The Paradox of SUPERMAX.

PRISON conditions; CORRECTIONAL institutions; SUICIDAL behavior of prisoners; MENTAL illness; PADILLA, Jose, 1970-; RUDOLPH, Eric, 1966-; INSTITUTIONALIZED persons; HEALTH

The article discusses problems created by U.S. super maximum security prisons. In those facilities, suicide rates are rising, as are claims of mental breakdowns that sometimes lead to court challenges. Both accused terrorist Jose Padilla and convicted bomber Eric Rudolph have legally challenged prison conditions. Stuart Grassian, former faculty member of the Harvard University Medical School, said the prisons were driving inmates crazy.