We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Criminal

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is Walling?

Mary McMahon
By
Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 21,057
Share

Walling is an interrogation technique where an interrogator forces a prisoner to stand with his heels against a fake wall, and then slams the prisoner into the wall, creating a loud noise as the wall deflects under the pressure. This creates disorientation and fear, as the prisoner may worry about slamming through the wall and can experience a ringing sensation in his ears from the noise. This practice is considered torture by many international legal authorities and is not legal in some countries. Others defend it, arguing that it does not put the prisoner in any immediate danger.

Simply standing with heels against the wall can be uncomfortable for prolonged periods of time, and interrogators may use this as a stress position, ordering the prisoner not to move. When the interrogator combines this with pushing the prisoner into a wall the prisoner thinks is real, it can create considerable psychological stress in addition to physical discomfort. Some prisoners report having collars or towels wrapped around their necks to support the cervical spine, preventing whiplash. Interrogators may argue that looking out for prisoner safety during walling procedures is an indicator that this practice is not torture.

This technique can expose prisoners to injuries, even if their necks are protected. It is possible to fracture bones by pushing someone into a wall hard enough, and prisoners typically end up with heavy bruising, especially along their shoulder blades. The walling sessions may be combined with sleep deprivation, bright lights, and loud noises, which can increase the sense of disorientation and expose people to mental health complications like psychosis or depression.

In regions where this practice is not legal, prisoners can report walling to welfare advocates and international organizations, if they can access representatives of these groups. These groups can conduct an investigation into interrogation practices at the prison facility, and the result may be an exposé that forces the prison to revise its practices. These groups can also mandate the use of observers in interrogation rooms to make sure personnel abide by international law.

When a government does not ban walling or explicitly authorizes the practice in particular facilities, prisoners generally have no recourse for filing complaints. They can take notes on prison conditions and seek assistance from an attorney who may argue that while individual practices may be legal, combined, they constitute torture by creating emotional and physical distress or the threat of permanent injuries.

Share
MyLawQuestions is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Mary McMahon
By Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a MyLawQuestions researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Discussion Comments
By mrwormy — On Dec 16, 2014

I could understand if a battle-hardened terrorist with first hand knowledge of an impending attack didn't want to talk, I might be tempted to slam him against a wall or force him into a stress position for a while. That part of "enhanced interrogation" I get. Thousands of people could die if that mastermind refuses to divulge crucial information.

But I'm sure that the CIA and other government agencies around the world have used techniques like walling on prisoners who really had nothing to confess. Whatever information they might reveal under duress would either be false or unhelpful. I think the decision to use enhanced interrogation techniques should be on a case-by-case basis. I also think the practice of secretly sending prisoners to countries with more liberal torture practices should be stopped immediately.

By Cageybird — On Dec 15, 2014

Considering the recent release of a scathing report on the CIA's use of torture after 9/11, I'm surprised I haven't heard of walling until now. It definitely sounds like torture to me, even if the interrogators don't actually cause any permanent injuries. I see it like waterboarding. If you honestly believe you're going to die, either by drowning or bodily harm, then you're being tortured. I'd probably confess to shooting John F. Kennedy or kidnapping the Lindbergh baby if someone slammed me up against a wall enough times. What would that ultimately accomplish? Not much.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a...

Learn more
Share
https://www.mylawquestions.com/what-is-walling.htm
Copy this link
MyLawQuestions, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

MyLawQuestions, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.