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BACKGROUND (continued)

Brown's revelations, including his vivid handwritten-then-uploaded blog describing a six month stint in solitary confinement in the unhealthy & abusive confines of the Maine Supermax attracted the attention of investigative journalist Lance Tapley . His scathing expose's in the Portland Phoenix of the prison's use of torture, and its violations of court orders, its violations of media protections under the Constitution, its failure at suicide prevention and other management failures ignited a statewide furor, resulting in a sharp drop in the institution's use of torture & pain techniques on inmates.