SuperMaximum Security Housing Units : Cruel and Unusual Punishment

I have recently taken an interest in the American prison systems practice of solitary confinement. I saw a documentary about the issue on A and E today. It really struck me as heart breaking, and out of line in modern society. Theese inmates are deprived on human interaction, Sit in a cell thats nothing but a Glorified bathroom, with a bed and a toilet, have no religous services, very restricted visitation rights and many of the like. All they can do is sit there... Let out of there cell 1 hour out of the 24 a day, to "Exercise" in a small room with an open ceiling. The conditions are inhuman, I know I would go crazy, completly nuts in theese conditions, I wouldn't be able to stand it. Theese prisons have popped up in every state, costing the tax payer about twice as much to run as a standard prison, and costing about 40-50 million each. To house significantly less inmates. I just think this is an outrage, and am curious to what you guys and gals think about it.