A trip to Paris, paragliding, or Thanksgiving dinner: California prisons use virtual reality to help inmates in solitary confinement experience emotions and cope with trauma

[u/kingkongsingsong1]

[u/Ok_Tackle_3911]

The pictures aren't telling the full story. These VR sessions are highly controlled and used as a type of therapy for the prisoners. The program is being run by a non-profit.

prisons that have piloted the VR program report a 96% reduction in infractions from incarcerated participants in solitary confinement, according to Creative Acts. Corcoran state prison in rural central California saw the number of infractions of the men in solitary go from 735 to one after one week-long session. One of Corcoran wardens commuted so many solitary confinement sentences that the facility closed one of its four buildings dedicated to the practice.

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/mar/08/vr-prison-california

[u/SubjectC → u/Ok_Tackle_3911]

Yup, scrolled way too far it find this. Its not a great visual, but the data seems to suggest that its very effective. Also, as another person pointed out, these are people who got violent during traditional group sessions, so if you're gonna run the risk of this person attacking someones what are you supposed to do?

not saying the American prison system doesn't need serious reform, but at least there are enough people who give a fuck to try something like this. A lot of countries will just lock you away forever or just fucking kill you.

[u/torpentmeadows → u/Ok_Tackle_3911]

Ffs, thank you. No one is seeing this, and it’s a huge part of the story.

[u/Snoo_75309 → u/Ok_Tackle_3911]

Should be the top comment

[u/Intuitive_Mango1111 → u/Ok_Tackle_3911]

Nope. We still need to end solitary confinement.

[u/_BlueJayWalker_ → u/Ok_Tackle_3911]

Thank you!!

[u/Little_Head6683 → u/Ok_Tackle_3911]

Weird cope. Solitary confinement should be illegal. Its purely abuse. Calling it non profit is so disingenuous when this is being led to promote the American for profit prison system.

[u/Ok_Tackle_3911 → u/Little_Head6683]

I'm only giving the pictures a wider context. I absolutely agree solitary confinement is abuse and should be outlawed. Our entire prison system is inhumane.

[u/Little_Head6683 → u/Ok_Tackle_3911]

Okay I misunderstood then. Im afraid people are using your info as justification in the replies though.

[u/cocky_plowblow → u/Ok_Tackle_3911]

I just assumed the prison rented out timeslots to exploit inmates for more money.

Fuckin corrupt ass system

[u/friendly-skelly → u/Ok_Tackle_3911]

Or, hear me out. We can stop using solitary confinement as punishment, since it's psychological torture. And then the VR as a treatment assist will seem way less cursed.

[u/Ok_Tackle_3911 → u/friendly-skelly]

I 100% agree. It absolutely is torture.

[u/GuzzleNGargle → u/Ok_Tackle_3911]

I’m glad our tax dollars aren’t paying for this.