In the first-ever hearing of its kind, a Senate panel Tuesday heard testimony on the psychological and human rights implications of solitary confinement in U.S. prisons. Senator Richard Durbin of Illinois opened the hearing by noting the United States holds far more prisoners in solitary confinement than any other democratic country, with tens of thousands of inmates in some form of restricted housing. Former death row inmate Anthony Graves testified about the lasting effects of isolation, which he said drove some of his fellow inmates to insanity and suicide. The use of solitary confinement has drawn increased attention in recent months, with human rights advocates saying it violates the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment.