BY MARIEKE ANDRONACHE

Special to The Press

Former South Africa President Nelson Mandela, for whom the United Nations’ “Mandela Rules” for solitary confinement is named after, once said, “The full contribution which our prisons can make toward a permanent reduction in the country’s crime rate lies also in the way in which they treat prisoners.

“We cannot emphasize enough the importance of both professionalism and respect for human rights.”

The Mandela Rules has often been raised since the issue of solitary confinement started taking center stage at the Aug. 10 Lehigh County commissioners meeting.

The essence of Mandela’s quote and how it pertains to the issue of solitary confinement for inmates in Lehigh County Jail was the main focus of the Sept. 7 Courts and Corrections Committee meeting, chaired by Lehigh County Commissioner Zach Cole-Borghi, who stepped in for Commissioner Dave Harrington, as his wife gave birth to their first child.

Director of Corrections Janine Donate spent nearly two hours addressing concerns from both members of the public and commissioners about the treatment of the county’s inmates, specifically those who spend time in solitary confinement and the possible effects it might have on their mental health.

Donate started by explaining her department is focused on two key ideas in its policy mission.

The first idea is based on authority, meaning the right to take away liberties, if the situation warrants it.

The second is based on responsibilities, meaning to not only protect the community, but also ensure an inmate receives basic necessities, such as food, clothing and medical attention.

As for decisions pertaining to solitary confinement, Donate noted sometimes segregation of an inmate is based on factors concerning the safety for that individual, such as a street issue which is brought into the jail community, placing a specific inmate in danger.

She said sometimes segregation is used as a form of disciplinary conduct. Report and documentation always take place in such a circumstance.

Donate also stressed the Lehigh County Jail does everything possible to protect the mental health of all of its current 743 inmates, including those who find themselves in solitary confinement.

Unlike a prison, a jail is seen as a short-term institute, defined by sentences of less than 23 months and 29 days. The goal is for reintegration into the community as a valuable member of society.

To reach that goal and to protect inmates’ mental health, the use of tablets and family visits are encouraged. Weekly medical checks are also conducted, all in the hope of fostering rehabilitation.

“We need to figure out a way to get them to reintegrate into the population,” Donate concluded.

The next Courts and Corrections Committee meeting is scheduled for Nov. 2.