on a "preponderance of evidence" standard. These hearings are a kangaroo court system, and you can only appeal to the same staff that has already decided you are guilty.
Moreover, the CDC decides for themselves which prisoners are a threat to the "safety and security" of the institution. This term is a cover-all term and is not defined. They use this term "safety and security of the institution," any time they whish to deny any privilege or right that a prisoner has by law. The CCR Title 15 allows the CDC to nullify any legislation, simply by coining this term. The worst case scenario is when the CDC gives prisoners indeterminate SHU terms for being so-called prison gang members. Once the CDC decides you are a prison gang member, the only way you can be released from a SHU unit is by "debriefing." Which in turn makes that person an informant. In the prison society informants are despised second only to child molesters. So in all, if ten CDC terms you a prison gang member, for you to be released from the SHU you must risk your life by informing on other prisoners. To say nothing of your integrity, or the fact that you may not even have any information to de-brief.
Further, the criteria for being a gang member is far too easily met. Things like "confidential information." Any inmate could tell staff that a prisoner is a gang member and that will be used against that prisoner. Or "association." For example if I decided to play a game of chess with a validated gang member, I would then be deemed a gang member. This is clearly a method the CDC uses to remove any prisoner they feel is a threat.
Again...these units are designed strictly for punishment. Total sensory deprivation. Furthermore, the rules change in prison society for prisoners in these units. All prisoners must follow two sets of rules. One outlined by the CDC, and secondly, and more important, are rules set out by other prisoners. These units condition prisoners to become more violent, and less forgiving than normal. When a person is incarcerated, they take an evolutionary step backwards. A more war like and less tolerant, almost animal society, and these are people who may have violent tendencies to begin with.
For the most part, the units make prisoners worse. So what purpose do they serve? And for the benefit of whom? I cannot see a prisoner that would be able to interact with people in society at any normal level after being exposed to long term SHU housing. When a person becomes powerless over their own life, that person only has two choices. One, submit and two, act out. Most people will not submit, so they act out. Either choice does no one any good. Not the prison administration, and certainly not the prisoner. Common sense would dictate not to kick an already violent dog.